From the backyard BBQ to the wedding reception toast to the nightly glass of red with dinner, there are so many varieties of wine and occasions to enjoy it. Wine packaging is just as versatile and vast; take a look on store shelves to see the beautiful glass bottles still reigning on shelves to the single-serve PET bottles, cans, bag-in-box and cartons that make up another part of the segment. Wine packaging continues to evolve to appeal to more consumers.

Thinking outside the (bag-in) box

Bag-in-box applications may have had a negative association to them some years back but that just isn’t the case anymore. More wines (and premium ones at that) are rolling out in this classic format for many reasons. The packaging keeps the wine at its freshest after opening, preventing light and oxygen from disturbing the wine’s qualities. In addition, this format allows consumers to enjoy a glass a day over the course of a few weeks, instead of having to consume the opened bottle within a few days.

Andegavia has launched its cask wine packaging with contemporary and clean designs to appeal to both genders and any age group looking for a convenient wine enjoying experience. The wine package is 100% recyclable, equivalent to four 750ml wine bottles and lasts for four weeks. Tailored in sleek red, white and gold, Andegavia comes packaged in an octagon shape with two extended edges, creating an abstract and compact design. The faces of the cask are embellished with white and gold rampant lions; a nod to the lion’s rank in historic heraldry.

Another bag-in-box package has launched and this one features a bright, clean and fun design to mirror the bright and cheerful contents. Beso Del Sol is premium, 100% natural sangria in a bag-in-the-box application.

Hans Christian Holst, CEO of Arctic Beverage, LLC, says, “The sangria category is extremely popular right now. Suppliers and accounts are doing very well with the brand and asked for this offering. Our goal with Beso del Sol is to continue to innovate the category while delivering profitable margins for the supply chain and keeping prices attractive for consumers.”

Each 3L box of sangria is equivalent to four traditional 750ml bottles. The technology used in the packaging ensures that the wine will remain fresh for up to six weeks after opening. Additionally, the durable box makes it easy to stack and store – a plus for retailers and restaurants.

Cans and bottles up their game

Union Wine Co. has released its first Rosé available in both bottles and the companies’ popular cans just in time for this summer. The Union Wine Co. worked with Story Manufacturing, a brand strategy and marketing agency out of Portland, OR to design the Rosé packaging in a clean, gender-neutral design to appeal to everyone.

“The Union Wine Co. branding has been largely about meeting a younger, millennial consumer that isn’t defined by the stereotypes of wine drinking and giving them a way into the world of wine. The Rosé packaging is perhaps the best example of the balance of masculine and feminine in the Union Wine Co. packaging. The typography is distinct and more “masculine” – not aggressive, but bold... This relaxing of expectations is what we hope to achieve overall,” says Michael Etter, Story Manufacturing.

The cans reinforce a youthful experience and allow the wine packaging to get into some spaces that prohibit glass. 

Why wine? Pour a glass

E. & J. Gallo Winery recently commissioned its inaugural Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey to capture the current state of Americans’ wine drinking attitudes and behaviors. As a whole, the survey revealed that Americans are enjoying wine more often than ever before by bringing it into dining, entertaining and even the most casual experiences — all while demonstrating an eagerness to experiment with various flavors and formats. One takeaway from the study is that convenience is king. According to the study, there are key thoughts and behaviors shared by almost all frequent wine drinkers, and of these, the most noticeable common ground was convenience. Recognizing that this has become a key factor for many consumers, wine aisles have seen dramatic transitions across the country – from the traditional ‘sea of glass’ to a place of much more varied offerings.

Between premium and value box wine, cartons, screw tops and 187ml bottles, there are many different and convenient ways to enjoy wine today. In fact, retailers are beginning to dedicate entire sections of the wine aisle to single-serve packaging or other convenient options such as box. Box wine is particularly more relevant in today’s wine culture than ever before, with 58% of wine drinkers indicating that they have purchased it.

The 2014 Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey was conducted by Libran Research & Consulting among 1,001 nationally representative U.S. wine-drinking adults ranging in age from 25 to 64. Additional findings from the 2014 Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey are available at GalloWineTrends.com.