More and more wines are being sold in a box. What do think do you think about that?

Question

Some people that I know believe that all box wines are of poor quality? It seems to me that a wine that is in a box can be just as good as a wine that is sold in a bottle. The bottle does not add any more to the wine than the box does.

Tell me what you think.

Answer 1

I have been buying a wine in a box and I love it. It takes long to finish it so I have it longer........anyway it's called rhine wine.

Answer 2

I think the main reason why wineries are trying out wine in a box is related to the environmentally friendly side of it. I think that they believe they serve a purpose and although they don't contain the really high end wines they probably at least have some decent tasting wines in there and not necessarily wines of poor quality.

I haven't tried any as yet but there is a market for them it seems and they probably won't be going away all that soon. If you remember, a few years back, the big uproar was over using screw cap closures instead of cork but more and more wineries are now sealing their bottles of wine with screwcap. Again, they serve a purpose.

Answer 3

I like the idea, especially for moderately priced wines that might draw new drinkers into the market. The boxes are also great for people that want wine around all the time, but normally only have a glass or two at a time. The box allows them a package that always remains fresh and ready to go on the fridge shelf or counter top.

The boxes are also a nice way to package from the producer standpoint as well. Sterile, block light, lightweight, can be packed uniformly in boxes. etc.

Answer 4

my only issue with wine in a box (or more accurately, bag-in-box) is that the plastic comprising the inner bag is less inert than glass; glass isn't going to leach anything into a liquid; the most plastic i want in contact with my wine is the gasket inside a stelvin screwcap

and from personal experience, even bottled wine inside a "winekeeper" under a layer of nitrogen gas is going to go bad in a couple of weeks, so the preservation aspect of bag-in-box packaging may not be all that

i'm not sure what the "enviromentally friendly" aspect alluded to above would be -- there is no plastic/mylar bag inside a glass bottle going into the trash, and it's easier to find a place to recycle glass than to take cardboard (and thus people are more likely to do what is easier)

Answer 5

Hey Soar,

I found out years ago, the secret to wine tasting. It's a very specific talent, that may take years of training and the average person might not fathom this concept -- but here goes!

The best wine to drink....



Is the wine that you enjoy!

Box, Bottle, Vat... Who cares!

If you like it, then it's the best wine in the world. Just don't limit yourself. (Years ago, I used to like Sutter Home! After tasting many different wines, I realized that it was the worst wine I HAD EVER TASTED! That, shouldn't take away the millions of people every year that buy Sutter Home -- Just not my cup of tea... er, Wine!

Good Drinking,

James in San Diego

Answer 6

I drink red wine daily for health reasons and found a good tasting quality red wine at my local grocery store that is not expensive. I see nothing wrong with buying or drinking the boxed variety.

Answer 7

Are you referring to wines in boxes or wines in tetra-paks?

Yes some of them are as good as those in bottle ("good", not "great") but most are still plonk. But even that can be OK, especially plonk from new world vineyards and wineries.

But the new trend of tetra-paks should be rejected, because tetra-paks, unlike box wine boxes, are not recyclable. I am quite amazed that wine drinkers, many of whom fashion themselves as environmentally aware, have not been protesting much as far as I have heard or read.

Answer 8

I have had them very occasionally and notice no real difference. They are probably great to save on weight when backpacking into the mountains for camping. A lot lighter than dragging along glass containers of anything for that matter if you can avoid it.

Answer 9

I think that may be a strong indicator of the growing number of people out there who are cheap and have neither class nor taste.

Answer 10

I am a traditionalist