Wine?

Posted by: billstephenson

Wine? - 04/10/12 09:29 PM

I don't drink wine, but... for those who must have the latest in lightweight wine gear...

Posted by: phat

Re: Wine? - 04/10/12 09:50 PM


I drink wine - but I very seldom take it backpacking. it's too heavy. (I have been known to put two bottle of wine into a platypus at a resupply point tho..)

As I also drink scotch, cask strength single malt is far more weight efficient.

Of course the most weight efficient is probably crystal light powder and dual use everclear (stove fuel + booze) - but I'm a bit too much of a princess for that these days wink
Posted by: wandering_daisy

Re: Wine? - 04/10/12 11:03 PM

1.5 liters!! That is heavy. I would go for it if it came in smaller packages - about the size of an old fashioned "wine skin". And for the weight, I would rather have port!
Posted by: balzaccom

Re: Wine? - 04/10/12 11:42 PM

I work in the industry, and often judge wine competitions on an international basis. The wine in the CLimber is pretty good stuff.

But there are now some plastic bottles that work for wine, and when we go on a SHORT trip, we sometimes take a nice bottle of wine for dinner.

And no, that's not mentioned in the Lightweight Zone...!
Posted by: Slowfoot

Re: Wine? - 04/11/12 04:20 PM

Target has wine in 375 ml single-serve cartons similar to juice boxes. My local grocery store has "Bandit" brand wine in 500 ml cartons, and I think they have smaller ones also in a different brand. I've only had the Bandit Sangria, which I thought was pretty decent, but I'm no wine expert. I haven't taken it backpacking but I had it at a campground along a river where glass was banned.
Posted by: OregonMouse

Re: Wine? - 04/11/12 07:15 PM

If it's just a short trip, like an overnighter, you can decant the wine into a half-liter Platypus.
Posted by: kevonionia

Re: Wine? - 04/14/12 02:59 AM

Bill:

It never got mentioned, but the entity making The Climber Pouch is Clif Family Winery, of Clif Bar fame:



This is their old wine label, and you can see the similarities with their energy bars. (The new labels not so much so.)

That style of pouch is the most innovative packaging I've ever seen for wine to imbibe in the outdoors, but it seems like it would go better carried in some bike panniers than in a backpack -- and Gary Erickson, co-owner/founder of Clif Bar, originally came up with his energy bars from his cycling. His cycling is also how the Climber wine pouch came into being.

And it's very green, too, and it sounds like it is decent wine and a step above box-o-wine. A great idea for an outdoor excursion other than backpacking.
Posted by: billstephenson

Re: Wine? - 04/14/12 12:59 PM

Yeah, I missed that it's a 1.5 liter. It'd be about perfect for backpacking if it were .5 liters though (maybe backpacking wine lovers should write him wink )
Posted by: balzaccom

Re: Wine? - 04/14/12 10:40 PM

That family is also very supportive of cyclists and getting people out of their homes and into the open air. Lots of programs to help communities make that happen!
Posted by: Steadman

Re: Wine? - 04/17/12 09:51 PM

I've heard of wine juice boxes in Europe, but never found any. Someone better traveled than I might have a better clue on this...
Posted by: kevonionia

Re: Wine? - 04/18/12 11:13 PM

Steadman:

I saw them in Ireland, but didn't get one 'cause they didn't come with that little bendy straw. wink
Posted by: midnightsun03

Re: Wine? - 04/21/12 12:34 PM

They are available in pretty much any grocery store wine section that I've seen around here in NC, and I know they are also available in AK. I haven't looked anywhere else. They are a little spendy compared to a standard bottle, but there are some decent (or at least drinkable) brands out there. Next time I go to the store I'll take a photo.

MNS