Summer is synonymous with being poolside, at the beach, camping and all types of outdoor fun. All pair well with a cold beverage by your side. Be it an ice cold beer, fruity umbrella cocktail, or my go to – wine.
However, to drink wine at the beach comes with a few issues. One, most beaches in the United States have made drinking at the beach – any alcohol – illegal. Don’t even get me started on the awesome liqueur laws we have in this country… But, there are some states that do allow drinking at the beach and for those of you who want to take your chances, keep reading.
The second cavot when it comes to drinking wine at the beach is that wine is persnickety. It has never been the most conducive beverage for outdoor activities given it comes in glass and doesn’t love the heat. Most pools and beaches don’t allow glass…broken bottles and bare feet never pair well.
There are several ways now to sip on your favorite wine at the beach, poolside, camping or at the park. Here are a few I’ve personally tested. Cheers to your summer sipping!
Canned Wine
Canned wine can no longer be overlooked. Not only has the quality of canned wines improved but the technology with the aluminum has as well. Since most beaches and pools don’t allow glass, canned wine a great alternative to a glass bottle. Today there are some amazing wines coming out of cans. What’s even better is a lot of times you can buy canned wine as individual cans versus a four or six pack. So you can have bubbles, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, or my favorite summer wine – Rosé.
I do want to point out that many canned wines come in cans that are the same size as a soda can, 375 ml, which means one cans is equal to half a bottle of wine. The thinner cans – 250 mL – are equal to about a third of bottle, or about two glasses.
Carpe Travel's Top Canned Wines
Sip Tip: I don’t know the technical shelf-life of canned wines, but I do know they’re not meant to age so I suggest you drink them within a year. Don’t try to save unopened canned wines from this summer for next year.
Top Canned Wine Recommendations
Colterris Canterris Rosé. | NV Underwood Pinot Noir | Underwood Rosé Bubbles | MANCAN Red Blend |Jetway Seltzer White Wine | Jetway Wine Seltzer Rose Wine | Freetime Wine White Pinot Noir | Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs | The OBC Wine Project, Colorado Fizz | The OBC Wine Project, Red Blend | Michael David Freakshow Cabernet
Boxed Wines
Gone are the days of the White Zinfandel I grew up seeing in my parent’s refrigerator. Boxed wines can and should have a place in your summer sipping. Not only are they more environmentally friendly than glass bottles but since they’re never “opened” the wine can last for weeks in your fridge.
Top Boxed Wine Recommendations
Outside of some of the most common boxed wines – Black Box and House Wine – which are good choices, there are others I’ve found that are highly rated and delicious. While it’s not a Grand Cru from Bordeaux, Ami-Ami is still a fancy French wine in a box. With options that include rosé, orange wine, a red blend of syrah and malbec, as well as a white blend of sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. Tables Creek in Paso Robles received 93 points from Decanter for its Patelin de Tablas Rosé. And, I love Spanish wines so Quadrum Red – a blend of tempranillo and garnacha – is a must sip.
Sip Tip: If you can help it, try not to sip your summer wines from a plastic cup. Not only is plastic bad for the environment but wine just doesn’t always taste right in plastic cups. Since glass isn’t an option, grab a Yeti or similar metal wine tumbler with a lid to keep the sand and bugs out of your wine and keep the flavor profile right.
Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottles
If you have a favorite wine that is not in a can that doesn’t mean you can’t drink it at the beach. Enter the insulated stainless steel water bottle. My go to is the Corkcicle. The 25 oz Corkcicle will hold nearly an entire bottle of wine. (A full bottle is 750 ml or 25.4 ounces of wine.) For those of you who need to be sneaky with your wine at the beach, it comes in multiple colors so the wine is not visible. (Not judging. Remember, I’ve tested ALL of these recommendations for drinking wine at the beach.) My only request is that you don’t drink from a plastic cups. Not only is plastic is bad for the environment but wine never tastes right in plastic cups. Definitely grab a Yeti or similar metal wine tumbler with a lid to keep the sand and bugs out of your wine.
Wine Bags
Another option for sipping your favorite wine at the beach is to use a wine bag or wine purse. These discreetly hide your wine while keeping it chilled. My favorite is the PortoVino wine purse. Not only are they cute and come in a variety of styles but the wine bag discreetly holds two bottles of wine (or 1.5L of your favorite beverage) from a removable, easy to use, bpa-free beverage pouch. Each PortoVino has a un
ique, patent-pending, secret, zippered, insulated pocket that keeps your pouch chilled for hours. These wine bags are great for the beach, outdoor picnics, festivals, or outdoor music venues.
Screwcap Wine
This is my least favorite option for sipping wine at the beach, but it works. Screw capped wines eliminates the need for a corkscrew to open your wine and allows you to easily seal the wine and throw it in your cooler. However you’re still dealing with the glass issue, unless you’re sipping from canned, screw capped wine
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Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, American Wine Specialist and certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET II). At Carpe Travel she shares wine travel destination guides for ALL WINE LOVERS – from novices to experienced pros – to help them plan their wine adventures, arming them with insider tips, must-visit spots, and things to see and do beyond the vines.