United Airlines sent out a press release regarding the announcement of new canned wine selections for economy-class passengers starting October 1. This gives all adult United passengers a palatable selection of both red and white wine for nice relaxation in the air.

United Flights Are Getting More Bubbly

On Monday morning, United Airlines announced new canned wine options will be available for the economy class. At the start of October, adult passengers on any flight will be able to purchase canned wine from one of two women-owned brands: Maker Wine and Just Enough Wines.

Here are the four new wine options available to passengers:

• Just Enough Wines Rosé – "A dry, crisp rosé from the California Central Coast features a refreshing flavor profile with notes of watermelon and guava and is balanced by a refreshing minerality."
• Just Enough Wines Cabernet Sauvignon – "A full-bodied cabernet sauvignon from the California Central Coast features a vibrant and rich flavor profile of bright cherries, vanilla, and sandalwood."
• Just Enough Wines Chardonnay – "A medium-bodied chardonnay from the California Central Coast features a bright flavor profile with notes of melon, honeysuckle, and toasted brioche."
• Maker Brut Bubbles – "An aromatic sparkling white from the California Central Coast with bright citrus, white flowers and stone fruit notes and a crisp minerality. This 2023 vintage is crafted by Nicole Walsh, an award-winning producer in Santa Cruz who has been featured in Wine Enthusiast, Forbes, and The San Francisco Chronicle."

Each wine will be available at $12 per can. The can will contain 250 mL, which equates to one and a half glasses of wine, and will be served along with a cup for sipping.

According to the airline, over 20 million glasses of wine have been served on flights worldwide this year — soundly more than beer or spirits. Over three million of these wine glasses have been served in domestic economy cabins.

United Managing Director of Hospitality Programs Aaron McMillan had this to say about the new wine selection:

"Our new economy wine list is giving travelers more variety and better quality...After the overwhelmingly positive response to the addition of rosé in United Polaris business class, and ongoing fanfare for sparkling options, we're thrilled to now offer rosé and a higher quality brut bubbles option for our economy passengers, delivering a more premium experience onboard."

Not-So-Heavy Metal

The press release states that customers have been demanding more canned wine on flights. While canned wine may not be the most sophisticated type of wine for special occasions, travelers love canned wine for its portable nature along with the aluminum being a great insulator for cold drinks.
 

The new wine options aren't intended just to please customers, however, as the airline is planning to phase out the use of plastic wine bottles, as aluminum cans are also a more environmentally friendly option. This makes the decision that much easier for United executives, as the press release notes that aluminum can be recycled many times over and is a great contributor to the airline's "commitment to sustainability".

Both Maker wines are available to buy both locally and online. Depending on your location, these wines may or may not be as elusive, but wine lovers will be able to try a new wine or revisit a favorite on any United Flight as a nice — albeit $12 — bonus.