Taylor’s launches ready-to-drink tonic Port wine in a can

Wine producer Taylor’s has announced the launch of a ready-to-drink canned tonic Port wine, which hits the market this month in Portugal, the UK and the US.
“Taylor’s Chip Dry & Tonic is the culmination of two years of work alongside the Port and Douro Wines Institute (IVDP), which will undoubtedly help bring more consumers to Port wine”, said Adrian Bridge, CEO of Taylor’s.
The IVDP said on Monday it authorizes the use of the brand ‘Portonic’ to identify and individualize drinks made with Port, often called ‘cocktails’.
The use of the brand depends on prior authorization by the IVDP, namely the labeling of the packaging and the approval of the drink, and this drink can be presented in bottle, can or other types of packaging, with different capacities, to be approved by the IVDP.
Meanwhile, several Port wine producers have announced the launch of tonic Port wine in different formats, bottles or cans, such as Quinta da Boeira and Offley, from Sogrape.
For David Guimaraens, Taylor’s winemaker, “this project was a challenge for the winemaking team to select the best ingredients to combine with Taylor’s Chip Dry, in order to ensure the best balance and the most pleasant and refreshing drink”.
This ‘ready-to-drink’ canned tonic Port has 5.5% alcohol volume, is intended as a “way to reach new Port wine consumers” and will be launched initially in Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Taylor’s is a historic producer of Port wine, having been established in 1692.
“This authorization aims to create new forms of consumption that can gain relevance among young people, through new experiences associated with conviviality and the good times of life”, said the president of the IVDP, Gilberto Igrejas, in a statement.
Marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2020 caused a drop of around 50 million euros in the two protected designations of origin – Port and Douro.
Turnover reached 517 million euros, 9.5% less than the previous year (570 million euros).
The year ended with drops of 10% in value for Port wine and 8.5% for Douro wines, for a total of 9.5% for the two designations of origin.
Port wine had a sharper decline in the domestic market, dragged by the closure of the Horeca channel (hotels, restaurants, cafes) and the reduction in tourism.
Port wine exported 3.7% less in value and Douro wine 0.7% less. In the two designations of origin, the domestic market meant 20% less.