Black Box Wine
Many consider Black Box wine as one of the better brands of boxed wines in terms of flavor.
About Black Box Wine
Black Box founder Ryan Sproule traveled to Europe several years ago and discovered that fine European winemakers were creating fresh tasting, high quality, high-value premium wines by offering boxed wines. Returning to the United States, Sproule discovered that there was a market for premium quality boxed wines. The result is Black Box - a line of high quality vintage and appellation specific wines from wine regions all around the world.
The wines from Black Box wine offer affordable prices and surprisingly high quality. According to their website, they've won 15 gold medals at competition and been awarded 14 best buys. If you give Black Box Wine a try, you just may rethink wine in a box.
The Advantages of Wine in a Box
While boxed wine often brings to mind images of low quality wines, many fine wine makers are discovering that there are advantages to creating and offering boxed wines. Here are some of them:
- Stay fresh longer - Because the wine is in a soft plastic pouch inside of a box, it doesn't allow oxygen in - even after the box has been opened. Because of this, you can enjoy a box wine for up to four weeks after opening the box as opposed to a day or two for a bottle.
- Don't get corked - Corks in wine bottles from time to time cause something called "cork taint." This is when the cork imparts off flavors and smells in the wine that aren't detectable until the wine has been opened. This is attributable to a chemical called TCA, which is present in some corks and reacts with the wine. For very expensive bottles of wine, it is a huge disappointment to open it and discover the wine that you have stored so long is "corked" and undrinkable.
- Immediately drinkable - While some wines in bottles need some age under them in order to soften the tannins and make them ready to drink, a boxed wine is always ready to drink. No aging is necessary.
- Less expensive - Boxed wine is generally cheaper than most brands of bottled wines and if you find the right brand of boxed wine, it is also surprisingly high in quality.
- Convenience - They travel well and you can be use them for any occasion because they come in a sturdy, unbreakable box.
- No refrigeration - Boxed wines don't require refrigeration after you open them.
Disadvantages of Box Wine
Boxed wine does have some disadvantages as well.
- No aging - The packaging doesn't allow for aging of wines, so chances are investment-grade wines will never come in boxes.
- Shelf life - The unopened shelf life of the box is shorter than bottled wines.
- Boxed wines lack the finesse and subtlety of a well-aged wine.
- Reputation - Boxed wines have earned the reputation as "cheap" and low quality.
Finally, it somehow seems less romantic to whip out a box of wine and pour it from a spigot at a candle lit dinner than it does to uncork a bottle of wine and sip at it.
About the Wines
The wines from Black Box are high in quality, low priced and feature fresh flavors of fruit. The boxes are also environmental friendly, requiring less energy to produce and transport. Costs are kept to a minimum because the packaging is so much less expensive than traditional bottled wines.
The wine is also convenient. Whites store on a refrigerator shelf, and the wine is dispensed through a spigot on the front of the box.
The wines come in a variety of varietals including Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Griggio, just to name a few.
Awards
The company was launched in 2002, and has been receiving rave reviews for the flavor and freshness of their varietals ever since. The wines have won numerous awards, including winning Best of Class for the 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon at the 2009 Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Awards, as well winning awards for their Merlot and Syrah at the same festival.
Where to Buy
The wines from Black Box are available at many grocery stores and convenience stores, as well as at wine and liquor retailers throughout the United States.
If you've long eschewed boxed wine, the wines from Black Box just may make you change your mind. The next time you're at your local store, pick up a box and give it a try. The results just may surprise you.
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