Wine handbag trend goes upmarket

The trend for boxed wine shaped like handbags has gone upmarket with the release of a chic tote bag capable of holding up to five litres of wine.

Designed by Tracey Luebbers, the turquoise, red and beige handbag comes with its own dispensing bag, meaning you can enjoy boxed wine on the go.

More discrete than the boxed wine handbags of the past, the patterned tote with a spout at one end is on sale for $129.95 via the website UncommonGoods.com.

For those keen to switch up their libations, the bag can also hold five litres of premixed cocktails, in addition to red, white and rosé wine.

The rest of the Missouri made bag can be used for phones, make-up and all the usual everyday essentials. It also features an ice pack and compartments for cups.

Kick starting the trend, in 2012 Swedish company Vernissage released a trio of on-the-go boxed wines shaped to look like designer handbags.

The range featured a Chardonnay/Viognier blend, a Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and a Syrah rosé from grapes grown in the Pays d’Oc.

At the same time, Italian producer Cantina di Soave also launched a line of boxed wine from the Veneto region fashioned to look like pastel-coloured handbags with a carrying strap and a concealed side tap.