The dynamic world of wine does not stop innovating, evolving and offering new and disruptive products, also without alcohol. A great surprise has been caused by the irruption in the United Kingdom of ice creams based on Italian sparkling wine under the brand of the world leader in cava: Freixenet. It is a pilot test with 5.5º of alcohol that is being tested this summer but which, in principle, is not intended to be marketed in the Spanish market.
But these controversial ice creams already have a precedent with cava. In 2018, the Codorníu Raventós group teamed up with Jordi Roca from El Celler de Can Roca in Girona to produce the Anna Rocks cava pole with two flavors (those of pink and white cava Anna Ice Edition).
Beyond the great novelty of canned wines and sparkling wines, which are now booming, you can also find everything from potato chips with aromas of sparkling wine from a company in Montmeló (Patatas Torres) to grape-flavored water drinks , without fat or calories, (like the one from Nestlé or the one that is offered with a private label in the North American supermarket chain Kroger).
The marketing manager of Patatas Torres, Ariadna Bosom, affirms that “we have always sought to turn potatoes into a gastronomic experience, with flavors of caviar, Iberian ham or Catalan sparkling wine”. In short, they offer potatoes that are “innovative, exclusive and that can surprise, elevating a simple product to something more memorable.”
Chocolate nougats (Simón Coll de San Sadurní d’Anoia) or truffles (Vicens de Agramunt) are also not missing in the cava frame; as well as cava sausages made by Cal Miqueló de Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (from block of foie gras in cava or white sausage in cava, to rib and nose confit in cava).
Cheeses with wine have also been made (such as those from the DO Queso de Murcia al Vino), coffee infused with wine, wine candies, wine jams or wine salts. And there are also those who have made cosmetic products with wine by-products (such as Vall Llach del Priorat). There is also a jeweler from Terrassa, Viktor Arteaga, who creates original jewelery with corks that have covered wine bottles.
The casual canned wine (or sangria) is re-emerging, although it is not a new occurrence. It has existed since the First World War (1917). French soldiers were provided with wine rations in large metal cans. Now it is back in fashion and there are already several Spanish wine projects in 100% recycled and recyclable aluminum cans, protected by an internal film to ensure quality.
Entrepreneurs who have opted for canned wine attest that they keep the flavor of the wine “unaltered”. 0.0% have also reached canned wine. of a good wine, nor carry bottles and crystal glasses to toast, nor give up the bubbles to take care of yourself while enjoying yourself”. That is why they have launched Imperfect, a non-alcoholic wine with bubbles with which to toast “without worries and taking care of your health ”.
The big cava firms, such as Codorníu, have also launched canned aromatized wine with exogenous bubbles and 5.5º of alcohol using their own brands. The general director of Codorníu, Sergio Fuster, affirms that “as creators of cava it is our responsibility to innovate and get closer to the new generations, to surprise young palates by modernizing the image of our brand with daring, sustainable formats, with fresh flavors and low graduation”.
At Familia Torres they do not sell canned wines, but they do sell them in bag in box (due to the demands of international markets with a state monopoly). The bag in box is a hermetic single-use packaging system (a bag with a tap inside a cardboard box), designed to prolong the useful life of liquids. There are also those who have returned to Tetra Pak to market sangria, wine or wine soft drinks.
