Wine is pricey, folks. Especially when you need enough to lubricate a large family meal. (Especially, especially in an election year.)
But if that worry has you skulking toward the back of the store where boxed vino hides, sit up straight.
Boxed wine is actually a fantastic Savinly pick, and it doesn’t have to taste awful.
Boxed Wine Isn’t Really That Bad
Beyond the obvious perk of lower cost, buying boxed wine is a smart move for a host for several reasons — so much so that some winemakers are even packaging their fancier cuvees in cartons now.
Why is that? For starters, it’s nearly impossible for boxed wine to spoil, whether before or after you open it.
That’s thanks to the vacuum-sealed bag inside the carton — you may remember it from college days. It keeps the wine largely away from oxygen contact, which means you won’t pop open a box only to discover the wine has already gone bad.
(The screw cap suffers a similar reputation bite… but it doesn’t offer the box’s ability to keep wine fresh after opening.)
And that handy little tap? It helps preserve the vacuum seal even after you’ve poured a few glasses, allowing an open box to sit on the counter for weeks instead of merely a couple of days, like an opened bottle would.
While cork can be useful for wines that benefit from aging, most easy-drinking table wines don’t require bottle aging — they’re meant to be consumed young.
Boxed wine also tends to have a much smaller carbon footprint and is convenient in glass-free environments like campsites.
But enough about why it’s great: Which boxed wine actually tastes best?
The Best Boxed Wine for Your Buck
Eight intrepid Savinly staffers and I sampled seven boxed wines, priced from $11.46 to $21.99, to determine which one we wouldn’t be ashamed to serve at a gathering… after decanting into a fancy carafe, naturally.
To keep the test manageable (and reasonable for our day-drinking budget), we limited the tasting to a single varietal: cabernet sauvignon.
We can’t promise these results apply to every varietal. Maybe the brand we disliked just bungled its cabernet but nails pinot noir or sauvignon blanc.
Even so, some outcomes surprised us — and they might help you finalize holiday drink plans. Here’s what we sampled, starting with the least expensive:
Oak Leaf: $11.46
We began at the very bottom — or more accurately, the stainless tank. (Let’s be honest: Walmart’s house boxed wine probably never spent a day in oak.)
But for the price, this put up a respectable showing… though I wouldn’t have guessed it was a cabernet if blind-tasting. It was far too pale and lacked body.
Though the carton boasts “90+ medals,” it doesn’t say where those came from. There’s also zero info on the grape origin. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Many tasters noted sharp acidity but little tannin, leaving the wine tasting somewhat tart. There was a fruity hint around blueberry or blackberry… but the claim of “a hint of toasty oak” seemed generous.
Staff writer Lisa Rowan deemed it “totally drinkable,” and senior editor Heather van der Hoop, who grew up near a wine region and has high standards, said it’s “the kind of wine [she] would drink… after [she’d] already had a bottle.”
A few tasters experienced a familiar flavor that took a moment to place.
“It’s like church wine!” exclaimed editor Caitlin Constantine.
So if you enjoy what email marketing specialist Colleen Rice called “notes of Catholicism,” this might suit you.
Verdict: Not anyone’s top pick… but surprisingly palatable for such a bargain. (And maybe the stuff they store at the back of the church!)
Franzia: $12.97
Is there a quintessential boxed wine? If so, this is probably it. Franzia’s name is recognizable for a reason.
That said, while this Chilean cabernet’s hue and body were a touch closer to authentic, tasters found it less flavorful than the cheaper Oak Leaf. Like, considerably less. As van der Hoop said, “It doesn’t taste like anything! I could be drinking water right now.”
Most also felt it finished a bit acrid rather than smooth.
I was skeptical even before I read the box’s pairing suggestions — beef stew, chocolate truffles and “dinner party.” That’s not a pairing, Franzia!
Purchases of this wine help support the Fisher House Foundation, so there’s that silver lining.
Verdict: This one’s reputation isn’t undeserved. If you need a box this cheap, go with Oak Leaf.
Corbett Canyon: $12.99
Another Chilean cabernet, Corbett Canyon also boasts being “award-winning”… without specifying which accolades.
It advertises itself as “Full-Bodied with Classic Hints of Cherry, Vanilla and Toasty Oak,” with capitalization for emphasis.
Opinion on this one was mixed. Some found it even blander than Franzia, and almost everyone agreed it had less fruit— my notes couldn’t pick out any distinct fruit.
Three tasters flat-out disliked it.
But two called it “easy to drink,” noting nutty, smoky qualities.
“If you decanted this, people wouldn’t guess it came from a box,” van der Hoop said. “Especially if it were the second pour.” It was actually her runner-up.
“It’s pretty drinkable,” agreed director of media relations Lizabeth Cole — whose hospitality background gives her wine cred.
Verdict: Not the broadest crowd-pleaser, but a solid budget-friendly choice.
2015 Bota Box: $16.99
The first in our lineup that actually listed a vintage, this California cabernet sauvignon finally resembled what cabernet should look and taste like.
It showed a medium ruby hue and lived up to its “medium-bodied” claim, and it was the first with noticeable tannin.
It also offered more layered flavors: tasters detected black cherry, blackberry, plum, smoke and even green tea. Most enjoyed it, though only our photographer, Samantha Dunscombe, called it her favorite.
Plus, as Cole pointed out, “the box is really cute.” (She is the head of PR, after all.)
Crucially, the box actually lists where its awards come from: its 2013 cabernet was a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy; likewise its 2013 Nighthawk blend placed highly on the Best Buys list this year.
I do wonder who wrote the “boisterous” finish descriptor. As staff writer Lisa Rowan observed, the drinker might be boisterous after a bottle, but that’s a stretch as a tasting note.
Verdict: A reliable mid-range choice, great for sangrias or a simple table pour.
2015 Black Box: $17.88
With a deep, almost maroon color and aromas of tobacco and campfire, this Valle Central, Chile boxed wine promised heft.
And it delivered — though not always in a flattering way.
“That is cough syrup,” concluded van der Hoop. “It’s kind of like purple drank,” Rowan added.
Rich in flavor, it had medium-plus body with blackberry and vanilla notes — the oak influence was clear.
But Colleen Rice and I thought the vanilla was artificial, as if vanilla extract had been added. The dark fruit was big and jammy but bordered on overdone and fake.
“It’s not worth turning my teeth purple,” Rice said.
Black Box has received many Wine Enthusiast awards, including Gold Medals and Best Buys.
And it was certainly denser and juicier than many others here — so if you like that style, this might appeal.
Verdict: Despite accolades and a higher price, our tasters weren’t fans.
House Wine: $19.99
Ding, ding, ding: We have our top pick!
Though it lacked the classic tannin and acid punch of some cabernets, this Valle Central red was simply enjoyable. It offered cherry, plum and blackberry pie notes, though many tasters detected a woodsy or smoky character more than overt fruitiness.
Medium-bodied and smooth, it prompted several staffers to pour seconds.
“If you handed me a glass of this, I wouldn’t guess it was boxed,” Rowan said. Editor Caitlin Constantine added it’s joining her home rotation.
Verdict: The staff favorite — an easy-drinking table red. Though pricier, it’s still a bargain: about $20 for the quantity equal to four bottles.
Owner’s Box: $19.99 (on sale from $21.99)
The priciest in our group, this California cabernet delivered the textbook notes: vanilla, blackberry, plum and dark cherry, and nearly the classic cassis (blackcurrant) flavor.
It had the most tannin of the lot, lower acid, and was jammy and fruit-forward compared with House Wine.
But those dark fruit flavors didn’t come off as cloying or artificial like Black Box did — it was cherry, but “not cough-syrup cherry,” Rowan clarified. The oak-derived spice felt integrated and smooth.
“It’s balanced!” van der Hoop declared. “It feels like they tried to do more than one thing with it.”
Cole called it “a gentleman’s box of wine” with a complex profile.
“You can tell they put effort into this,” she said.
Still, most staffers preferred House Wine for everyday drinking — though they agreed this one would stand up nicely to a holiday ribeye.
Verdict: Well-regarded but not our top pick — bigger and more nuanced, it tastes like a true California cab. Choose this for a proper cabernet experience or to pair with steak.
Your turn: What boxed wine do you reach for? If you’re curious about boxed options beyond this list, check out this take on boxed wine is actually awesome.
