Skip to main content

Why the experts say you need to embrace keg wine

Beer is not the only thing worthy of a draft line. Good wine is too, as more and more producers are showing

Keg wine has become more common than ever and the reasons to support the stuff are many. It’s a functional, environmentally friendly option that’s being taken more and more seriously by wine pros and drinkers alike. Turns out, tap lines are not just for fresh-hop IPAs and pilsners; they’re for Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc too.

First, a bit of history. Wine on draft is nothing new, first gaining a hold in certain markets a couple of decades back. The problem, however, was perception, as is typically the case with wine. Most people thought there was no way a good wine could be served from a draft handle. And, regrettably, many people continue to feel that way today.

Keg wine from Settembre Cellars.
MediNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images

Jordan Sager is the co-president of Winesellers, Ltd in the Midwest. The Illinois importer first began to sell keg wine in 2013, an organic Gruner Veltliner from Austria. “The trend is strong now, and as more diners see wine drafts in restaurants and on wine lists, the more comfortable they will be with it,” Sager says of keg wine. “Similar to beer, at one time, draft was resigned to lower quality brands, but the craft beer revolution has proved that quality beverages perform very well on draft.”

The draft lines themselves are super convenient, all the better for pouring efficiently and at temperature.  “When it comes to wine, a well-built draft system will pour a perfect glass of wine at the perfect temperature,” Sager said. “The systems are dual-zone temperature controlled so whites come out at 45-50 degrees and reds come out at 55-60 degrees, much cooler than that wine by the glass sitting at room temperature on the bar top. In addition, there is zero oxidation in a draft system because the gas protects the wine from oxygen entering the keg and line.”

This is often superior to the old way, which involved corking a half-open bottle one day and pouring from it the next. With more and more glass pour lists in the mix and busy restaurants looking for ease of use, you can see why it would be popular. And that’s to say nothing of the sustainability implications.

Glass is not great stuff. It requires a lot in the way of resources to make, is heavy and therefore expensive to ship, and, while recyclable, is often thrown into landfills. Kegs can be used over and over again and offer so much more in terms of liquid-to-vessel ratio. It can be argued that really high-end wines built for aging need a glass bottle to evolve over time. Fine, as most of what’s going to the keg is wine for immediate consumption. And again, because of the environment and being on a gas line, once that keg is tapped, the wine inside is going to fare much better than a bottle (to the tune of months, not just days). We don’t need to put a fine Bordeaux to keg, but many, many other wines are great candidates.

Bruce Schneider is a managing partner at Gotham Project in New York. The company kegs the lion’s share of its work (80 percent with the rest going into aluminum cans). “All wines meant to be consumed within 2-3 years of production, which are the vast majority, thrive with wine on tap,” he says. “Another way to think about it is any wine that works well under screw top is also a good candidate for wine on tap.”

Keg wine hasn’t taken over the market but more and more options are coming online. Some bars, like Coopers Hall in Portland, have gone all in with wine on tap. Mindful drinkers are encouraged to check out their local wine bars and restaurants to see what’s available. Email your importers and see what they might have as well as where it’s distributed. It’s not something most would set up at home, but draft wine systems continue to be in high demand, at newer restaurants especially.

Producers are increasingly dipping their toes in draft wine too. Many start slow, doing a few kegs here and there for select distributors or restaurant or bar accounts. Eventually, once a system is in place and the infrastructure is there, it can become a significant means of their wine program. What’s cooler, larger venues like music festivals and pro sporting events—places that have traditionally lacked quality wine in abundance—can take on kegs of fine wine.

Wineries like Mesina Hof in Texas are trying it out, attracted to being genuinely green and also saving some dough. They contend that they save real money on bottle costs. Keep in mind that most wine kegs store some 120 glasses of wine. That’s more than two cases of wine and nearly 27 individual bottles they don’t have to buy, fill, and hope people recycle.

Have you tried it yet? Keg wine is the way of the future, it’s worth checking in on. And it’s only going to become more prevalent and accessible.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
The surprising ways vodka can actually be good for you
Vodka: Could your favorite spirit somehow also be the key to good health?
Liquor bottles on a bar shelf

The weekend is a great time to break out the top-shelf vodka and relax with a vodka cocktail. It’s when people choose to leave their worries behind and celebrate the week finally being over. However, there is much more to vodka than having a good time with your friends after a long, tiring week. Actually, there are quite a few health benefits of vodka most people don't even consider.

While vodka (like any type of alcohol) isn't necessarily healthy, there are some benefits to the spirit. Just make sure you don't use them to justify excessive drinking. Keep reading to find out about the various vodka health benefits.

Read more
How to make a French 75, a great cocktail you’re (probably) overlooking
The French 75 sounds cool, is cool, and tastes wonderful
Boozy Bubbly Lemon French 75 Cocktail with Champagne

In the hierarchy of classic cocktails, the French 75 doesn't get the respect it deserves. While boozier drinks like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and margarita get all the press, the French 75 cocktail is one of the easiest, freshest, most refreshing mixed drinks ever conceived and belongs more in the limelight. Even when it comes to gin-based drinks, it seems to often get overlooked in favor of gin and tonics, gin gimlets, and other drinks. This leaves us scratching our proverbial heads because it's such a great drink. In the simplest terms, the French 75 ingredients are gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. That's it. The sparkling wine is the main ingredient, making it an effervescent, delicious, sweet, citrus-filled experience. What's not to love?

The French 75 Recipe
Ingredients

Read more
We’ve got a sensational Mai Tai recipe you won’t want to stop making
Who doesn't love a good Mai Tai?
Mai Tai

Whether it’s the midst of the summer heat or the middle of a frigid winter, there’s no wrong time for a Mai Tai. This classic tiki cocktail of rum, curaçao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice is either a comforting, tropical respite from winter or the perfect accompaniment to literally having your feet in the sand on a hot summer day.

For those unaware, Tiki is a style of bartending that involves mostly rum-based cocktails in a tropical setting made to pay tribute to island cultures, most notably Polynesian culture. Popularized in the 1950s and '60s, drinks like the Mai Tai, Hurricane, Blue Hawaiian, Rum Runner, Painkiller, and others have seen a resurgence with the rise of cocktailing and a renewed interest in classic drinks.

Read more