Better for the planet, your pocket and everywhere glass isn’t permitted.

It’s time for you to recategorise bagged wine. Stop associating it with your mum’s cask of Sweet Fruity White, and start thinking of it as smart AF. Economical and more eco-friendly, wine bags, pouches, or, their most fun name, “bagnums” (basically a magnum in a bag), are going to be turning up a lot more often this season, because they just. Make. Sense. Firstly, they are better value than buying by the bottle, and not because the wine is rubbish, but because it costs less to produce bagged wine packaging than glass bottles – a cost that gets passed on to consumers. Bagnums are also more economical (with less product wastage) because they last longer – four whole weeks after opening – compared to the few days you get with a bottle. Then there’s the biggest boon of all – their lower impact on the environment.

Turns out, not only does a wine bag double as a great pillow in a pinch, but it’s also what makes these wines more planet friendly. Sophie Arneric, Innovation Product Manager at Cupio (one of the producers leading the way) points out some major stats: Astrapouches (the technical name for the bags) have a whopping 80% lower carbon footprint versus the equivalent glass bottle. In fact, you can ship 10 Astrapouches for every empty glass bottle, which also means that even once you factor in a bagnum’s full lifecycle (think manufacturing, transport, and delivery) there’s still a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to standard glass bottles. The kicker? Bagnums not only do away with the bottle, but also the box you traditionally find around bagged wine and Astrapouches are recyclable through your local soft plastics program.

So, if we add that all up, you’ve got ultra portable, highly affordable, long-lasting, top quality wine that’s gentler on the planet than a regular bottle. The sixth and final reason the bagnum is going to be big this spring and summer? It suits the social schedule. The warmer months are for decidedly non-glass-friendly events: picnics, festivals, camping and more things you don’t want to be lugging heavy bottles to.

Okay, you’re convinced, but to convince your crew, you’re going to have to provide a bagnum that bangs. Something that makes them go “mmmm” and puts all doubts to rest. For that, we’ve got you. Here are seven bagnums that will put a spring in your summer.

Click image to shop

1. The Italian one

Now, you can’t deny its legitimacy when the wine’s Italian, right? From Vinoverse (which sounds like a Marvel foray into the food and wine industry), this Bagnum Pinot Grigio bursts with notes of pear and orange blossom, which open the crisp, zesty palate. It’s made from Catalan grapes and sealed fresh to capture the flavours at their juiciest. Vinoverse want to deliver wine with authenticity, so their bagnum varietals are always from the place that made them famous. Try this and you're getting a first-hand appreciation for what it means to be a pinot grigio. It’s basically a geography lesson in a bag. Saluti!

2. The bag for all occasions

Your new go-to, particularly if you’re a member of the Savvy B Fan Club. Churchill Estate Bagnum Sauv Blanc is the variety at its best: rich, dry with lots of zest from bright and bouncy tropical fruit flavours. Young, fresh and zippy, perfect for picnics, long lunches or BBQs on the patio. Being 1.5 litres, and long lasting, it’s perfect for an open invitation soiree when more friends turn up than expected, or when you have a few get togethers planned. See? A bag for all occasions.

Churchill & Co Sauvignon Blanc Bagnum Pouch

Click image to shop

Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet Bagnum Entertainers Edition

Click image to shop

3. The mind changer

Think big, bold wines can’t come out of a bag? Think again. Wolf Blass Entertainers Edition Bagnum Shiraz Cab is a smooth, soft, well-rounded example of the varietal. The flavour represents the dark plum, juicy red fruits and hint of spice you crave when you like a bold wine. While young, there’s definitely some complexity to this wine, serve it with a red sauce pasta, roasted meat or a well-aged cheese. It’s not the kind of wine you’d expect to come from a bag, which is why, like an OG TED Talk, this is the bag that will change the way you think about bagged wine.

4. The spring fling

Squealing Pig is a winery that’s not afraid to do things a little differently. Last year they launched a magnum of their beloved rose, and now they’re dabbling in the bagnum game. This New Zealand pinot gris is a top seller by the bottle, so the bag is just more of a really good thing. Twice as much, actually. Squealing Pig PG Bagnum 1.5L has been made from grapes sourced from Marlborough (the tippy top of the South Island), and tastes as a great NZ white should: flavours of nashi pear and stone fruit, balanced with body, and crisp. Exactly what you want to drink with a plate of oysters and a view of the sunset

Click image to shop

Click image to shop

5. The crowd-pleasing pouch

This ruby-hued drop is best described, albeit juvenile, as “yummy”. Cupio Pinot Noir Pouch 1.5L is a red everyone can get around. From South Australian grapes, there’s a ripe raspberry fragrance and a hint of candied goodness. It’s juicy and soft with good length and delicate tannins. The kind of thing that’s highly drinkable and a great match for stronger food flavours like cured meats and strong cheeses. And completely unlike anything you’ve had out of a bag before.

6. The French rosé

If you think vibrant, quality flavours only come out of a bottle, take a closer look at the Vino Verse French Rosé Bagnum, which holds 1.5 litres of rosé from France. Sealed fresh to capture all those hallmark strawberry and redcurrant aromas, this bagnum packages up a bright wine, which is the ideal addition to sunny catch-ups with friends. Chill it down, serve it with a platter of brie, paté and fresh baguette, and indulge in a very French-inspired afternoon.

Click image to shop

Click image to shop

7. The Barossa – bagged

For an intense, full-bodied shiraz packed with jammy dark fruits, the Barossa Ink Shiraz by Grant Burge delivers all that in spades. Inky purple in colour with blackberry aromas, this wine is pure Barossa Valley opulence yet it's balanced by rich fruit flavours and fine tannins. Bound to challenge your perception of how quality red wine is served, this 1.5-litre pouch is a winner on all fronts, including the fact that, once opened, it will keep fresh for much longer than if it was in a bottle.