Underwood Wines in a Can

By Matt Domino Published August 21, 2015

At The Manual, we like to provide you with insight into the world of wine. We want an alcohol that can often be high-minded and hard to approach to seem understandable and relatable. And what is more relatable than Wine In A Can?

Even though the idea of Wine In A Can was made popular by a 2009 episode of the sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the concept is serious and sound. Underwood Wines out of Sherwood, Oregon, has made their Wines In A Can a large part of their family of wines.

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With Underwood’s Wines in a Can, the only aspect you lose from a standard wine in a bottle is the influence of light and air on the aging process, since each can is completely sealed. The wine will still age and gain flavor, in fact it will even last longer there will just be less variables—something that is valued by serious wine makers and those obsessed with the chemistry of wine, but not necessarily by the average drinker.

PunchCan_1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Wines In A Can comes in three different varieties: Rose, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The first two styles probably sound familiar, but Pinot Gris may sound a little strange. Pinot Gris is a white wine that is made from the same grape as Pinot Grigio, but has a bolder, spicier flavor that is different from the light, airy taste of your standard Pinot Grigio.

Each Wine In A Can contains two glasses (or about half a bottle) at thirteen percent alcohol, so you may not want to knock too many back, no matter how delicious they might be with a little chill on them. And the cans won’t take anything away from the flavor, the liner along the aluminum maintains all of the complex tastes and aromas that you look for in a good wine.

Related: South African wines to help your grill game

Don’t be afraid of something different. Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on Underwood’s Wines In A Can, another fine addition to Oregon’s expanding influence to the world of wine.

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Matt Domino is a writer living in Brooklyn. His fiction has appeared in Slice and The Montreal Review, while his non-fiction…

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To get started, you'll consider all the same things you'd put in a child's basket, but you'll select adult-friendly varieties of the same items. Adult Easter baskets can be gifted to your partner, a friend, a family member, or even a co-worker. From premium chocolate to top-tier wines, if you're not sure where to start, these adult Easter basket ideas will help you begin brainstorming.

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You won’t find claret wine in the store, but you’ve probably already had some

A corrupted name with a cool history

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Perhaps you’re into period English movies (like, say, anything by Jane Austen). If so, you’ve noticed that when it’s time to break out the good stuff (you know, the bottle from the cellar that needs to be decanted), it’s always a wine called "claret." While I do enjoy the occasional Jane Austen movie, I’ve been a more consistent fan of wine -- but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what this claret stuff was, why it was so beloved, and where I could get my hands on it. The short answer is that "claret" is basically British slang for red wines from Bordeaux. The long answer involves ancient Romans, Eleanor of Aquitaine, English corruption of the French language, the Hundred Years’ War, and a dry, brick-red rosé that might not yet be on your radar.

The Romans, great champions of the grape themselves, did bring viticulture to the Bordeaux region -- though, to be honest, they were much more interested in the trading potential of the huge natural harbor located in the Gironde River estuary. Once the empire collapsed, so did those trade routes from the Mediterranean to northern Europe. Ultimately, Bordeaux (along with the rest of southwest France) became part of the large, powerful, and independent duchy of Aquitaine. And this is where our claret wine story begins.
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There’s always something to be learned in the vast world of wine. Knowing a bit of the language will keep you from getting lost in translation and potentially buying something you might not like. Plus, you’ll sound informed the next time you’re in a tasting room or perusing a bottle shop, online or in person.
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