This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
The first phase of the deposit modernization project, which came into effect on November 1, now allows consumers to return all aluminum beverage containers from 100ml to 2L. It’s time to try canned cocktails, wine or piquette, a new environmentally friendly way to consume alcohol.
While European and American vineyards began canning their vintages several years ago, progress is slower in Quebec.
However, the advantages of the can are numerous: the infinitely recyclable aluminum has a significantly lower CO2 footprint compared to the glass bottle. The can is light, smaller and ergonomically shaped; This means that a producer can transport more cans of wine to his points of sale in one trip, and a consumer can take his favorite drink with him to the campsite, to the park or on a hike.
In addition, the wine can, which is usually offered in 250 ml format, is a practical option for those who want to reduce their alcohol consumption or for single people who do not want to commit to drinking a whole bottle.
All reasons speak for adopting it…or almost.
For and against
Rougemont-based Domaine de Lavoie became the first company to offer a Quebec rosé wine in a can on SAQ shelves in 2021. Francis-Hugues Lavoie, co-owner, who saw the emergence of canned wines elsewhere in the world, quickly approached the SAQ with his idea. “It’s the same wine as in the bottle, but in the can,” explains Francis-Hugues Lavoie, an avid fan of this convenient format.
“The aim was to get closer to the context of microbrewed beer consumption,” he explains. The following year he also released his white in cans.
However, few have followed suit. There is certainly Le Domaine Bergeville, which has been offering its Colfo Bubble Cuvée in cans since 2020, as well as Lieux Communes, which has been offering its base wine in cans since 2022. For his part, Matthieu Beauchemin, winemaker and co-owner of Domaine de Nival, has been offering his eau de wine in cans since last summer. The winemaker explains: “The can makes a lot of sense for the Piquette. Not only because of the ecological and economic aspects, but also because of its consumption context. We recommend drinking it straight from the can so you don’t have to carry glasses around! »
However, with his classic vintages, he wouldn’t even think about it. “What makes the wine beautiful is also the decency associated with it: remove the cork, let it aerate, decant it, pour it into suitable glasses,” the winemaker aptly summarizes. Wine is not cola! »
In addition, the can is intended for quick consumption of a vintage, it is not at all suitable for preserving so-called wines for aging. “If I canned my wines, would I be sending the message that they are not suitable for aging?” he wonders. I’ll have to think about that because my wines store well in the cellar for a few years! »
And not all vintages are suitable for the aluminum container. Francis-Hugues Lavoie explains that with the can we lose certain olfactory aromas. “You need a tasty product with bright flavors. The idea is to put a wine in a can that is easy to drink, easy to drink and fruity,” he adds.
Verdict?
We probably won’t see wineries canning all of their vintages anytime soon. “It would be difficult to completely do without the glass bottle,” admits Matthieu Beauchemin. However, there is certainly interest in developing other canned products. At both Domaine de Lavoie and Domaine du Nival we are thinking about offering sparkling wine or perhaps even a thirst-quenching red wine in future vintages.
Who knows to enjoy it next spring?
On the ready-to-drink side
This content was created by Le Devoir’s Special Publications team, reporting to Marketing. The editors of Le Devoir did not take part.