5 Worthy Ready-To-Drinks for Wine Lovers

There’s no denying that ready-to-drink beverages are handy, especially when picnic and beach season are about to be upon us. Categorically, however, they are a double-edged sword for those of us in love with wine, and who want to see it have appeal for upcoming generations: the exploding popularity of various RTDs has in part contributed to a decline in wine sales over the past five years. While many wine brands now offer canned or boxed single-serving wine selections that can at least compete with the convenience factor of other RTD beverages, what’s a wine lover with occasional wine fatigue to do? Only ever reach for water? That seems unreasonable.

I’d argue that there is a way for wine lovers to enjoy alternative, RTD beverages that honors what we love about wine, but allows for more variety and an occasional break, even though we know wine is obviously the OG RTD, and the very best stuff when it comes to alcoholic beverages.

So, what makes a worthy RTD option for a wine lover? For one thing, a grape-based pedigree. Many interesting RTDs have a vermouth or other grape base for a refreshing, spritz-on-the-go vibe. Next, beverages that lead with flavor, and especially those with an inventive approach to crafting something unique, are clearly superior choices to those that are merely traditionally flavored seltzers given the alcoholic spin. Finally, those that have an element of craft, and a terroir-based or historical context also honor some of wine’s best attributes. Here are 5 RTDs for wine lovers to consider for those moments — albeit brief ones — when wine isn’t necessarily the best option.

The Finnish Long Drink

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Long Drink hits me in the wine spot not only for its flavor, which we’ll get to, but for its story. Finland’s government decreed that Finland should have an easy-to-serve, national drink in honor of the post-World War II, Summer Olympic Games held in Helsinki in 1952, and in that spirit Long Drink was born. Essentially a cocktail on draft in Finnish bars, the founders of RTD brand The Finnish Long Drink brought the concoction stateside in 2018, supposing correctly that American drinkers would respond well to its refreshing, piney character. Remember Stanley Tucci’s riff on a Paloma with gin subbed for the tequila, which he dubbed “Ginloma?” Yeah, Long Drink was combining gin and sparkling grapefruit 70 years prior. The Finnish Long Drink is an excellent choice for wine lovers that might occasionally find the refreshing aspect of a hard seltzer appealing, but don’t want to be basic.

Chip Dry & Tonic

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If you’ve ever visited Portugal and found the local custom of white port and tonic especially refreshing following days drinking the country’s signature bold reds, then rejoice! Care of historical port brand Taylor Fladgate, the first to introduce a dry white port to market, the refreshing combo is also available in a RTD format. A gin and tonic variation with a wine base that is lighter and more floral, Chip Dry & Tonic gives both destination and vacation vibes. With only 5.5% ABV, it also offers a wine-adjacent moment with a low ABV.

Empirical Can 01, 02, and 03

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Empirical has been making waves among bartenders for their flavor-forward approach to crafting unique, and also sustainably-minded spirits. (Can I get away with not mentioning they partnered with Doritos for a nacho cheese flavored spirit? I don’t think so, so here it is.) This typically thoughtful approach is unsurprising given that the minds behind the operation are the same that brought the world Noma, Copenhagen’s legendary temple of gastronomy. I especially enjoy their line of canned, single-serve concoctions. You can choose your own adventure here: three different options simply named Can(s) 01, 02, and 03 offer arresting combinations of tea and other botanicals with a lightly spirituous backbone.

Social Hour Pacific Spritz

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There are many canned spritz options on the market that combine vermouth or other aperitivi with fizz, including Sprezza , Luxardo , and Subject to Change Wine Co , among others, but for my money I love the intrigue built into Social Hour’s spritzy offerings. Founded by legendary NYC bartenders Julie Reiner and Tom Macy, Social Hour’s canned selections were perfected by exemplary palates. Among their offerings are a few staple canned cocktails, but the spritz lineup especially gives a wine base some seriously sexy dance partners: passionfruit, yuzu, and jasmine, among others.

Grown Folks

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If you must answer hard seltzer’s refreshing call, at least make it interesting, and what’s more, put your hard-earned dollars going the hard seltzer route somewhere more meaningful than White Claw. (I have laws about Claws.) Black and female-owned, with a soul-food spin, Grown Folks offers “soulfully crafted” seltzers with a trio of conversation-starter, Southern-inspired flavors: ambrosia, peach cobbler, and key lime, each utilizing real fruit juice in the mix.