Wine by the glass keg.

Traditionally kegs have been reserved for beer. Well, Wooldridge Creek Winery, located in the Applegate Valley, has begun distributing wine through kegs to local restaurants. This comes as a surprise to many as its not a 'refined' way to sell wine. But consider this, Using kegs cuts down on costs for the winery; no glass, no corks, no foil, no wine boxes. Restaurants love it because they receive the same quality wine they would as if they had bought the bottle but it is extended to them at a cheaper price because the cost of production is lower.

If you are in a restaurant and you order wine by the glass, not only is it typically expensive, but you run the risk of the wine having been opened for days, all the while receiving oxygen, which will spoil your beloved beverage. Wine kegs are pressurized like your standard beer kegs but instead of using carbon dioxide (which would carbonate the wine), nitrogen is used which doesn't allow the wine to become oxidized. Also with the lack of a cork, cork taint is a thing of the past. So, the wine in your glass is as fresh as it would be as if you had opened the bottle at home. And, as an added bonus to you patrons, since the restaurant receives a deal on the wine, the customers typically do too!

Tip: with wines that are completely oxygen deprived, its a good idea to make sure you give your wine a couple of good swirls in the glass to allow the wine to breathe. This will allow for more aromatic compounds to be released typically making the wine more approachable and softer (aka more delicious!).

As of right now, Wooldridge Creek Wines from the keg can be found at Kaleidoscope Pizzeria pub in Medford and also at Standing Stone Brewery in Ashland. If you try one, leave a comment and let us know how it was! I think wine by the keg is a fresh new take on wine that uses less resources and still can deliver a great product, however, I would be wary if I ended up seeing wine in a can!