Every month we like to bring our customers along on an educational journey. Focusing on different aspects of the wine world, we will cover the regions, producers, and winemaking processes that make wine such an exciting thing to drink and discuss. This month it's all about box wine! Read on to learn about what a boxed wine really means, how they're produced, and the ones we have in stock today.
What is a Boxed Wine?
A boxed wine, sometimes more descriptively called 'bag in box' wine is exactly that. A specially made non-reactive plastic bag holds the wine, with a spout at the bottom that generally extends from within the cardboard box that contains the bag. These products normally contain four bottles worth of wine, or 3 liters total. The bag stays sealed from oxygen and can last over a month after being opened if stored properly. All of this, combined with the lower shipping weight of boxed wine makes it a very economical way to consume your favorite wine or share it with friends.
How is a Boxed Wine Produced?
Boxed wine is produced exactly like wine that is bottled, with varying production methods for white, orange, rose, and red wine. In fact, most reasonably priced table wine is shipped via a giant version of the bag-in-box method, utilizing giant tanks inside shipping containers. The wine is then pumped out and bottled close to its destination.
What in the world is a 'Goon'?
Boxed wine was invented in Australia by Thomas Angove in 1965. He was looking for a way to ship and sell larger quantities of wine than the standard bottle, and was especially intrigued by the concept of 'airless pouring' that allows no oxygen into bag-in-box wine during consumption. They called this new boxed wine a 'Goon' in Australia, and the name has stuck around to this day in that country.
Pairing Box Wine
Most box wine is very shareable by its large-format nature, in fact Magnolia Winery makes a 16 liter box (more than 21 bottles!). Thusly, we recommend boxed wine for parties as they can serve up to 20 people a glass before running dry. Box wines are also great for vacations when access to quality wine can be difficult or expensive, as their shape allows them to be packed away with ease. Finally, box wines are awesome for business events as the design allows folks to self pour easily, and logistics are so much simpler when you don't have to open a new bottle every 5 minutes.
Our Box Picks
Schplink - Gruner Veltliner - $39
This is a cool climate site that lays at the same longitude as Champagne. Vineyard practices are organic and grapes are hand harvested and de-stemmed. Gently pressed and allowed to macerate for 12 hours to increase aromatics. Spontaneous fermentation lasted 22 days at a cool temperature in stainless steel tank. It remained on the fine lees until 12 hours before filling to keep the wine as young and fresh as possible. Lightly fined and filtered.
Boxie - Orange Blend - 38$
A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Albarino produced in an 'orange' style of fermenting white grapes with their skins makes this the perfect wine to chill down and keep on tap in your refrigerator. Chardonnay pressed after 24 hours of skin contact and fermented and aged in neutral French oak. Other varieties fermented on skins for 30 days and pressed to neutral barrels for 4 months of aging.
Herisson - Bordeaux Blend - $48
Planted on the top slopes of East to Southwest facing hill sides and all sustainably farmed. Grapes are hand harvested and fully destemmed, then allowed to macerate for one week. Fermentation takes place in a temperature controlled stainless steel tank over a period of 7 days with one punch down per day. The juice is then racked into a cement tank and allowed to rest for 5 months.