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Do you need a wine bag in your life? If you’ve ever bought a bottle of wine en route to a picnic or party and found it wouldn’t fit into your handbag, you probably do.
Yes, you could purchase a 50p carrier, but rocking up with your Chablis in a plastic bag is not a good look — for you, or the environment.
This summer there is a more sustainable and stylish solution — the wine bag. To be clear, not a bag of wine, rather a bag for wine. Just wine, nothing else.
While it may seem a superfluous possession too far, those of us who have lost a bottle of fizz to an ineffectual gift bag whose string handles snapped en route to dinner, will see the appeal.
And for those priced out of the designer handbag market, a wine bag offers a more affordable opportunity to buy into a brand.
So, which posh plonk-holder will you plump for?
LOGO FOR LESS
On those days when British summer time isn’t playing ball, it functions as a cheerful ray of sunshine
Anya Hindmarch’s seagrass and leather wine bottle holder comes embossed with the designer’s signature ‘eyes’ motif. With its thick cross-body canvas strap, it’s a fun, hands-free way to transport your wine.
On those days when British summer time isn’t playing ball, it functions as a cheerful ray of sunshine. At £225, it certainly isn’t cheap, but it’s still more affordable than an Anya Hindmarch handbag, which can retail for up to £1,600.
‘Our wine bottle holder (right) has been so popular this summer,’ confirms Hindmarch, adding that the idea came to her during the pandemic.
‘My girlfriends and I started walking together in lockdown, a ritual we have kept but upgraded to include a bottle of wine to share.’
(£225, anyahindmarch.com)
BARGAIN BESPOKE
Granted, summer’s most surprising bag trend may not be for everyone. But at under a tenner, this is a great way of buying in to it — and that’s almost 20 plastic bags you won’t have had to buy
When it comes to choosing your wine bag, happily there is a budget to suit most pockets.
Etsy has a variety of jute bottle bags, some of which can be personalised, starting at £8.95. Granted, summer’s most surprising bag trend may not be for everyone. But at under a tenner, this is a great way of buying in to it — and that’s almost 20 plastic bags you won’t have had to buy. (From £8.95, etsy.com)
More expensive than jute but cheaper than leather is jewellery-box brand Stackers’ faux leather style in soft taupe (£50), featuring a detachable slim strap that can be worn cross-body. (£50, johnlewis.com)
MINIMALIST CHIC
The label offers a free embossing service, and has only recently restocked after selling out due to high demand
For leather iterations, you can, of course, expect to pay more. London-based sustainable lifestyle brand Mono + Navy offers a chic, minimalist wine carrier which is made from thick canvas and vegetable leather and features a detachable handle, priced £85.
Although you’ll have to be quick: thanks to the rising cost of raw materials, the price is soon to rise to £97. The label offers a free embossing service, and has only recently restocked after selling out due to high demand.
It will make a great gift, too. (£85, mono-navy.com)
CULT BRAND
Its wine bag is as understated as its footwear, and comes in a choice of black or natural leather
Another leather version comes courtesy of Ancient Greek Sandals, whose stylish leather sandals have a cult following, having been worn by Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway and Kate Moss.
Its wine bag (above) is as understated as its footwear, and comes in a choice of black or natural leather. It is reduced from £200 to £100 in the brand’s summer sale.
The initial outlay may be hefty, but after that, it’s a big tick in the sustainability box, since a well-made wine bag will last for years. Which, over a lifetime, will leave you with more money to spend on the fun part: the actual wine. We’ll drink to that. (£100, ancient-greek-sandals.com)
A FINE VINTAGE
As you might expect from the luxury British heritage brand, Mulberry’s limited edition wine carrier is made from 100 per cent natural tanned bovine leather
For those occasions when a bottle of Blue Nun or Echo Falls simply won’t do, those of greater means may want to transport their wine in a more expensive bottle carrier.
As you might expect from the luxury British heritage brand, Mulberry’s limited edition wine carrier is made from 100 per cent natural tanned bovine leather, neatly finished with decorative contrast stitching.
In a classic Vintage Oak hue, its generous size fits up to two bottles of wine — this is a splurge in more ways than one — but will set you back £495. (£495, mulberry.com)
STEALTH WEALTH
Métier’s linen and leather bottle holder is 100 per cent waterproof, and can also double as an umbrella carrier
Handbag label Métier London is the ultimate stealth wealth label, with the brand’s bags seen on the arms of the Princess of Wales, Katie Holmes and Kate Moss.
So, it’s no surprise to find that its wine bag holder now has its own following, having starred in Gwyneth Paltrow’s infamous Goop gift guides.
Métier’s linen and leather bottle holder is 100 per cent waterproof, and can also double as an umbrella carrier.
Its steep £590 price tag hasn’t precluded it from selling out, though more stock is expected any time.
And for those times where one bottle simply isn’t enough, the brand also has a two-bottle (£950) and a whopping three-bottle (£1,504) version (hangover not included). (from £590, metier.com)
