2025 International Canned Wine Competition - Best in Show White Wine
Archer Roose led all wineries with five gold medals, including two Best of Show awards, to take the Sweepstakes this year. Attimo Craft Winery from Italy entered only three wines but still managed to win two Best of Show awards. Donelli Vini Spa, also an Italian producer, won three gold medals, as did Maker Wine Company and Freetime Wine.
Judges Dan Berger, Laura Ness and Greg Richtarek generously awarded 27 gold medals to the field, indicating how impressed they were with many of the entries. They especially enjoyed the Rosé flight, commenting that they found many fascinating wines that exhibited exceptional fruit character. Generally, according to Laura, “This field of canned wines showed remarkable breadth and depth, and there were many examples of solid, intentional winemaking. There was nary a hint of the ‘can factor’ of the past. Consumers should embrace these gold medal winners as a fun - and serious - way to enjoy some creative and exciting wines, whether they are going boating, camping, hanging out by the pool or just camping out on the living room couch.”
Almost one hundred canned wines from all over the world optimistically entered the seventh annual International Canned Wine Competition, which was held on July 30th in Boonville, California. Those wineries whose cans shone brightest this year were Archer Roose, Attimo Craft Winery, Freetime Wine, Maker Wine Company, and Donelli Vini Spa.
August 1, 2025
The 6 Best Canned Wines
From a sparkling rosé to a surprising spritzer, the best canned wines for picnic days ahead
Hailing from the great state of Oregon, this is a new canned wine brand that’s drawing rave reviews from bottle shop owners and wine buyers. Freetime’s design speaks to a sort of breezy minimalism, which echoes the subtle excellence of the easily enjoyed product inside. All their wines are made using grapes grown in Oregon’s Gorge wine region, an hour or so east of the city of Portland on the Columbia River.
Freetime’s “White Pinot Noir” is made with the popular grape, but done up in a summer blanc — the wine is made carefully so that no red fruit pigment colors the finished product, and in the can that results in flavors of white peach and citrus. I’m also really digging their newest offering, which they call “Lively” — it’s a mildly effervescent sparkling rosé that’s meant to be served chilled. I would happily tuck either one of these into my cooler for a long afternoon at the beach or on the river, but they would also be pretty perfect to sneak into your favorite ballpark, for enjoyment alongside a classic summer hot dog.
May 10, 2024