Wine in a can?

After being pleasantly surprised by the single cup wine Copa Di Vino, I had an open mind about Union Wine Co.’s Underwood cans. Each of these 375 ml cans ($24 for a four pack) is the equivalent of half a bottle of wine (two glasses), so even one can be enough for some people.

According to Oregon-based Union Wine Co., the wine in the cans is the same wine found in its bottles. Your choices are pinot gris, rosé and pinot noir.

I did not notice a difference in taste between drinking the wines straight from the cans or from a glass. That’s a good thing, because now you have another way that you can bring your wine anywhere and not worry about breaking a bottle, packing a corkscrew or washing a glass.

The pinot noir is the only one that you don’t need to chill, obviously. On the spectrum of pinot noirs, this one fell right in the middle. It’s not at all dry, and it has a slight hint of chocolate flavor.

I thought the sweetness level of the rosé was perfect. This wine balances dryness with tartness, and I did enjoy notes of strawberry and peach.

For the pinot gris, I could detect the pear but not the peach and grapefruit listed on the can. The carbonation bubbles were prevalent, likely because of the can. Overall the flavor was light and dry.

In Madison, the only place I’ve seen these cans is Steve’s Liquor in Fitchburg. You also can purchase the wine online.

I watch “Shark Tank” from time to time, and I saw the episode in which the founder of Copa Di Vino–single-serving wine in a glass–was on for a second time. What a great concept–no more do you have to open an entire bottle of wine if you only want just one glass (I know, that’s unheard of for some people).

(As an aside, the founder, James Martin, turned down money twice from the sharks. They would have helped him license his technology and make boat loads of money, but he stupidly said no each time.)

I purchased mine for $3.49 each at Metcalfe’s; Copps and Woodman’s also carry Copa Di Vino, and you can order it online. The flavors are Moscato, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and White Zinfandel.

The glasses are made of recyclable plastic, which make transportation easier, and tally 187 ml in size (1/4 the size of a bottle). After you remove the cap, peal back the seal and started drinking.

I am highly impressed after trying four of the varietals. Each one is exactly the middle-ground on the flavor scale. For example, the Riesling has a perfect level of semi-sweetness with a nice fruity aroma.

Meanwhile, the Moscato is light, sweet and crisp–just like a Moscato should be. I would describe the White Zin as a crowd-pleaser–easy to drink without the cheap flavor found in many of the budget wines.

I’m not a fan of Merlot, so I bought the Cab. Even without a lot of accents, it is still full-bodied and has a nice dryness to it.

Copa Di Vino is a great concept. It’s now a matter of time until competitors spring up, and then the founder will regret the opportunities he turned down.