I’ve been interested to watch wine producers continue to invest in new packaging approaches, from synthetic corks and screw caps to Tetra Pak and Bag-in-Box containers.
A recent sampling of several just-released 3-liter boxed wines proved that some are worth your attention.
Pepperwood Grove “Big Green Box” chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon ($20)
“Octavin Home Wine Bar” ($22-24)
• Monthaven Winery Central Coast Chardonnay
• Silver Birch New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
• Boho Vineyards California Old Vine Zinfandel
• Bodegas Osborne “Seven” (Spain)
“Bota Box” ($19) Pinot Grigio
The makers of these wines claim three major benefits: convenience, sustainability and value.
Once opened, boxes are easy to use and the wines should remain fresh for up to a month.
They reduce packaging waste, carbon emissions and landfill waste, and are recyclable. Lower packaging and shipping costs enable box wines to be sold for a price equivalent to $5-$6 per bottle.
But the perception has long been that box wines are of inferior quality. That simply is no longer true. I have enjoyed the Bandit wines and some of the Wine Block, Black Box, Killer Juice, and Fish Eye wines. Overall, the wines I tasted for this report are solid examples of their type and, at these prices, are great values.
We all may have to reevaluate our preconceptions about box wines.