Wine X Staff
Online Edition
You say: “Surely you don’t drink wine from a can or carton…… right? Right?”
Wine X sez “Au contraire, Pierre, hold my beer……..”
That’s kinda the point. You can make a VT on the fly with a flask and a can, and you can bring a beer just about anywhere, but there are lots of places where it’s just a PITA to bring a big ol’ bottle of wine with a cork stopper …… no matter the mood.
Table wines in alternative packaging isn’t exactly new. Count me in among those that originally thought that canned or cartoned wines wouldn’t taste as good as a bottle. That turned out to be pretty much bunk. Count me out of the group that might have been too bougie to be seen with a carton or canned wine. Hello World, Irreverent is my middle name. Bite me.
If you’ve glanced around at this little corner of the wine world, you’ve seen that the beautiful people of the world don’t seem to be too put off by wine in a carton or can….. I’m sure it helps that nearly every upscale grab & go culinary superstore has a refrigerated case full of them, right next to your fav kombucha, cold brew, and matcha.
The other thing that’s newish is that better, more interesting wines are finding their way into those cartons and cans. Let’s be honest, the alt-pac forefathers probably were about as good as the wines that ended up in a bag. Have you looked recently? There’s some AVA-specific, good juice in those handy dandy vessels these days.
Meet Brik Wine, a small but mighty family of wines from some of the most popular northeastern Italian wine regions. Winemakers Salvatore & Silvia Lovo are a father-daughter team whose portfolio also includes some more traditional bottling under other brands. But with Brik, they’ve done a really nice job putting some very enjoyable, sustainably farmed, vegan, and pesticide-free wines into fully recyclable, carbon-neutral, and resealable carton packaging.
Got your attention some? Kinda cool, huh?
Brik’s portfolio includes a Pinot Grigio from Emilia-Romana, a Chardonnay from Veneto, and a motepulicano-sangiovese-driven red blend from Marche. Wine X did this particular tasting poolside in a red solo cup, and we’re pretty impressed. These are really enjoyable wines that you can take anywhere and gulp or sip at your own leisure.
X-Rated Reviews
Brik Chardonnay, Veneto, Italy: 100% Chard, aged in stainless, and unoaked. Lots of juicy tropical fruits mixed with a little green apple. Crisp & dry. Wine X Sez: X ½
Brik Pinot Grigio, Emilia-Romana, Italy: Just because it’s PG doesn’t mean it can’t be Xrated too…. know what I’m saying? Crispy green apple and a kiss of white peach, a little slate, and a hint of spice. Dry and complex. Wine X Sez: XX
Brik Red, Marche, Italy: A near 50/50 Montepulciano + Sangiovese blend with a splash of merlot. This guy is a summer-style midweight red that won’t feel out of place on a hot day. I’m getting mostly blue and blackberries, mostly fresh, but maybe just a little ripe too. Gulpable. Wine X sez X ½
