Canned wines are so hot they now have their own international arena to see whose aluminum cuisine will reign supreme – and as expected, Pacific Northwest wines held their own in a July 24 competition.
Hundreds of pull-tabs were yanked skyward in Boonville, California, as canned wines from all over the world competed at the first International Canned Wine Competition July 24. Competitors came from Argentina, England, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and throughout the United States.
Wines made with grapes from Idaho, Oregon and Washington picked up seven of the 37 gold medals awarded by a judging panel consisting of academics, winemakers and other members of the wine trade.
House Wine, a brand owned by Seattle-based Precept Wine, took home a gold medal, as did Ste. Chapelle Winery in Caldwell, Idaho. Stoller Wine Group’s “Canned Oregon” won gold medals for pinot noir and pinot gris. Backpack Wine, a Chicago-based company that sells canned Washington wines, received three gold medals, including “Best of Class” for a sparkling Columbia Valley rosé.
There were a few unexpected wins.
“I was really surprised by the Michigan and New York wineries,” said Allan Green, competition director. Leelanau Cellars in Omena, Michigan, and Benmarl Winery of Marlboro, New York, won a combined six gold medals.
The biggest surprise for me was the presence of The Uncommon, an English winery that makes sparkling wines with native grapes. The Uncommon was the first English winery to make canned sparkling wines, and it is taking two gold medals back to England.
Another can that caught my eye was Clauren Ridge Winery’s “Synfully Sweet Peach Watermelon” Wine. Did they ferment peach and watermelon juice? Is it a cooler? I have no idea what this Edmond, Oklahoma, winery is up to, but I feel strangely compelled to find out.
The top awards were swept by more traditional wines from California. Insomnia Wines, of Buellton, took “Best of Show Red Wine” for its pinot noir. Napa Valley-based Sans Wine Co. received “Best of Show White Wine” for its riesling.
Green, who knows his cans – his collection of canned wines is the largest in the world, according to Guinness World Records – is already planning for next year’s competition, which will take place July 22, 2020.
Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine.