by Heather M Davis

Created on: February 23, 2007   Last Updated: November 04, 2010

Wine in a box is a bit of an odd concept to most serious wine drinkers. From the lack of a cork to the square shape that doesn't easily suit itself to nice decorations when given as a gift, is there really a point to boxed wine? Further, what exactly is in that box?

Wine in a box still exists, and so it must have a purpose. The price makes it easily accessible to anyone, from the college drinker, to a hostess who can not afford enough wine for 20 people. The lack of expensive bottles and corks, and the tendency for boxed wine to be domestic, brings down the cost considerably. The convenience of no corks makes it a good travel choice for anyone taking it along on a picnic. If you enjoy the flavor, boxed wine tends to be extremely consistent, so there is very little chance that you will buy one box and love it, only to find that the next box you buy is from a different vintage, and is not as pleasing to your palate. For those who do not drink much wine, but like to have it around for impromptu guests, boxed wine does not go bad. Keep a box in your cupboard or fridge, open for a guest, and leave it. The air tight bags the wine is stored in keeps it fresh for your next surprise visitor. Boxed wine is also a great, price equivalent option, to fill your cups with if you need an alternative to beer for your frat boy games such as flippy cup and beer pong.

The downside to wine in a box is that it does not have the variety that most people prefer in their wine. There is not a variation from year to year. The boxed wine, most commonly Franzia, tends to be a light bodied wine lacking in any real robustness. If you prefer to let your wine breathe a bit before drinking it to bring out the more subtle flavors, you will have to pour it and stare at it's glass for awhile, or have a decanter handy.  Overall, the variety and flavor is much more varied and can be of a much, much, higher quality when buying wine by the bottle. The presentation on a bottle of wine is also a hallmark of wine drinking, and it just does not go as well when you pull out a box instead of a bottle.

Wine in a box is a great choice for anyone with budget concerns, or who does not want to drink a great deal of wine at once, but also does not feel like wasting an entire bottle.  For wine connoisseurs, though, it is a much inferior option.

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