The sparkling wine that made people want to drink canned wine
The first Sofia was a sparkling wine inspired by Francis Ford Coppola's daughter. While it was not the first canned wine, it was the first that presented itself as a premium product.
Francis Ford Coppola “Sofia” Brut Rosé
Monterey County, Calif.
$17.99
12% alcohol
PLCB Item #98745
Sale price through Oct. 6; regularly $21.99
Filmmaker turned winemaker Francis Ford Coppola brought a touch of the theatrical to the launch of the “Sofia” line of sparkling wines 25 years ago. The first Sofia was a sparkling blanc de blancs inspired by his daughter Sofia, whose own feature film debut as a director was the same year. The wine had originally been made in bottles to be served at her wedding, but proved ideal for the elder Coppola to launch in single-serving cans, a longtime priority. While Sofia was not the first canned wine, it was the first that presented itself as a premium product, and it gained significant traction as a result.
Sofia blanc de blancs was soon joined by this brut rosé. Both turned heads in colorful 6-ounce cans, each with their own tiny straw attached, while the standard 750ml bottle came wrapped in shimmering cellophane to help it stand out on the shelf. Today, both formats have been given a facelift for a new era with cleaner, more legible branding and without the disposable plastic elements. Stylistically, these sparklers have always been made using the same Charmat production method that gives Italian prosecco its pop of freshness, but the brut rosé is now made with only pinot noir grapes sourced from Monterey County; it still tastes as bright and clean as ever. Crisp and quenching, these bubbles deliver subtle flavors of fresh raspberries and lemon with a lovely dry finish.
Also available at:
Total Wine & More in Claymont, Del., $14.49
Total Wine & More in Cherry Hill, $16.49
Wine Warehouse in Sicklerville, $16.99