canned wines

9 Amazing Wines Not Made From Grapes

amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

The world of fruit wines has evolved significantly from those days where it was labelled as country wine and the most renowned product may have been scrumpy. But fruit wines, and here we are specifically referring to those not made from grapes which also excludes ciders, may be a quintessential summer drink that is increasing in popularity. These wines may conjure up images of fruit picking from farms or foraging within countryside and making homemade versions of wine from strawberries, brambles and other fruits that may be found in your garden. However, the market for fruit wines has become more sophisticated as consumers broaden their palates and seek locally grown produce in their efforts to increase sustainability but also to enjoy healthier but tasty options. Fruit wines will also undergo a fermentation process similar to wine, which will involve yeast, but that may be where the similarity ends as the different types of fruits will vary in their production methods.

Fruit wines are an exciting addition to the world of wines, on an international scale, and may appeal more to younger generations but also to those that might feel daunted by the plethora of choices and complexities within grape wines and the snobbery that may surround them. You can even go on a fruit wine tour across your region to explore and enjoy these creative wines without having to travel too far. Well, we don’t know about you but we can’t wait to discover more about the wide range of options for fruit wines. You certainly don’t need to stop at just a few types to sample as there are a myriad of flavours, we would certainly encourage you to traverse your region and visit local farms and open spaces to discover as many as you can. Here are a few fantastic fruit wines that we thought to highlight within our selection.

Wine That’s Fruit (WTF) Whitecurrant Wine

Wine That’s Fruit (WTF) Whitecurrant Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

This limited edition whitecurrant wine will be the closest taste that you can imagine to a dry, white wine, but without the grapes! Wine That’s Fruit started in 2019, are based in Herefordshire and specialise in making their wines using fruit juices that are not concentrated. The fruits themselves are sourced locally and the company name’s acronym suggests a cheeky spirit to this family run brand! This wine is intriguing, not least as whitecurrants appear so rarely in drinks that many people might wonder what they are! Whitecurrants are part of the same family as blackcurrants but have a flavour profile resembling gooseberries or grapes.

As such, this whitecurrant wine has a tart, dry taste with a natural wine flavour profile with hints of pear on the palate. It is slightly fizzy to provide that refreshing sensation and will pair well with cheese and sardines. It is in a handy can size for a mindful drinking session. You can buy a pack of four or buy a taster pack in which you can be spoilt for choice to sample other flavours from the WTF fruit wines range!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: - £19.40 for 4

Wine That’s Fruit (WTF) Strawberry Wine

Wine That’s Fruit (WTF) Strawberry Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

This is a slightly sparkling variety in the WTF range but it is amongst the sweetest. Still, its appearance is similar to a Rosé wine from riper climates and on the nose there is that sensation of juicy, ripe strawberries. There are subtle bubbles within this strawberry wine which would be ideal as an aperitif and would therefore appeal to fans of Rosé Champagne and Kir Royale cocktails. This summery, fruit forward concoction is a crowd pleaser and will pair well with some strawberries and cream at Wimbledon! It is also vegan friendly, gluten free, with no preservatives, no sulphites and it is served in an eco friendly, recyclable can for added benefits!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £19.40 for 4

Cairn O’Mohr Spring Oak Leaf Wine

Cairn O’Mohr Spring Oak Leaf Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

This medium sweet fruit wine is likely to surprise many as it’s not made out of flower blossoms or fruits but is made from actual leaves, which will definitely be a good talking point if you bring this to a summer party! This Perthshire based winery has been crafting award winning fruit wines since 1987 and is certainly worth a visit during its tours on Wednesdays and weekends. Their ingredients are obtained locally through foraging, with the local landowner’s permission, of course! 

A winemaking process lasting 2-3 years is undertaken in the creation of these wines which involves the harvesting, fermentation and storage. The Spring Oak Leaf Wine is a delightful blend of leaves and citrus fruit juices which is dangerously quaffable and it’s unbelievable that this is not a grape wine as its flavour profile is similar to a Viognier and is a fruity refreshing taste on the palate.  This is an intriguingly tasty wine to drink by itself before or after dinner. Plus, there are no added preservatives, low level sulphites, it’s vegan friendly and gluten free to provide that healthier drinking option overall!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.3%
Find here: £9.40

Lindisfarne Ginger Wine

Lindisfarne Ginger Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

This caramel coloured ginger wine is made on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which has a monastery that was founded in 643AD as an inspiration. However, another source of inspiration for this brand, whose production goes back as far as the 1950s, is also that of the Lindisfarne Gospels, which can be seen via the Medieval style font on these Lindisfarne wine bottles. All of this history, plus a Viking connection, proves to be a draw to visitors to this remote location, which is only connected to England by a causeway!

This ginger wine has received plaudits during the Winchester Drinks Festival and has been recognised as a perfect pairing with whisky for those whisky cocktails. Indeed, its ginger smell is pronounced on the nose and its sweet flavour profile suggests that it may appeal to those lovers of ginger liqueurs as there is almost a candied taste. This ginger wine would also work well as a substitute for ginger beer to make a boozier rum cocktail but could equally be drunk by itself, on the rocks, and evokes those images of cosier nights leading up to the festive season.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £9.95

Lyme Bay Winery Cherry Wine

Lyme Bay Winery Cherry Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

The Lyme Bay Winery is located in Axminster in Devon and is close to Lyme Regis, which was the home of the famous palaeontologist and fossil hunter, Mary Anning. You could therefore visit on a day trip to see the sights and indulge in a wine tasting tour to sample some of their fruit wines too!

This is a sweet wine with an instantly detected authentic cherry aroma which resembles black cherries. Plus, there is a hint of almonds, in the flavour profile, with a slightly dry aftertaste which conjures up that image of a slice of Bakewell tart and indeed this would pair well with desserts! As an award winner of a gold prize in the Taste of the West in 2022, this will be a good drink to add to your digestif collection.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £10.99

Lyme Bay Elderflower Wine

Lyme Bay Elderflower Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

Another wine that we’re highlighting from the many fruit wine flavours is its elderflower variety. This is a light, crisp, easy drinking wine that is ideal for those outdoor summer celebrations! It is an elegant off dry wine which is best served chilled for picnic season. Tangy on the palate and floral on the nose this is an ideal wine to serve whilst lounging in the garden or having flirty walks by the river or beach. You can drink this by itself or for that extra twist, this could be added to an Elderflower Spritz cocktail! This wine is made using local ingredients and on the Lyme Bay website there is even a recipe to make some homemade elderflower wine yourself!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £12.79

Cairn O’Mohr Gorse Wine

Cairn O’Mohr Gorse Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

Fields of yellow gorse flowers instantly spring to mind with this wine which is made from foraged wild gorse flowers! This is a medium sweet wine which has been awarded 2 stars at the Great Taste Awards. With a golden honey colour, this wine has a slightly sweet flavour with hints of honey and depicts that summer meadow  joy. Its aftertaste is reminiscent of a light fruit brandy and this Gorse wine pairs well with peppered mackerel and as it does not oxidise as readily this can still be enjoyed within 7-10 days of opening.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.2%
Find here: £14.60

Lindisfarne Elderflower Wine

Lindisfarne Elderflower Wine amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

As Elderflower wines are quite popular, it is exciting to explore the range in their taste and flavour profiles. This elderflower wine from Lindisfarne is medium sweet and a golden yellow colour with higher alcohol content. It is described as an aromatic wine and is slightly sweeter on the palate and resembles mead in taste. As such, it will be ideal to drink during or after a meal as it is full bodied in nature and could also be enjoyed with tonic or lemonade or as a winter’s version as a mulled cocktail.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £9.95

Nudist Drinks Rabarba Brut Organic 2022

Nudist Drinks Rabarba Brut Organic 2022 amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

We are extremely delighted to include this entry within our selection as I discovered this delicious sparkling rhubarb wine whilst on holiday in Tallinn, Estonia sitting on a summer’s day at the Nudist winery. Indeed, its UK distributors Winestorrs Limited had made a similar discovery of this sparkling rhubarb wine in Tallinn and sought to bring this over to the UK market as a distributor and so we are delighted that you are also able to sample these wines easier now too! Although, you might still wish to visit Tallinn too for a spot of wine tourism at the winery as these wines are fermented and made onsite. 

Surprisingly, this is Estonia’s first organic sparkling wine and it has been rewarded for its efforts with the prize of 2019’s Best Organic Drink award from the Ministry of Rural Affairs. This organic sparkling rhubarb wine resembles Champagne but has a tart flavour profile with that fruity taste of rhubarb and it is an unfiltered wine. Its fermentation process is through cold pressed Estonian rhubarb juice and it will be just as suitable for all of your celebrations!  

This is a playful, new age alternative which even has the hashtag #fakechampagne to encourage you all to take this journey to discover Champagne alternatives and we will be there with you! There are also lower ABV and alcohol free versions of this sparkling rhubarb wine which may be available for international sales at future stages, fingers crossed!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £16

The final treat in our selection is a hybrid, as we always like to give you that bit extra! This product is a blend of fruit and wine that is revolutionising the market with its youthful, fun energy to appeal to younger generations. Let’s enter the world of the brand, Joy.

Joy Orange Spritz

Joy Orange Spritz amazing wines not made from grapes the three drinkers

Bursting on to the ready to drink cocktail scene in August 2023, the Joy brand epitomises the energetic spirit of the fruit wine market. It is a wine within the Concha y Toro portfolio, which also includes the red wine Casillero del Diablo. This Orange Spritz is the recipient of the Product of the Year award in a consumer survey of product innovation and it is easy to see why with this tasty, tangy marmalade blend with white wine, with a good price point, which will appeal to fans of Aperol Spritz as that go to summer drink.

This is a zesty, aromatised blend with bitters and a fruity profile which is best served chilled and with ice in time for Apéro hour and to imagine being on a sunny, coastal holiday.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 8%
Find here: £7

Hopefully, this selection will now entice you to explore the wider world of wines outside of grape based wines. There are many types of fruits, berries and leaves locally grown to provide that inspiration and we would love to know which new wines you have now tried within this burgeoning industry propelling fruit forward wines. You can stay local to become immersed in the innovation of emerging fruit winemakers or travel internationally to discover fruit wines within the US, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and more countries, which sounds very exciting to us to see this wine evolution!

By Latoya Austin

latoya austin drinklusive the three drinkers

Perfect Canned Wines for Your DIY Advent Calendar

perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

It’s been a joy to witness the journey that canned wine has gone on, from the early days where pretty much anything you picked up was disappointing, to now, with diverse varietals, solid as a rock stalwart wines, and even English producers.

They’re also some of the most gorgeous designs in all the drinks world, and being between 187ml-250ml, they’re a joy to open each day on the build up to Christmas. Why should kids have all the fun?

There are a few different ways you can make your own DIY advent calendars, such as this guide using wine boxes, and this using tubes, or just make your little advent bags. Alternatively, if you don’t fancy making your own, then we’ve assembled the best Boozy Advents for 2023 here!

We’ve got you covered for 12 of the 24 days below, all beautiful inside and out.

WHITE

Vinca Organic Bianco

vinca perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Vinca pride themselves on environmentalism, using 73% recycled aluminium for their cans, and only sourcing wine that was made from organic grapes. They have a Sicilian Rosé, a juicy red and this Sicilian Catarratto white, and they’re all full of fresh fruit, with a crisp and clean feel. One to prove the can snobs wrong.

Size: 187ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £4

Hun Vegan Sauvignon Blanc

hun vegan perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

The branding my be minimalist but the wine inside packs a punch, providing easy drinking on the go South African Sav. For the money especially, there’s plenty of that tropical, juicy profile, refreshening salinity and balanced acidity.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £3 (but often 2 for £4!)

Most Wanted Pinot Grigio Fizz

most wanted perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Most Wanted usually back up their name, and for around £2, a can of this bubbly Pinot goes down easy. It has a fairy neutral expression, with pleasant crispness and semi-aerated fizz. Don’t get us wrong, it isn’t going to blow your mind with its elegance or depth, but as a decent sipper or palate cleanser, it does the job.

Size: 200ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £2.20

Canned Wine Viognier White

canned wine viognier perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Gone are the days of simple reds and whites being the only canned wine options because there are now brands like Canned Wine Co. focusing on single varietal and carefully sourced wines shooting for quality and hitting the mark. They have a really exciting selection, but their Viognier is the star, with sunny peach, aromatic jasmine and soft buttery mouthfeel. Their cans are also some of the best looking out there.  

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £5.50

ROSE

Nice Pale Rosé

nice pale rose perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Nice have become a shelf stalwart since launching in 2019, building a reputation as one of the most reliable canned wine brands going. Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc are also offered, but it’s their Rosé where their light, natural fruits really shine. Ripe peach and sweet strawberries linger behind that rose petal colouring for a real Cote d’Azur drinking experience – and top notch value too.

Size: 187ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £2.35

Djuce Bibich's Rosé

djuce bibich perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

This Syrah Rosé catches the eye from the off and continues to raise eyebrows. It’s fully organic, from Croatia and if you go into it with an open mind and don’t expect Provence style Rosé, you’ll be in for a treat. It’s a real red berry explosion, with fine spritz bubbles, unusual woody spice, and plenty of rose petal and delicate orange peel. A little pricey but it would be a welcome change in a boozy advent calendar.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £9.99

SPARKLING

Canvino Bianco

canvino perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Another charming design and within is one of the best sparkling whites you can pick up in the supermarket. Like all of Canvino’s output, it’s from Lombardy and the Bianco is in the mould of a Prosecco, a blend of Chardonnay and Trebbiano grapes producing real zing and simplicity over a gentle fizz.

Size: 200ml
ABV: 10.5%
Find here: £2.50

The Uncommon English White Wine Spritzer

uncommon perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

The Uncommon focus on the specialist wines of southern England, which just get better and better. Their entire range is beautiful inside and out and would make a lovely advent opening. This Bacchus and Chardonnay spritzer is light and fresh, blended with sparkling water and elderflower and cucumber botanicals.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 5.5%
Find here: £4 (usually more!)

RED

Château des Moriers Miss Vicky 'O Joie' Fleurie

chateau des moriers miss vicky perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

From Château des Morier by wine innovator Anne-Victoire Monrozier comes this seductive canned Beaujolais cru with 100% Gamay grapes, showing just how far canned wines have come. The Pinot-esque cherry scents are so inviting, and juicy acidity follows with a mouthful of crunchy, vivid red fruits. Herbal and spicy notes round everything off deliciously.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £4.95

Kiss of Wine Feisty Nebbiolo

kiss of wine fesity perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Kiss of Wine are all about celebrating smaller, independent winemakers and packaging their wines in simple, charming ways. There’s the Smooth Loire Valley Chardonnay and the Zesty German Riesling to name two, but we adore their Feisty Nebbiolo because we never expected it in a canned wine – delicate, fruity acidity from Piedmont. You even get a pamphlet with your order all about the wine and producer. Check out their six varietals!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £5.90

Copper Crew Merlot

copper crew merlot perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Yet more aesthetically pleasing cans here from Copper Crew in South Africa. They offer a Provence Rosé, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc and a Chenin Blanc with a lot of zip, but their Merlot feels particularly luxurious for a can. It’s aged for 24 months in French oak to feel full and plush with red fruits.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £4

Lubanzi Red Blend

lubanzi red blend perfect canned wines for your DIY advent calendar the three drinkers

Named after a mysterious dog who followed the two founders 100 miles across the South African coast, Lubanzi is inspired by this experience and South African wine. This Red Blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvédre hits with spice and serious elegance for the money. And it’s all vegan, carbon neutral and Fairtrade certified too. And the design is gorgeous. The complete package.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £3.65

If you’d rather order a ready-made calendar then we’ve assembled the best Boozy Advents for 2023 here!