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Yes, oui, can
King Family Vineyards cracks open a new way to enjoy its Crosé By Nathan Alderman
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ommeliers may take offense, but canned wine is a booming business. In January, Crozet’s King Family Vineyards popped the top on this trend by rolling out its first cases of canned Crosé, its popular rosé wine. As winemaker Matthieu Finot explains, King’s been making a dry, fruit-forward rosé since 2003, and now harvests Merlot grapes specifically for the Crosé. After the crush, the juice rests briefly on the red grapes’ skins, resulting in a pale-pink wine with “less alcohol and more freshness,” Finot says. The King Family website describes “notes of grapefruit, lime, watermelon, and a light grassiness on the nose…and flavors of bitter cherry, peach, and rose petal” on the palate. “We went from producing 100 cases in the first year to over 4,000 cases in 2018,” Finot says. “The demand for [Crosé] keeps increasing, along with the rosé consumption in the United States.” So it made sense to King and Finot to capitalize on the rising popularity of canned wine, especially among younger drinkers. After all, wine and portability generally don’t mix. If you want to savor a glass of grape on the go, you’ll need to lug around a heavy glass bottle, a corkscrew,
and glasses (unless you want to swig straight from the bottle). And once you’ve opened a bottle, you’ll need to finish it promptly to keep the wine from losing its freshness—a strategy more advisable at home than while you’re out and about. Each can of Crosé, in contrast, is roughly the size of a generous glass of wine, and a four-pack has the same volume as a bottle at the same price. “Also, canning is better for the environment,” says Finot—lighter, more recyclable, and with less waste. King canned its first 500 cases of 2018 Crosé the same week it bottled the rest of the vintage, with help from a mobile canning company that came to the vineyard. Cans are sold exclusively at the vineyard, and Finot says they’re planning on more cases of cans for the 2019 vintage to meet the rising demand. “Most of the customers like the convenience of it,” Finot says. And what would Finot say to wine snobs who can’t bear the thought of aluminum-clad vino? “They can still buy Crosé in bottles,” he says, “but it is less practical on the golf course!” King Family Vineyards, 6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet; 823-7800; kingfamilyvineyards.com
Each can of Crosé is roughly the size of a generous glass of wine, and a fourpack has the same volume as a bottle at the same price.
Eat, drink and be merry Virginia Craft Spirits Roadshow
Know Good Beer & Spirits Fest
Saturday, March 30
Saturday, May 11
More than a dozen commonwealth distillers— including Charlottesville’s own Vitae Spirits— supply the hooch and craft cocktails at this annual event presented by the Virginia Distillers Association. Champion Brewing provides chasers. Food trucks bring the grub. Designated drivers get free admission. $30-35. Noon-5pm. IX Art Park, 963 Second St. SE. virginiaspirits.org
Pace yourself and call Uber, because this popular event offers unlimited 2- to 4-ounce pours of 40 craft beers, as well as smaller samples of 20 bourbons from area distillers. Oh, and there’s food and live music, too. $25-60. 1-5pm. IX Art Park, 963 Second St. SE. knowgoodbeer.com
Iron Chef Market Competition Saturday, April 13 A feature food event of the Tom Tom Festival, the Iron Chef City Market Competition challenges three top chefs to cook Hometown Staples: Southern Favorites. With a $60 budget, 10 minutes to gather ingredients from the market, and 30 minutes to cook before judging begins, contestants vie for the Iron Chef title. This year, three amateur cooks will join the fray. 10am. City Market, corner of Water and Second streets. tomtomfest.com
Gordonsville Famous Fried Chicken Festival Saturday, May 18 Back in the day, when passenger trains stopped in Gordonsville, they were met by locals with platters of fried chicken for sale, and the town became known as the “chicken leg center of the universe.” The 13th annual event celebrates this heritage with a fried-chicken cook-off. The winner bags $100, and second and third place finishers get $75 and $50, respectively. (There’s also a pie contest with a $75 top prize.) Wash it all down in the wine garden, where local producers proudly pour their goods. $5 wine
garden admission. 11am-5pm. 301 E. Baker St. (540) 832-1735. townofgordonsville.org
Roseland Polo Sunday, May 26 The polo pitch at King Family Vineyards provides a wonderful spectacle, what with all the horses and riders in their colorful outfits. But for most of us, attending the matches is really just an excuse to have a big picnic and drink a little wine. This year, you can enjoy King’s popular Crosé rosé from a can, so that’s a bonus. Weather permitting, the matches continue every Sunday through early October. Gates open at 10 am, matches begin at 1pm, 6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet. 823-7800. kingfamilyvineyards.com
Virginia Summer Solstice Wine Festival Saturday, June 22 Local wines, food, art, crafts, and two stages with live music. What better way to usher in the new season? 11am-6pm. $20-25. summersolsticefestival.com
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