Many boxed wines have a lot going for them. Seriously.
Boxed wine gets a pretty lame rap for being just plain awful, and that is not entirely untrue. There are a lot of terrible boxed wines that will all but make your skin crawl and your teeth fall out when you taste them (figuratively, we hope…) Many brands are massively produced and mixed with multiple vintages which just creates a taste so god awful it should be a sin against the church.
As terrible as some of these wines are, there are still some pretty good options and even some perks to buying boxed wine: like when hosting a party, trying to save a little extra cash or wanting to do your part in saving the environment.
There are some boxed wine brands that produce a very delicious product, like Folonari. Many family-run boxed wine producers make boxed wine simply for environmental purposes—if you consider how much energy it takes to make a single glass bottle of wine, it is not a bad idea. Unlike glass bottles, boxes prove to be impenetrable to light and air, so the wine ends up lasting well over a month versus just a few weeks, so you end up saving some pocket change.
Your average boxed wine contains about four standard bottles for a fraction of the cost, so it is no surprise that the box is a favorite at social gatherings. How else can you buy four bottles of wine for under $30?
The real challenge is finding a boxed wine that is both cheap and good, and this is where it gets tricky. Jen Gregory from Vinthusiasmm, and a consultant at Jax Liquors here in Chattanooga, says her number one piece of advice to buying boxed wine is: “Never be afraid to try something new and don’t get caught up on brand loyalty.”
When you’re selecting a boxed wine, try to avoid anything that contains multiple vintages from multiple vineyards. Jen continues saying, “If you need help deciding on a new boxed wine, just ask a staff member or a wine expert at your local store.”
Boxed wine is still wine, and like wine it involves a little investigative work to find what suites your palate best. Some people may enjoy boxed wine over bottled, and some, like myself, may find it hard to tell the difference to boxed and bottled if the quality is similar.
Trial and error is just part of the wine selecting process, regardless of the way it is packaged.
Many of today’s boxed wine producers have come a long way in creating a palate-pleasing wine. And while there are still some producers that need to rethink their marketing technics, boxed wine can be just as enjoyable as its bottle counterpart.
The ancient Greeks believed wine was a gift from the gods and should be enjoyed daily by everyone. With boxed wine it is possible to have both good quality and taste without breaking your bank account, while also simultaneously reducing your carbon footprint. If that is not a good reason to get wine by the box, I don’t know what is.