Canny buys for vino fans

CRACKING open a can of wine takes a bit of getting used to. But once over the initial strangeness, you'll realise just how much sense it makes - especially if you live alone, drink modestly and don't like to open whole bottles.

- by Matt Nixson

Tinned wine is moving swiftly from novelty to serious business as the wine trade increasingly responds to customer demands. It’s easy to store, hugely convenient and ideal for singletons (boxed wine that keeps is similarly enjoying a revival). It’s also perfect for alfresco dining, whether at home or in the park.

Size-wise, canned wine is typically a third of a bottle, so a 250ml serving provides two regular British glasses - making cans especially attractive to younger drinkers who tend to be more abstemious. Plus, they’re more sustainable, and cheaper to produce and transport than glass, with some 80% of UK drinks cans now recycled.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has seen a notable increase in alternative containers for alcoholic drinks in recent years as consumers look both for convenience and environmentally friendly packaging.

And it’s not just wine, either.