Box Wines
Good Quality Wines

Traditionally, wines packaged in boxes in the United States have been of the lower end of the quality scale. After many years of popularity in Europe and Australia, box wines containing good quality wines are creeping onto retail shelves in the U.S.

Why Box Wines - Wineries

Wine drinking is becoming more common in the United States. As the palettes of wine drinkers become more “sophisticated,” so does their desire for a better glass of wine at a reasonable price. Wine makers realize this, but are being forced to stay competitive because of the number of wine producers today and a price conscious public. Three liter bag in a box packaging, the norm for the “premium” box wines, is less expensive than one liter bottles. And, with the growing use of screw tops rather than corks on premium wines, consumers are becoming conditioned to accepting a good glass of wine without a cork involved.

Why Bag in a Box Wines – Retailers

Many retailers find that box wines are easier to handle than wine bottles. Retailers will not have to deal with breakage as much when stocking bag in a box wines. However, retailers may be reluctant to stock box wines because or perceived consumer reluctance to buying wine in different packaging. The last thing that retailers want is to have product sitting on their shelves.

Why Box Wines – Consumers

Consumers will reap several benefits when purchasing box wines, including to enjoying a better glass of wine at a lower cost. Box wines will be less likely to fall over in the refrigerator and consumers will not have to deal with broken bottles of wine. Finally, since a three liter bag in a box wine is equivalent to four 750 ml bottles of wine, box wine packaging is designed to help prevent the wine from oxidizing, so you can enjoy a glass of box wine for up to about one month. And, bag in a box manufacturers are working on the packaging to further improve the shelf life of boxed wines.

There is also a P.S. to bag in the box wines. The corrugated containers are recyclable. The bag may also be recyclable, depending on your community. Many people actually keep the bags and reuse them, making bag in a box wines a truly environmentally friendly product.

The Future of Bag in a Box Wines

It is likely that the total number of box wine sales will increase in the coming years, not only because of domestic production, but because of imports as well. And, as packaging technology improves, expect to see more demand for even better wines in the bag in the box wine category.

Box Wine Tips

Make sure that you check the date stamp on the box wine before making your purchase. It is best to drink a bag in a box wine within nine months of packaging, as box wines do a have a shelf life.

You do not have to refrigerate a red bag in a box wine after opening.

Bag in a box wines are not meant to be aged. They are meant to be consumed when they are young.

If you are concerned about your guests’ perceptions of bag in a box wine, you can always decant your box wine for a nicer presentation.

The Bottom Line on Bag in the Box Wines

If your bag in a box wine tastes good, is affordable, and you like it, who cares how the wine is packaged?

~Laura Evans Staff Editor

Laura Evans is a freelance writer living in Southern California.

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