The sustainability and waste issues that eddy around the wine industry are almost universally not great: huge water and electricity usage, heavy glass bottles being shipped around the world, chemical inputs in winemaking, the burden of recycling and more… But it’s not all doom and gloom. Positive approaches are coming thick and fast, with sustainability charters coming into play, alternative thinking around production increasing and a quiet rise of alternative packaging. Can production typically emits less CO2 than bottled, uses more recycled (and recyclable) materials and, being lighter, has better eco-credentials in transport. They’re fun, a good size and portable to boot – making it easy to bring a ‘couple of glasses’ to an event or outdoor party.

Canned wine is not new, sure, but there’s a greater focus now on better quality, price and more diverse styles. Many people think that things in cans can impact taste – this can be true – but flavour can likewise be impacted by glass, corks, screwcaps and casks. That being said, wines selected for canning are usually chosen for general vitality, freshness and drinkability, and meant to be drunk in the vigour of youth, so the impact of longer time in the packaging is a moot point – we’re not putting these cans in the cellar. As a bonus, the smaller format allows for trying a wider breadth of styles, in single (but big!) glasses of wine at picnics, dinner parties and long lunches. Canny packaging brings a can-do attitude to wine consumption. Here are three I’ll be packing this summer.

One of Australia’s favourite and best rosé wines in a tin! What a coup. This is a crunchy pink wine with distinct pomegranate and red cherry fruit characters, a dash of spice and a dry finish. Ideal with a picnic spread.

A blend of sauvignon blanc and the unusual Spanish prieto picudo variety, this is an attractive, frisky sparkling white wine from Natural Order Wine (NOW), with red apple, green pear and cranberry, with a sizzle of lemon sorbet-like freshness. A great party starter.

The vintage of this wine gave me pause – thinking it would be a bit too old for the can – but there’s a juicy, fleshy appeal to this drop, with bright, spicy red and blackberry fruitiness in tow. Very easy drinking.