To wine snobs, yes. Anything not in the traditional bottle screams poor quality. However, consumers for box wines are still a huge target market for producers, so they've come a long way lately in quality. I'm always one for second chances. Some brands that have won my respect for higher quality include: Black Box, Bota Box, and Big House Wines. I'm sorry to burst anyone's bubble but Franzia, Vella and Corbett Canyon is a sad excuse for wine. It's basically alcohol and grape juice in a box. Okay, I'm venting a bit, so here's some unbiased Pros and Cons for Box wines on shelves today...
Pros:
- Affordable. They hold 3 liters, or the equivalent of four regular 750 ml bottles of wine. And you pay around half the cost!
- Box wines last longer after opening. These typically last 4-6 weeks after opening whereas a typical bottle will spoil after 3 days.
- Box wines are more eco friendly. Less packaging = less resources used & cheaper transportation costs!
Cons:
- Quality is Low. They may be fine for everyday table wines, but they aren't anything to write home about. Let's just say you won't see a Wine Advocate or Parker rating tag on these shelves anytime soon.
- Shorter Shelf Life. Box wines don't last more than six months on the shelf.
- Hard to control temperature. As far as entertaining goes (especially for outside events this summer) its hard to control the temperature outside of a fridge. And nobody likes uber warm wine.
- No Romance. There is nothing romantic about a cardboard box with a plastic membrane in it. Where is the tradition of popping the cork?
In short, I still believe your average box wine is a sin. Some appellation conscious producers, however, are helping turn the box wine market around. Remember though, always choose quality over quantity my fellow winos!
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