Boxed Wine Revolution in Italy
The New York Times reports that some fine government-approved Italian wine will, for the first time, be sold in boxes instead of bottles. Italy’s Agriculture Ministry is now offering its D.O.C. designation, which verifies the product’s origin, for some boxed wines. Worry not—the more rarefied D.O.C.G. seal is still reserved for bottles.
Boxed wine has been around for several decades and over the years has gotten better and earned more respect. According to a related article in the New York Times, opening up a nice box with dinner is a bit more embraced in Australia and in Europe than on our own shores. Still, wine from a cardboard spout hasn't been able to shake its cheap and crappy stigma.
Might an Italian seal of approval inspire you to pick up a box of wine? If the quality was acceptable and the price was low, could you get past its packaging?
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12 Comments:
I like to think that Italians know how to live. Now as for box wine....well...um...the boxes will no doubt be GORGEOUS!!
It might make for a pleasant lightweight picnic.
Pointy at 12:56PM on 08/06/08
My dad just returned from a seven month stay in France. Our house over there is on top of a hill, and is surrounded by vineyards. Our neighbor is the vintner, and put his slightly lesser quality wine into 5 and 10 liter bag-in-box packages. My dad said he would just buy a 10 liter one and fill up a couple clean empty bottles every week or so as needed. The remainder of the wine stays well protected from air and light in it's bag. Makes lots of sense from that perspective. Buying in bulk, reusing your own containers, now applies to wine too...
simon at 1:12PM on 08/06/08
As if I needed Italy's approval. Wine in a box--it's like a prewrapped present! Full of alcohol!
Of course, you should consider my comment with a grain of salt--I am originally from New Jersey, and there's no stigma attached to wine in a box where I come from.
cakespy at 1:16PM on 08/06/08
just decant it and no will be the wiser! Also, they have juice box sized wine in Spain. Goes great with a straw.
csbrown at 1:23PM on 08/06/08
@ csbrown: I saw those in the supermarket last year in France, made me LOL. I didn't try them though. Maybe this year. Would certainly simplify things while driving: no need to fumble around with a corkscrew while going 180 km/h on the highway...
simon at 1:30PM on 08/06/08
I heard a discussion about this last night on NPR, apparently the boxed wine market is huge in Northern Europe, with almost 50% of the wine sold there being from a box.
It makes sense, really, you don't have any of the problem of going bad, and it's monstrously cheaper than glass, the only real problem being the stigma of it being in a box.
In my opinion, we should have juice boxes of wine for all! :)
pcrackenhead at 1:53PM on 08/06/08
If only Mom were still alive! We teased her mercilessly about her Burgundy Box O' Happiness. And it made her very happy.
PerkyMac at 4:23PM on 08/06/08
@ csbrown, yeah....as a study abroad student there this spring, i definitely partook in juice box wine, as well as 1L wine in a box. i probably didn't buy the good stuff, though. ;)
Kaley at 5:44PM on 08/06/08
Boxed/paper containers of wine (the French have already done so) are great for picnics or places that don't allow glass containers. Great to bring poolside.
jayevee at 10:42PM on 08/06/08
Boxed wine brings me back to my college days...
Oh, who am I kidding, there's a box in my fridge right now. Can I blame it on the high gas prices?
ReneeRobinson at 10:44AM on 08/07/08
It's all I drink! I found a couple of very nice Ontario wines that come in boxes.
Interestingly, there was an article in our local paper about a glass making factory that recently closed in southern Ontario - apparently they are accusing our government run liquor control board (which governs which products are sold in our liquor stores) of being "anti-glass". Over the years, certainly there are more and more boxed products being introduced in the stores.
Maureen at 10:57AM on 08/07/08
Ah study abroad! you learn so many wonderful things about buying booze on the cheap. :)
On the subject of boxed wine, I'm surprised it hasn't caught on more. Eco-wise, it's a great deal and saves me from throwing away tons of bottles. There is a stigma - I have been made fun of! Once I got my friends to actually TRY the wine, they conceded that it was perfectly fine. Black Box does some very good reds and Target carries a whole line of boxed wine that's not bad. Just check the alcohol content. If it's at least 13%, it will taste ok. If you go through as much wine as our family, you might as well give in to save your budget.
csbrown at 4:52PM on 08/07/08