Tin vino veritas: SA start-up taps canned wine trend

It's an innovation that could make wine purists shudder, but a South African startup is hoping to cash in on a rising global trend among millennials for canned wines.

Uncanny's tins of premium red and white wines are the first to be certified by South Africa's Wine and Spirit Board and are also vegan friendly.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) WINE TASTER, BARRY VERWEY, SAYING:

"It's the same quality and it's just more convenient to get around also and it's quite enjoyable drinking from a can."

The launch is initially targeting a domestic audience before owner Arnold Vlok takes a crack at the lucrative export market.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNCANNY WINE CO-OWNER, ARNOLD VLOK, SAYING:

"We are very close to exporting to the U.S. where this market is well established and I think the European market is especially responsive to the benefits which we add on the product which is no sulphur-added and vegan-friendly."

South Africa produced more than 820 million liters of wine in 2018, making it one of the top global producers, but wine taster Sarette van de Heever says there's room for Uncanny.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) WINE TASTER, SARETTE VAN DE HEEVER, SAYING:

"I think if you serve the wine out of a glass bottle and you pour it into a glass it will definitely taste different than if you serve it and you maybe drink out of a can, absolutely. But the cool thing is you're not trying to replace I think existing wines that's made in a specific way and that's served in a specific way."

Uncanny sells its 250 milliliter aluminum can for around 40 rand, or under three US dollars.