Jascots taps into keg wine trend

UK wine merchant Jascots has launched a range of wines on tap aimed at casual dining restaurants, where a thirst is growing for wine in kegs.

Its flagship brand is Vino Vispo, an Italian sparkling wine from the Veneto created specifically for Jascots. Made by Enrico Bedin, the Frizzante comes in a 10.5% abv. Also available on tap will be a red, white and a rosé from Pays d’Oc producer Mas de la Source.

“In the fast paced casual dining sector, the wine industry needs to keep up and strip back its pretentions.

“Gone are the white table cloths and sommelier table service. It’s time to start thinking outside of the bottle and put the spotlight on making wine accessible, fun and appealing,” Jascots’ sales & marketing director Miles MacInnes told db.

“There is an onus on these outlets to stay innovative and Vino Vispo is an exciting opportunity for operators to show their personality as well as offering a quality product,” he added.

Kegs eliminate waste from unsold wine in open bottles, allowing trade outlets to sell wine by-the-glass in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way. In addition, they are light-weight and recyclable, considerably reducing a wine’s carbon footprint.

“We want to make wine accessible to everyone. While we don’t think that this particular wine will be seen in Le Gavroche any time soon, it’s just the sort of ‘quality without the fuss’ product that suits the thriving casual dining/wine bar sector down to the ground,” said Jascots’ Wine Marketing Manager Adam Porter.

Earlier this month we reported that on-trade supplier Bibendum launched a nine-strong range of wines on tap designed for use in restaurants and bars due to increasing demand from consumers. The range includes a Frizzante, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Malbec.

In January db predicted that the keg format would finally take off in the UK this year, though the trend in the UK for illegally selling Prosecco on tap has irked producers in the region.