Quality organic and vegan wine in cans? Purists also turn up their noses, but a group of Veronese entrepreneurs has decided that the time has come to open up to a new type of consumer, especially young people. A the Canned Wine market which abroad, especially in North America and in some countries of continental Europe, is very successful but which in Italy, at least up to now, has been struggling to achieve large numbers.
The challenge carried out by the group of courageous captains of oenology – however, there is an oenologist among them – has a name that is an acronym: ZAI Zona Altamente Innovativa, the term with which the historic Industrial Artisan Zone of Verona was renamed in where the company originated. Zai – they explain – is one urban cellar projected into an increasingly vegan and organic future. The references produced, all available in cans, are the result of a long enological study. Some wines come from their own vineyards, others from winegrowers obliged to certified organic compliance scattered between Verona, San Bonifacio, Sommacampagna on one side and Padua, Treviso and in particular Valdobbiadene on the other.
For everyone speaks Benoit Frecon “We firmly believe that we must look beyond trying to preserve the world that hosts us. We have therefore developed a new way of offering wine while remaining focused on safety, well-being, efficiency, resource management and innovation, Values that are the backbone of our production strategy linked to sustainability".
But what Benoit Frécon is keen to underline is that there is no compromising on quality. For example Gamea, one of the top-of-the-range wines in the collection, is the the result of four harvests, instead of one, all conducted strictly "by hand". A harvest carried out at different times to maximize the organoleptic characteristics of the grapes. The first harvest gave the freshness and the low alcohol content, because the grapes are more sour; the second, thanks to the right balance achieved in the ripening of the grapes, brought out the typical elegance and fruitiness; with the third, the sugary part of the fruit was the protagonist, which gave persistence and aroma; finally, the fourth gave all the variety and richness of gustatory nuances.
Six references were therefore born that embody as many stories, set in a not too distant future: to be exact in 2150, the year that sees the extinction of 99% of animal and vegetable species, including grapes, due to climate change.
Even in the packaging, therefore, the six cans refer to as many characters, protagonists of an incredible journey to solve the mystery of the ancient wine prophecy and save the world. A story that will be constantly evolving like a real comic.
So here are the character wines in cans called Dr. Corvinus, 100% Corvina Verona IGT, alcohol content 11% Vol. Seen as the last heir to a dynasty of sommeliers, who lives with his assistant Cork Borg in the castle of family looking for a way to produce wine without using the grapes, now extinct, but with unsatisfactory results.
Then there's Gamea, 100% Garganega Verona IGT, alcohol content 9.5% Vol, an adventurous and independent woman who loves nature and has a degree in biological sciences and who dedicates her life to safeguarding the planet.
We continue with Mr. Bubble, 100% Glera Veneto IGT, a sparkling wine with an alcohol content of 9.5% Vol represented as a viveur who, using his can-shaped rocket, broke every speed record, so much so that he earned the nickname of “ pilot of the millennium”.
Lady Blendy, Merlot and Cabernet Veneto IGT, alcohol content 10.5% Vol. is instead a cat with a double soul. She specializes in mechanics and repairs, she takes care of others and loves to sleep.
At night PJ White, 100% Pinot Grigio Terre Siciliane IGT, alcohol content 10% Vol. turns into a ruthless bounty hunter. He is the anarchist of the group, the rebel troublemaker. Lazy by nature, he is convinced that everyone is after him.
The latest. at the moment, the can has the name of Cork Borg, 100% Moscato Veneto IGT, sparkling wine with an alcohol content of 7% Vol. It is a robot in the shape of a corkscrew, built by an ancestor of Dr. Corvinus. His job is to assist the most famous sommeliers on earth.
All wines, except PJ White, are also vegan as well as organic, and have a deep connection with the territory. What distinguishes them is the low calorie content and a reduced alcohol content because a healthy lifestyle is exactly what ZAI aspires to. The wines will be present both in the wine shop and in the Italian large-scale distribution channels and will obviously be distributed in the main foreign markets.
The choice to produce wine in cans points to invade new markets by meeting the changing needs of consumers, who want a product to be enjoyed in a simpler, more informal and practical way. All this, of course, in the respect for ecological and sustainable agriculturee.
THEaluminum, in fact, is infinitely recyclable. Not only. The can gives one immediate sensation of freshness and its content is equivalent to two glasses of wine, so it runs out without the drink remaining. A solution that does not alter the wine and is much appreciated, especially by the youngest, who can satisfy the desire for a glass without being forced to open a bottle.
For the record thethe idea of packaging wine in cans in Italy came for the first time in 1978 to Angiolo Giacobazzi who had a large cellar in Nonantola in the Modena area who deposited his idea with the Ministry of Agriculture and Health. But he was too ahead of his time. It took four years for his application to be accepted.
“Initially, however – they say on the winery's website – the decree provided that only still wine could be packaged in cans, while our belief was that the can was ideal for a sparkling wine, a category in which we specialized. Therefore, despite having led the way, we decided not to leave. This allowed other producers who sensed the opportunity to anticipate us and soon there were over 50 wineries producing wine in cans. Among the Emilians there were Medici and Cavicchioli and others from the rest of Italy among which the best known were, Folonari, Ramazzotti, Campari, Birra Moretti etc…
Only a year later, with the extension of the permit to sparkling wines, we too set off with our 8 ½ Giacobazzi which, contrary to what many think, was not Lambrusco but simply sparkling wine available both white and red. In fact, the decree did not allow the indication of the grape variety for sparkling wines in cans. It immediately proved to be a huge success, so much so that it was even presented in Mike Bongiorno's Flash program and included in all the major Italian sales outlets: from Esselunga, Autogrill, Coop, etc.".
Then came the landing in America and the numbers multiplied, it was a resounding success for the Italian company which made itself known all over the world.
