Boxed Wine: Bad Reputation or Just Bad?

The Daily Meal staff tests sustainable, structured (literally), boxed-in winesIt's no secret that boxed wine has a bad reputation. The stereotypical beverage of choice of college kids and underpaid assistants alike, it has remained unscathed as the end-all-be-all inexpensive solution to entertaining. Just because it's cheap, though, doesn't mean it's awful. Sure, there are terrible tasting boxes - you do pay for what you get in some cases - but the bag-in-a-box has gotten a bit of a makeover.

Slideshow: Boxed Wine: Bad Reputation or Just Bad?

No oxidation here: The number one plus to boxed wine is that, thanks to its easy dispensing method, no air gets into the bag/box, making it much less prone to spoilage than an opened bottle. Here's what you need to consider before passing up the square on your way to a bottle in the liquor store:

The environment: No glass is wasted here. With recyclable cardboard boxes housing sustainable bags, this method is super green and very friendly to the Earth.

Shelf-life: Since it's not corked, but sealed, the life span of a bag is somewhat shorter than that of a bottle, but the boxes have printed "best-before" dates to ensure that you are enjoying the wine at its peak.

Value: The average price of boxed wine is about $25 for 3 liters, (four bottles of wine) which is a huge money-saver.

Chardonnay Boxed Wine Results

Cabernet Sauvignon Boxed Wine Results

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For this blind taste test, the staff at The Daily Meal decided that it would be best to taste one red and one white variety from the same producer to give each brand a fair shot at proving itself, with the exception of Big House and Clif. Maybe where one slacked, the other triumphed. Red wines already have the upper hand in the boxed wine world, but it has been said that white wines have gotten increasingly better over the past few years.

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After deciding to sample chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon we assembled a selection based on ratings, region, and popularity. Sipping and smelling the wines produced an underwhelming response. While the cabernet sauvignons were fairly solid across the board, the chardonnays were a complete disappointment. Some editors commented that it simply didn't taste anything like its usual lean, buttery self, and others were stumped by the smell, stating it "smelled off" or didn't have an aroma at all.

The results of this taste test should read as a guide of sorts for what to choose when shopping for a go-to box. Our thoughts are pretty loud and clear, so if you agree or beg to differ, let us know in the comments below. Otherwise, cheers!


Chardonnay
Big House Chardonnay3. Big House Chardonnay, $16 for 3 liters
This brand gets its name from a neighboring correctional facility, and is tough on the outside. But with notes like these - "Really florally to taste," "strong honeydew flavor," "a bit juice-like," "light and clean" - it doesn't scream rebellious to us!






Bota Box Chardonnay2. Bota Box Chardonnay, $20 for 3 liters
The boxed-only Bota does it better. Another super sustainable brand, their boxes aren't even glued together; they're bonded with cornstarch - talk about going green. This runner-up made a splash with its fruity flavors and sweet-smelling aroma. "Fruity profile, but a dry finish." "Tastes like apricot and apple on a good day."




Black Box Chardonnay1. Black Box Chardonnay, $25 for 3 liters
Considered a premium, high-end boxed wine, Black Box got it right when it decided to take the high road. "Sharp on the tongue," "pronounced mineral finish," and "good character," were some of the observations that led Black Box to the top spot.







Cabernet Sauvignon
Bota Box Cabernet Sauvignon3. Bota Box Cabernet Sauvignon, $20 for 3 liters
Rounding out our top three, Bota's cabernet got good reviews from our editors - "smells earthy," "nice and juicy," "balanced fruit," and "not overpowering."








CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon2. CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon, $11 for 1.5 liters
CalNaturale's bold red was liked by our tasters, while its white counterpart was not. The comments for this wine earned it our number two slot: "balanced flavor," "warm vanilla overtones," "tastes expensive," and "surprisingly complex."





The Big Green Box Cabernet Sauvignon1. The Big Green Box Cabernet Sauvignon, $20 for 3 liters
"Best out of the bunch," "heavy mouthful," "lean and tannic - nice flavor," are some of the thoughts that gave The Big Green Box the number one spot. Capping our list, it was balanced, nicely bodied, and could've fooled our group into thinking it came from a bottle. Maybe green is the new black?




Click here to see More Reviewed Boxed Wines

- Francesca Borgognone, The Daily Meal

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