Its presence at a gathering doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
But despite the stigma, boxed wine is actually pretty fantastic — and not just because it’s significantly cheaper than bottled wine. (Though, to be honest, that helps.)
They may not look elegant, but boxes — or more precisely, the vacuum-sealed bags inside them — are an excellent way to preserve wine. In fact, winemakers across the globe are beginning to shrug off the prejudice and package their wines in boxes.Yes, even some surprisingly good ones.
Now, I’m not suggesting you’ll stumble upon a prized Bordeaux or an irreplaceable Champagne cuvée in a carton. (That would be, quite literally, impossible.)
But if you enjoy wine casually, choosing boxed wine to save cash is a smart move. Here are 10 reasons your snobbery about boxed wine is mostly misplaced.
1. It’s Cheaper, Obviously
It’s not the sole reason to appreciate boxed wine, but it’s one of the biggest. The value proposition of boxed wine is substantial. Even the higher-end options tend to sit around $20 per box.
Since a typical 3-liter box holds the same volume as four standard bottles, that works out to roughly five dollars a bottle (or about a dollar per glass).
2. You Get More Wine
And more is almost always preferable to less. Yes, even if it’s an entry-level brand … probably.
3. It’s Better for the Environment
According to the packaging (and reporting like that in the New York Times), producing boxed wine emits approximately half the greenhouse gases per 750-milliliter serving — the quantity in a regular bottle — compared with bottled wine. The Times estimates that boxing, rather than bottling, the vast share of wines intended for near-term consumption “could cut emissions by around two million tons, the equivalent of taking 400,000 cars off the road.” As if you needed another reason to sip with a clear conscience.
4. It’ll Never be Bad When You Open It…
And unlike bottled wine, you won’t uncap it only to discover it’s “corked” (that is, tainted by the musty, wine-ruining compound TCA).
5. …and Once Opened, It Stays Good for Weeks
If you enjoy reds, you know the pain: a few days and that lovely merlot can turn vinegary. But thanks to the vacuum-packed spout, boxed wine keeps much longer after opening than bottled varieties. I mean significantly longer — up to six weeks in many cases. (Not that leftover wine is typically a problem around here.)
6. The Labels Are Far Less Confusing
Lost in the wine aisle? Totally understandable. You find a varietal you like only to see some bottles omit it entirely. You hear California wines are great but can’t tell Monterey from Paso Robles or Sonoma. With boxed wine, things are straightforward: a brand, a varietal, and not much else. No need to puzzle over appellations or vintage years. Bonus: you generally get consistent results each time you buy.
7. You Can Bring It to Glass-Free Spaces
I’ll never forget being stuck drinking bland light beer at a festival for days. Never again. With boxed wine, concerts, campsites, public pools and similar spots become wine-friendly — and instantly nicer.
8. You Don’t Have to Haul a Bunch of Bottles
Talk about convenient: lugging a box into the house is like carrying four bottles with one hand — and it attracts far less suspicion.
9. It’s Generally Easy to Drink
Boxed wine is crafted to be approachable, broadly compatible with food, and crowd-pleasing. You’re unlikely to encounter an intensely complex or aggressively flavored bottling in a carton. That said, it also probably won’t be a masterpiece… but for most casual drinkers, it won’t be offensive either.
10. No One Has to Know
Just flip the tap and pour your boxed wine into that elegant decanter you rarely use. Set the decanted wine on the table, and instantly — more refined than any ordinary bottle could manage. Cheers!
Your Turn: What’s your favorite boxed wine?
Jamie Carter is a staff writer at Savinly and holds WSET credentials. Her work has appeared in a variety of outlets including The Write Life and Nashville Review. Connect with @JamieCarter on Twitter to say hi.
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Related reads: check out our best boxed wine taste test, explore options for budget friendly wine, or see our picks for the best cheap wine.
