Sipping wine from cans or boxes may not be your normal activity, but with the quality and convenience of many products available today, it should be. I am the first to raise a skeptical eyebrow on boxed and canned wines; the same eyebrow I raised when bottles began utilizing screw caps versus the traditional cork. (I am happy to admit I now seek out the wines under a screw cap. They are just so much easier to open.)

Traveling throughout Europe, I saw plenty of quality wines packaged in what they call “bag in box,” i.e., box wine. They are space-saving, better for the environment, and convenient. Similarly, ready-to-drink, single-serving cans offer the ability to enjoy a glass without opening an entire bottle. They are perfect for throwing in a cooler to take to the beach, pool, or lake or for picnic sipping. What makes them even better is that the wine in the cans tastes good, sometimes better than good, as producers often use the same quality fruit in their traditional 750ml bottles. Here are a few to consider toasting with as we head into the holiday. #Cheers

Sonoma Cutrer offers four eye-catching 250ml cans of Simply Cutrer Chardonnay that are ready to enjoy while lounging poolside. Layered with juicy citrus, stone fruit, toasted spice, and vanilla, it is exactly the rich and luscious wine we expect from the Sonoma producer. But don’t drink too fast in the sunshine as the wine has an almost 14% alcohol level. Sip it slowly and enjoy.

Archer Rose offers one of the world’s most unconventional wine productions. Founded in 2015 by David and Marian Leitner-Waldman, Archer Rose is a wine for those looking for adventure, as the focus is on diversity instead of a single region. The couple works with small-production, international winemakers, creating quality wine that is available in 250ml single-serving cans. The cans are recyclable, reduce waste, and are available in various options from Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, Sauvignon Blanc from the cool-climate region of Casablanca, Chile, Pinot Grigio from Friuli, Italy, and more. The wines are varietally correct, completely convenient, and great if you don’t want to open an entire bottle when you really just want one glass. We aren’t the only ones to think so, either. Actress Elizabeth Banks loved the products so much that she became the brand’s Chief Creative Officer.

The summer season is Rosé season, and we love that California’s Hogwash gives us two tasty options to sip from now until autumn. Hogwash Rose wine is available in a still and sparkling option, offered in 250ml grab-and-go cans. Each delivers refreshing flavors of wild berry, mandarin, pomegranate, and nectarine, with the sparkling adding that little extra bit of effervescence we love.

We love that all of Avaline’s products are vegan and made from organically grown fruit, focusing on only including what is necessary and nothing else. The brand was started by friends Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power. The actress and entrepreneur got together to create a product that the two could enjoy without throwing their healthy lifestyles out the door. The fruit comes from around the world, including Spain, Italy, France, and the U.S., including the canned Avaline Rose, whose fruit is from Provencal producer Mas de Cadenet. It is available in 4-packs of 250ml cans, with each single serving option offering layers of stone fruit, woody herbs de Provence, juicy berries, and citrus. It reminds us of summer in a glass.

All natural, authentic, and expressive, the Sicilian winery, Alileao, is boxing coastal wines from the rugged Italian coast that highlight the diverse region in an environmentally friendly, large-volume way. Each 3L box contains sun-drenched Sicilian wines, like the orange wine, Zibibbo, high-acid Grillo, and robust, spicy Syrah. The wines are packaged unfiltered, allowing the essence of place to shine through. Each is gluten-free, non-GMO, and deliver the earthy character and taste of the land that we love in wines from Sicily.

Bota Box is here to help whether you are looking for a few glasses or are entertaining a crowd with their mini Botas, providing around three glasses or the traditional 3-L Bota Boxes. The products are some of the most affordable options, each costing around $5 for the mini and around $20 for the larger version. We tried a few of their options, including an herbaceous, citrus-packed Sauvignon Blanc and juicy, fruit-forward Pinot Grigio and a new, limited-release stone fruit-filled Chenin Blanc/Viognier blend. We found them to be varietally correct, well-made options that we will happily enjoy while lounging by the pool this summer. The Sauvignon Blanc, in particular, offers lively lemon-lime, herbaceous grassiness, and a lively pop of acidity, best served very cold, pairing with summer salads and ceviche.

#Cheers