Get ready for more drama from the Godfather of drama himself, as Francis Ford Coppola provides his answer to boxed wine: sparkling wine in a can. This is hardly Hollywood make-believe. Coppola, who began his wine-making foray over 25 years ago, in 1975, when he and his wife purchased a portion of the Inglenook winery. Known later as the Niebaum-Coppola Winery, and now Rubicon Estate, the winery produces an array of red and white still wines, and its signature Rubicon, a stateside Bordeaux blend (known as a Meritage blend) made of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.

So what’s this about sparkling wine in a can? In 2004, Coppola decided to expand on some innovative ideas he had and created the Sofia Mini, a sparkling wine named after his daughter and packaged in a shiny can. The Sofia Mini is generally sold in cases of four, although I found them sold individually at a local, upscale café here in Scottsdale, Arizona., where I paid about $6 for the petite, 187 mL can. A pre-wrapped, tiny, red, bendable straw came attached, which sealed the deal for me.  

The Sofia Mini is a Blanc de Blancs type of sparkling California wine. Blanc de Blancs literally means “white from whites,” and refers to wine that has conventionally been made from Chardonnay – or “white” – grapes, rather than Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes, the other traditional Champagne-region grapes which are red (or “black”) grapes.

The Sofia Mini’s packaging will appeal to the design-minded, as its shimmery, dark salmon-colored can also contains words scattered about like confetti, from ”petulant” and “reactionary” to “fragrant” and “poetic.”

With the advent of wine in boxes and screw-cap closures, created in the name of increasing wine’s longevity and portability, it is tempting to raise one’s eyebrow in purist protest. On the other hand, being open-minded when it comes to wine packaging may reward you with increased take-anywhere wine experiences. Sparkling wine at the ball game, anyone?

© Gilat Ben-Dor 2008. All rights reserved.