The wine in can specialist Canned Wine Group has extended its organic Copper Crew range into 20L kegs. The company, known for its premium Canned Wine Co. canned wines, previously acquired The Copper Crew brand in 2023.
As hospitality looks to drive down wastage and protect its margins during the ongoing cost of living crisis, wine on tap is a compelling solution. Venues can drawdown over 26 bottles from a single 20L keg, protecting its freshness for six weeks. Canned Wine Group is applying its market-leading technical knowledge for cans to also ensuring the best shelf life in kegs.
Wine buyer and co-founder Ben Franks commented: “While packaging wine in kegs is very different to cans, the time our team take in understanding the format – from working closely with the winery to prepare the wines to our dedicated technical manager’s quality control throughout shipping, packing and testing – ensures we deliver the best solution.”
The wine on tap offered under The Copper Crew brand is organic Italian wine packed in 20L KeyKegs. Initially Fiano white wine and Negroamaro red wine are available, but a Primitivo-based Rosato and lower alcohol Bianco Spritz are due to be packed for sale in April, ready for summer trading.
The wines will be presented for the first time at a trade show with Northern Restaurant & Bar in March.
Old Chapel Cellars, a wine shop and distributor based in Truro in Cornwall, is an early adopter of the brand’s new kegs. Director Louisa Fitzgerald said: “We use The Copper Crew kegs for refillable wine in our shop, at tastings and we supply them wholesale. The wine’s in brilliant quality in KeyKeg, it’s easily dispensed and customers really enjoy this organic style from Italy.”
Canned Wine Group’s first London venue to sell The Copper Crew kegs was Mondo Brewing Company earlier this year. Brian Donohoe, sales and operations manager at Mondo, said: “We’ve sold more wine in this time with The Copper Crew that we’ve ever sold before. Operations-wise it’s been very easy; the 20 litre kegs slot into our cellars nicely, are quick to hookup and easy to pour. All round: less waste, more sustainable, and they taste really good!”
While wine on tap can help hospitality positively tackle wastage issues and offer house wines that more financially sustainable, Franks knows there is still work to be done for real change.
“KeyKegs are a fantastic format for fixing a very real problem,” Franks acknowledged. “But if we can inspire a real groundswell of demand for wine on tap, we can push the industry to adopt reusable kegs. That requires huge operational change that can only be realised at scale. We’re committed to laying the foundations for that change.”
In a study commissioned by Canned Wine Group with Proof, it found that 73% of consumers would like “a more interesting wine by the glass”. This study has inspired the company’s buying philosophy, focusing on more unusual grape varieties like Fiano and Negroamaro.
Franks said: “A house wine with an interesting grape variety that’s organic is an exciting new experience for a customer to try and as long as we then deliver on quality it creates a memorable experience. That’s hospitality’s USP. However, by sourcing indigenous grapes like Fiano and Negroamaro from regions like Puglia in Italy, we can also use our buying power to encourage better vineyard practices because you don’t need lots of sprays or intervention to ripen the grapes.”
The Copper Crew KeyKegs are only available for the trade and supply is limited as the Group invests in the new space.
