Wine packaged in pouches, cans and boxes is niche but on the rise. Johanna Thornton investigates the appeal and asks if New Zealand is behind when it comes to the rest of the world.<\/p>\n
\n Picture this. You\u2019ve just reached camp for the night on a multi-day hike, set up your
\n tent in time for a beachside sunset, or dismounted your horse after a long trek. You reach into your chiller bag for a wine and pull out a \u2026 single-serve pouch.\n <\/p>\n
These are the kinds of scenarios Neil Pattinson, managing director of Whistling Buoy Wines, envisages happening with increasing frequency with the launch of his new Vino range of pouch wine.<\/p>\n
At Vino\u2019s soft launch at the Royal A&P Show in Christchurch in November, \u201ceveryone, right across the age and gender demographic, got very enthused and immediately had ideas on where they would take their pouched wine\u201d, says Pattinson of Vino\u2019s 150ml pouches containing Whistling Buoy\u2019s pinot gris, ros\u00e9 and pinot noir, made from grapes grown at the winery\u2019s Charteris Bay vineyard and in Waipara.<\/p>\n
Neil Pattinson, managing director of Whistling Buoy Wines, has launched the new Vino range of pouch wine.<\/p>\n
From festivals to picnics and out on a boat, Pattinson says these lightweight pouches are destined to go where cumbersome glass bottles can\u2019t as they are made from laminated aluminium soft plastic with an outer cardboard sleeve, both recyclable, with no chance of breaking en route. Yes, you can sip it straight from the pouch, or pour it into a glass if you prefer.<\/p>\n
While pouches are something of a novelty in Aotearoa, in Australia \u201cbagnums\u201d are widely available at liquor retailers<\/a>. A cheeky nod to the magnum, these 1.5-litre pouches hold two bottles\u2019 worth of wine, come with a built-in handle (get it? Bag-num?), and can be poured straight from pouch to glass. Bagnums stay fresh in the fridge for up to four weeks after opening, making them as suited to a single glass as they are to sharing. Mail-order premium wine subscriptions in pouch form<\/a> are also a thing; the lightweight format is well-suited to home delivery, and smaller samples are ideal for trying a new wine before committing to a whole bottle.<\/p>\n Drinking less and choosing differently<\/p>\n Vino\u2019s pouches and other alternative wine packaging, from cans to bags and boxes, are part of a growing response to changing global drinking patterns<\/a>. Wine and beer consumption is on a long-term downward trend, falling 8.3% for the year ended December 2025, to reach the lowest amount recorded in the 15 years that Stats NZ has been collecting the data. In 2024, wine consumption was down 3.3%, the third consecutive decline to the lowest level since 1961, according to <\/a>the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). The OIV links the decline to shifting health attitudes and economic pressures, particularly among younger drinkers, who are consuming less alcohol overall and placing greater value on portability, convenience and lower-impact packaging.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lost generation that has gone to RTDs that offer smaller and more appealing formats,\u201d says Pattinson, pointing to a recent local study by EIT student Casey Mackintosh, undertaken in partnership with Villa Maria in 2023, which highlights Gen Z\u2019s preference for beer and RTDs over wine, with \u201ctaste, packaging and alcohol percentage\u201d steering them away from wine. His pouches have been designed with this demographic in mind. \u201cThe Gen Zers get very excited about the look, the novelty and the flexible nature of the pouches,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Pouches, cans and casks may get the side-eye from some wine drinkers, but when it comes to environmental impact, the numbers speak for themselves. Wine packaging, particularly glass, accounts for a significant portion of wine production\u2019s overall environmental impact, anywhere from 40-80%. Bag-in-box and pouch packaging can produce up to 80-87% fewer carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per litre than standard glass bottles.<\/p>\n Cask wine\u2019s eco redemption<\/p>\n Winemaker and NMIT wine lecturer Nadine Worley is well-versed in these figures. She co-founded Marlborough\u2019s Fugitive Wines with Logie MacKenzie and is on a mission to \u201cdo things better\u201d, not just in her organic vineyard, but also in how wine is packaged. After experimenting with reusable kegs for bars and retail in 2020, which proved logistically challenging for a small winery, she began searching for an alternative that maintained wine quality while minimising environmental impact. <\/p>\n In 2023, Fugitive launched its organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in a 2-litre bag-in-box, after sourcing a premium (LDPE) mono material bag and tap compatible with soft-plastics recycling. <\/p>\n \u201cNo one wants more plastic in the world, so having a lightweight, fully recyclable bag was the game changer for us,\u201d says Worley.<\/p>\n Cask wine\u2019s dodgy reputation has proven surprisingly easy to shake. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is definitely a conversation starter when you walk somewhere with a box of wine. Almost everyone we talk to has a story about some hideous cask wine they or their parents drank in the 80s, but once we explain why we are doing it and they get to taste the wine, the reaction is overwhelmingly positive.\u201d <\/p>\n Beyond the novelty, the 2-litre format has proven practical too: it pours easily by the glass, stays fresh in the fridge for longer than an open bottle, and is compact and lightweight for camping or boating trips.<\/p>\n On the question of whether alternative packaging can deliver the same quality as glass, Worley is firm. <\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely, alternative packaging can offer the same quality. Wine quality comes way before packaging, from the vineyard and winemaking.\u201d <\/p>\n She notes wines intended to be drunk young, such as Marlborough sauvignon blanc, are perfectly suited to box, can or keg formats. <\/p>\n \u201cGlass bottles will always have a place\u2026 But realistically, 70-80% of wine is drunk within a week of purchase, so it doesn\u2019t make sense that as an industry, we are packaging it like it will be aged 20 years in the bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n When a can makes more sense than a bottle<\/p>\n Canned wine is another small but growing sector in New Zealand. Globally, the category is expanding at pace, with industry forecasts predicting year-on-year growth of about 10%. Locally, major players are beginning to engage. Villa Maria has recently entered the market with pinot gris, sauvignon blanc and sparkling ros\u00e9 in 250ml cans, targeting drinkers drawn to \u201cportability and ease\u201d.<\/p>\n For Alpha Domus, an independent organic single-vineyard winery in Hawke\u2019s Bay, the decision to release its Beatrix Sparkling Ros\u00e9 in a 250ml can followed years of observation and research, driven by third-generation winemaker Beatrix Ham. Already a favourite in bottles, Beatrix Sparkling Ros\u00e9 is lower in alcohol and, according to Ham, perfectly suited to a format that prioritises on-the-go versatility and single-serve drinking (anyone who\u2019s ever put a utensil into the neck of a half-drunk bottle of bubbly will understand the appeal).<\/p>\n \u201cFor some, wine in a can is an adjustment of perception. We\u2019ve had very few negative comments, with the can being positively embraced by all generations,\u201d says Ham. Crucially, switching from a 750ml bottle to three 250ml aluminium cans reduces Alpha Domus\u2019 carbon emissions by up to 79%; transporting wine in cans shaves off 35-49% of emissions and recycling aluminium requires 90% less energy than glass.<\/p>\n What consumers are saying and buying<\/p>\n On the shop floor at By The Bottle in Auckland\u2019s Mt Eden, which is known for stocking forward-thinking organic and biodynamic wines, spirits and beers, co-owner Pete Connell says customers \u201chaven\u2019t been fazed by alternative formats\u201d, and education in shops, restaurants and bars is key if the perception of quality is going to change. <\/p>\n By The Bottle\u2019s shelves offer a glimpse of what adventurous drinkers are embracing, everything from canned pet nat and sparkling ros\u00e9, to bag-in-box wine and a growing range of canned aperitivo and spritzes with a wine base such as Spritzetto, Zoncello and Melbourne-based Kiwi Dave Verheul\u2019s Saison \u201cAmaro Tonic\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve found these formats have especially come into their own in the warmer months, being so convenient for travel and barbecues,\u201d says Connell. \u201cOutdoorsy types love them.\u201d<\/p>\n Alternative formats are also great for those wanting to drink less. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve especially noticed that with older customers, who want to enjoy a glass without having to open a whole bottle. As consumers are becoming more considerate of how much they drink, a can or a bag-in-box that stays fresher longer is an appealing option over opening a bottle,\u201d says Connell.<\/p>\n Dicey\u2019s \u201cDice Central Otago Pinot Noir\u201d 2-litre bag-in-box has been popular this summer. It\u2019s made by Bannockburn-based brothers Matt and James Dicey as a response to what they call the \u201cstaggering\u201d carbon footprint of glass packaging. Dicey\u2019s box wine is not only an optimal eco choice, it\u2019s also a direct challenge to the perception of cask wine as low quality. The pinot noir is made with the same care as the rest of the Dicey range, and the quality shows in the glass. \u201cIt\u2019s made in a vibrant, fresh style that we enjoy drinking chilled,\u201d says Connell.<\/p>\n The next chapter for alternative wine packaging<\/p>\n While alternative packaging options such as Dice are a \u201cgreat start\u201d, Connell says New Zealand is in a \u201cwatch this space phase\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cI can understand why there would be caution from the producer\u2019s point of view. There\u2019s investment involved in the winery and changes required to bottling and canning facilities. There\u2019s also a big risk in changing something that producers get one chance at a year to sell in a market as small as New Zealand\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n He points to the industry\u2019s shift from cork to screwcap as a useful precedent. <\/p>\n \u201cIt took a massive, concerted effort by wineries to get the trade and consumers\u2019 heads around the closure change from cork to screwcap. One of the key things about this effort was it included some of our best small producers, like Kumeu River, demonstrating that this wasn\u2019t about cost cutting or a compromise in quality.\u201d<\/p>\n Structural barriers have also slowed uptake. Worley notes minimum order quantities for alternative formats can be prohibitive for smaller producers, with bag-in-box units often requiring runs of 10,000, alongside the need for specialised equipment and recycle-ready materials (Worley and Mackenzie imported their own bag-in-box machine from Italy, for example). As a result, New Zealand has lagged behind markets such as Scandinavia, the US and Australia, where cans fill plenty of picnic blankets and bagnums are in many fridge doors.<\/p>\n Still, she believes momentum is building, pointing to trials at bottling companies and growing interest among producers. \u201cIt is definitely happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Shop the story: 7 alternative formats to try now<\/p>\n Cask wine made cool. A textural and lively Central Otago Pinot Noir in a 2-litre bag-in-box that stays fresh for up to a month. Try it chilled.<\/p>\n Six single-serve pouches containing two each of pinot gris, ros\u00e9 and pinot noir, ideal for your next Great Walk.<\/p>\n Lower-alcohol (8.9%) sparkling wine in a 250ml can made from Hawke\u2019s Bay merlot grapes.<\/p>\n Premium organic Marlborough sav in a recyclable 2-litre bag-in-box, equivalent to 2.6 bottles.<\/p>\n A mixed four-pack, featuring one of each variety: Savvy Society, State of Grace Pinot Gris, Gryphon Pinot Noir, and Grand Rouge.<\/p>\n A sneaky Aussie addition, this dry, citrusy natty is ideal for picnics, camping, or having on hand in the fridge.<\/p>\n One of the few bagnums available in New Zealand, this 1.5-litre is full of tropical fruit and citrus, and potential.<\/p>\n More different ways to drink<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wine packaged in pouches, cans and boxes is niche but on the rise. Johanna Thornton investigates the appeal…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":304245,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[20784,32955,192,27496,138,11085,25204,185,702,111,139,69,90,29483,58218,223,1961,61,29154,29157],"class_list":["post-304244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-alcohol","tag-answer","tag-are","tag-betting","tag-business","tag-consumption","tag-declining","tag-is","tag-it","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-on","tag-serve","tag-single","tag-the","tag-this","tag-to","tag-winemaker","tag-wines"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/304244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=304244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/304244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/304245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=304244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=304244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=304244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fugitive launched its organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in a 2-litre bag-in-box in 2023. Photo \/ Peanut Butter Vibes<\/p>\n
Winemaker and NMIT wine lecturer Nadine Worley is the co-founder of Marlborough\u2019s Fugitive Wines.<\/p>\n
Alpha Domus now produces its Beatrix Sparkling Ros\u00e9 in a 250ml can.<\/p>\n
By The Bottle in Auckland’s Mt Eden offers drinks in a range of alternative formats. <\/p>\n
Dicey\u2019s “Dice Central Otago Pinot Noir” 2-litre bag-in-box<\/p>\n
Vino Mix n Match 6-Pack<\/p>\n
Alpha Domus Beatrix Sparkling Rose, 4-Pack Cans, $35<\/p>\n
Fugitive Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025, 2-litre<\/p>\n
Joiy Still Wine Mix Set of Four<\/p>\n
Delinquente Tuff Nutt Pet-Nat 2024<\/p>\n
Squealing Pig Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 1.5-litre Bagnum, $38<\/p>\n