Larkan aims to plug a gap for ‘super premium’ canned wine

By Lisa Riley

Published: 04 March, 2019

Larkin Wines, a boutique Napa winery which specialises in premium Cabernet and red blends retailing around £70, is set to launch a range of ‘super premium’ canned wines in the UK.

Pitched as “the first of its kind”, the initial Larkan range comprises three Napa Valley wines; White 2017 - a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne, Red 2017 - a 100% Merlot and Pink 2018 - a 100% Pinot Noir from Carneros.

With the grapes sourced from the same small plot vineyards used for Larkin bottlings, the cans will retail at £9.99 for 375ml and will be available in 12x1 cases.

Target sectors include specialist wine merchants, speciality food and drink retailers and event caterers.

Although recognising that putting “top notch Napa Valley wine in a beer can might be divisive – and certainly a little crazy”, Larkin owner and winemaker Sean Larkin said he genuinely feels there is “significant market potential”.

“The idea for Larkan came about when I was at the beach with friends and we had no wine due to the no glass policy. I started researching alternatively packaged wines already on the market, and quickly realised there was no offer within the super-premium category,” he said.

Created to fill a gap in the UK market for a “very premium” canned wine, Larkan also had the dual role of injecting fun into the super-premium category and premiumisation into the canned category., he added.

Distribution will be via James Hocking Wine, the new specialist boutique Californian agency which launched last month.

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