IRVING, Texas — Jumping on the growing trend of wine in cans, 7-Eleven Inc. is rolling out its first canned wine, called Roamer. Intended for on-the-go wine drinkers, Roamer is available in chardonnay and rose varieties.
"The name, Roamer, reflects how we think people will enjoy this new wine, while they're out and attending concerts, picnics or spending a day at the beach," said Tim Cogil, 7-Eleven senior director of private brands. "For wine lovers, bringing along their favorite beverage requires bringing a bottle, corkscrew and glasses. Now, Roamer wine can share the ice chest with canned beer and soda with no additional wine paraphernalia needed."
The Roamer Syrah-based rose is a dry, fruit-driven wine with hints of strawberry and raspberry, while the Roamer chardonnay has an oak influence, with bright tropical and citrus fruits that add to its bright acidity, according to the retailer.
"It's another way 7-Eleven is offering convenience to its customers," Cogil said.
Growth of canned wines in the United States recently surpassed any other type of alternative wine packaging. While glass bottles still hold the vast majority of wine sales, canned wine sales surged 43% from June 2017 to June 2018, totaling a $45 million business, according to data from Nielsen, New York.
Roamer joins 7-Eleven's popular Yosemite Road wine, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019. In 2005, when Yosemite Road was introduced, it was the first international launch of a wine brand, simultaneously hitting shelves in the United States and Japan, the retailer said.
In 2017, 7-Eleven added the Trojan Horse Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio wines to the company's wine portfolio. The two varietals were the first to carry vintage dating and California appellations, designating that all grapes were grown in California and harvested the same year.
Earlier this year, the Irving, Texas-based convenience-store retailer entered the premium wine market with an affordably priced option, Voyager Point. 7-Eleven said the Voyager Point premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend and Sauvignon Blanc wines are from notable growing regions known for their winemaking traditions: California and Marlborough, New Zealand.
Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven Inc. operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 67,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. It ranked No. 1 on CSP's 2018 Top 202 list of the largest c-store chains in the United States.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Upscale grocer Whole Foods Market’s team of beer, wine and spirits experts has released its forecast for 2018’s front-running alcohol-beverage trends. The list is highlighted by a renewed interest in lighter-bodied beers, along with an emergence of hard seltzers and packaged wine spritzers.
“We predict our shoppers will continue to look for a mix of high quality and great value as they stock up on their favorite beers and wines,” said Devon Broglie, master sommelier and global beverage buyer for Whole Foods Market. “Look for more boxed-wine options and an emergence of 15-pack canned beers.”
Here's a look at the leading trends in the category ...
Beer lovers are putting down the hoppy IPAs in favor of lighter tastes. Mexican imports such as Tecate and Modelo are part of the fast-growing imported-beer segment, partly because they pair well with the ever-evolving and always popular taco. But sessionable brews—those that are lower in alcohol and often lower in price than their heavier craft counterparts—are also rising to the top as consumers move toward simple and lighter-bodied beers.
Sparkling water is having a moment. And in 2018, the spotlight will shine on its bubbly cousin: hard seltzer. Hard seltzers allow consumers to toast their daily accomplishments and big wins with natural, refreshing drinks, the Whole Foods team said. The combination of fewer calories and alluring bubbles will make hard seltzers like White Claw a winning beverage choice for the year.
Prepackaged cocktails and wine spritzers will steal the show at get-togethers in 2018, Whole Foods predicts. Beyond staples such as sangria and margaritas, new options are designed to mimic classic cocktails. These include Ramona, a Sicilian ruby grapefruit wine spritzer, and Hoxie Spritzer, a wine spritzer from Southern California.
The bourbon-barrel-aged trend is showing up in restaurants, specialty foods and snacks, but it’s not entirely new to the wine scene. This year, bourbon-barrel-aged wines are coming into their own, and consumers are already embracing the trend with palate-pleasing wines such as Cooper & Thief and The Federalist. Bourbon distilleries are required to use each barrel only once, so these wineries are repurposing barrels and reaping the benefits of bold, rich flavors left behind.
Canned wine had its coming-out party in 2017, highlighting a trend toward alternative packaging designed for convenience and value that’s not slowing down. Whole Foods expects price-conscious shoppers to look for alternative packaging in the wine and spirits category this year.
- Larger, 1.5-liter magnum wine bottles can offer a better value, without sacrificing quality, and are more functional for larger dinner parties.
- The growing selection of cans makes it easy to bring wine to the next tailgate party.
- Traditional glass bottles can be heavy and easily broken, and the emergence of plastic wine bottles allows active wine drinkers to pack a nice merlot while adventuring outside.
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