Comments on: Does wine come in boxes? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:55:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: David http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14516 David Wed, 24 May 2006 19:53:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14516 I've been working in fine dining for the last few years, and here's what I've picked up from some of the win connoisseurs and wine reps that come around: Boxed wine isn't all bad. In fact, in Europe, it's quite popular amongst most people. It's wayy more popular than it is over here. Boxed wine won't turn, or go bad, as fast as bottled wine will. This is because the spigot and bag are much more airtight than a cork (real or synthetic) and bottle. It's also more airtight that the vacu-vin corks. Screw top wines are also nothing to be ashamed of. There's a saying amongst some that there are really only eleven bottles in a case of wine, because on average, on bottle in 12 will have a bad cork. Even synthetic corks will tend to leak wine out once you have drilled a corkscrew down into them if you lay them horizontally. Try it out by holding an opened, but recorked bottle horizontally, then tilting it left and right over and over. It's a sure sign there is not a very good seal. The other thing about screw tops is that they open up the world of wine to more people by making it more easily accessible. <i>Boxed wine does the same thing.</i> A cork and corkscrew is intimidating to alot of people. Alot of people have a corkscrew in their kitchen, but have no idea how to use it. Don't be put off by inexpensive wine or boxed wine. It's really all a matter of personal taste, and you will never know until you have tried it. To say that you have tried box wine once and hated it, and will never try it again is a somewhat ignorant statement. It's just the same as saying that you have had a bottle of bad wine and won't drink from a bottle any more. Whatever you do, don't sniff the cork. You will only smell cork! I’ve been working in fine dining for the last few years, and here’s what I’ve picked up from some of the win connoisseurs and wine reps that come around:

Boxed wine isn’t all bad. In fact, in Europe, it’s quite popular amongst most people. It’s wayy more popular than it is over here. Boxed wine won’t turn, or go bad, as fast as bottled wine will. This is because the spigot and bag are much more airtight than a cork (real or synthetic) and bottle. It’s also more airtight that the vacu-vin corks.

Screw top wines are also nothing to be ashamed of. There’s a saying amongst some that there are really only eleven bottles in a case of wine, because on average, on bottle in 12 will have a bad cork. Even synthetic corks will tend to leak wine out once you have drilled a corkscrew down into them if you lay them horizontally. Try it out by holding an opened, but recorked bottle horizontally, then tilting it left and right over and over. It’s a sure sign there is not a very good seal.

The other thing about screw tops is that they open up the world of wine to more people by making it more easily accessible. Boxed wine does the same thing. A cork and corkscrew is intimidating to alot of people. Alot of people have a corkscrew in their kitchen, but have no idea how to use it.

Don’t be put off by inexpensive wine or boxed wine. It’s really all a matter of personal taste, and you will never know until you have tried it. To say that you have tried box wine once and hated it, and will never try it again is a somewhat ignorant statement. It’s just the same as saying that you have had a bottle of bad wine and won’t drink from a bottle any more.

Whatever you do, don’t sniff the cork. You will only smell cork!

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14515 Clifford Sat, 20 May 2006 01:11:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14515 Hey.... never too late to post a comment on an old thread. I think the idea of playing a trick on one's "wine-snob" friends is a brilliant idea! Also, use as water bags is good. I usually get those from camping stores, but a smaller one can be useful - good idea! Only problem there is the danger of being seen by friends or acquaintances actually buying the boxed wine. The horror!   ;-) -cvj Hey…. never too late to post a comment on an old thread. I think the idea of playing a trick on one’s “wine-snob” friends is a brilliant idea!

Also, use as water bags is good. I usually get those from camping stores, but a smaller one can be useful - good idea! Only problem there is the danger of being seen by friends or acquaintances actually buying the boxed wine. The horror!   ;-)
-cvj

]]> By: tmj http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14514 tmj Sat, 20 May 2006 00:42:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14514 I guess that last post is kinda late and no one is going to read this. So it's appropriate that I'll be drinking the box of wine alone too. I'm not sure if I'll get the Franzia or the Peter Vella. Maybe one'll be on sale. I guess that last post is kinda late and no one is going to read this. So it’s appropriate that I’ll be drinking the box of wine alone too. I’m not sure if I’ll get the Franzia or the Peter Vella. Maybe one’ll be on sale.

]]> By: tmj http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14513 tmj Sat, 20 May 2006 00:37:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14513 You guys know that you can unscrew the spigot on boxed wine and refill it with whatever you want? It's true. Try that on one of your wine snobiest of friends. You'll turn their world upside down. And of course it will be pretty funny when they stop by the store to pick up a few boxes of their own. But really, I'm leaving work right now to pick up a box of wine. In kayaking circles, they're quite popular as water bags; durable, airtight, double as a pillow. And cheap. And really, it might be crappy wine, but I can't just pour it out. It's going to be a long night. You guys know that you can unscrew the spigot on boxed wine and refill it with whatever you want? It’s true. Try that on one of your wine snobiest of friends. You’ll turn their world upside down. And of course it will be pretty funny when they stop by the store to pick up a few boxes of their own.

But really, I’m leaving work right now to pick up a box of wine. In kayaking circles, they’re quite popular as water bags; durable, airtight, double as a pillow. And cheap. And really, it might be crappy wine, but I can’t just pour it out. It’s going to be a long night.

]]> By: mj http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14512 mj Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:26:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14512 Being more of a beer and single malt person myself (I can distinguish red from white wine at least) I don't have much to say about the quality of wines. However, I can read, and acording to test in the papers here in Sweden there seem to be a number of decent wines in boxes. Wine in box has become a big sales hit is Sweden, mostly due to the generally high price on alcohol here. In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systembolaget" rel="nofollow">state monopoly store</a> a simple search counts <a href="http://systembolaget.se/Applikationer/Sok/ResultatLista.htm?Sok=Av&SokKriteria=Rodaviner:0:0::83:0:0:9999:1:0:::::0:0:0:0:0:0::::::::::::::0:100:2:0:True:&Butik=0&SidNr=1&SortKol=namn&Asc=1&SokOrdinarieSort=True&SokVarugrupp=Rodaviner&SokStrangar=R%u00d6DA+VINER:Alla+l%u00e4nder:Boxar::::::" rel="nofollow">84</a> different red wines in boxes and 56 whites. Some of them have gotten quite ok revews. Being more of a beer and single malt person myself (I can distinguish red from white wine at least) I don’t have much to say about the quality of wines. However, I can read, and acording to test in the papers here in Sweden there seem to be a number of decent wines in boxes.

Wine in box has become a big sales hit is Sweden, mostly due to the generally high price on alcohol here. In the state monopoly store a simple search counts 84 different red wines in boxes and 56 whites. Some of them have gotten quite ok revews.

]]> By: scerir http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14511 scerir Wed, 12 Apr 2006 19:44:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14511 In boxes? You mean http://www.tavernello.com/ ? Well not so baaad, I mean the ratio price/quality is ok, at least here in Italy. -s. In boxes? You mean http://www.tavernello.com/ ?
Well not so baaad, I mean the ratio price/quality
is ok, at least here in Italy.
-s.

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14483 Matt Tue, 11 Apr 2006 23:03:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14483 I agree with serial catowner. There seems to be a little superstition involving the magic properties of bottling at work here. It seems akin to the qualities ascribed to corks vs. screw on caps. I agree with serial catowner. There seems to be a little superstition involving the magic properties of bottling at work here.

It seems akin to the qualities ascribed to corks vs. screw on caps.

]]> By: serial catowner http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14510 serial catowner Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:37:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14510 If this is a science blog....shouldn't that have been a double-blind study? If this is a science blog….shouldn’t that have been a double-blind study?

]]> By: Doug K http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14509 Doug K Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:33:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14509 Black Box merlot is not undrinkable, but certainly doesn't afford the pleasure of a good wine. Generally the Australian box wines are significantly better than from anywhere else - I've had some that made perfectly good house wine, the Hardys line in particular, and the Banrock Station chardonnay. I'd expect cheap French wine in a box to be horrible, frankly. Black Box merlot is not undrinkable, but certainly doesn’t afford the pleasure of a good wine. Generally the Australian box wines are significantly better than from anywhere else - I’ve had some that made perfectly good house wine, the Hardys line in particular, and the Banrock Station chardonnay.

I’d expect cheap French wine in a box to be horrible, frankly.

]]> By: Wolverine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14508 Wolverine Mon, 10 Apr 2006 20:55:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/04/09/does-wine-come-in-boxes/#comment-14508 The thought of wine in a box gives me bad '80s flashbacks (Matilda Bay, specifically... blech). Although, perhaps that wasn't wine to begin with. The thought of wine in a box gives me bad ’80s flashbacks (Matilda Bay, specifically… blech). Although, perhaps that wasn’t wine to begin with.

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