A Full Glass with James Nokes

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Joe to Go. Wine from a can.

Joe to Go Pinot Gris and Rosé ($7 per 350 mL can)Wine glasses at a tailgate are a nightmare.

Plastic wine glasses offer a solution. But, they have to be remembered as part of the packing process and take up space, which can be at a premium. With the dawn of college football season, all the hassle of wondering who packed the plastic glasses, or the decision on which glass ones are expendable, can be avoided with Joe to Go. 

The canned wines from Oregon can be tossed into a cooler full of ice with any other pregame beverages. The Joe to Go Pinot Gris and Rosé ($7 per 350 mL can), which I tasted out of the can and the glass with the same experience, is the wine for tailgating fans that want to skip foaming carbonated beverages in Red Solo Cups. 

Canned wines are popping up with increased frequently these days at wine shops, big box wine stores and grocers. Joe to Go, which is part of Wine by Joe, has already done three canning runs and CEO Gretchen Boock has taken the brand across the country to build momentum. 

Some consumers have totally embraced the idea, while others are grappling with the aesthetic of drinking wine from a can. If wine in a can is a quirky idea, Joe to Go has embraced its whitty side. Each can has a top of a body and a bottom. Stack them and you get a “little Joe.” There’s drawn pictures of fruit on the back to describe the flavors and a chart to compare cans to glasses when it comes to consumption. 
 
Two cans of Joe to Go are equal to one bottle and Boock said they didn’t  “turn towards cheap juice.” Instead, they made crisp and refreshing wines that would please a large crowd. It’s time to forego any canned wine bias and let the next visit to celebrate your alma mater’s football team be that chance. 

Still having reservations about drinking wine from a can?  See Joe's FAQ's and Facts here.