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13 Boxed Wines That Are Actually Really Good (Even Our Wine Snobs Agree)

from orange to rosé and cab sauv

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best boxed wines
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Boxed wine conjures all kinds of images—namely, vaguely alcoholic, far-too-syrupy Kool-Aid-like concoctions from the ‘90s. But I’m challenging you to erase that notion. Today’s boxed wine is amazing. It’s cheaper than most bottles, and it’s way better for the environment because it’s easier to transport and recycle. And here’s the kicker: It lasts about a month in the fridge after it’s opened (think of it as your own personal wine on tap). Best of all, each three-liter carton contains about four bottles’ worth of vino.

Still skeptical? I spoke with wine industry veteran and author Tyler Balliet to learn whether boxed wine really holds up (spoiler, it does) and why you should consider it as a serious contender. White, red or rosé, there’s something for everyone. From the female-founded Nomadica to grocery store staple Black Box and pretty picnic-ready Juliet, here are 13 of the best boxed wines PureWow editors would happily serve at our next dinner party. (We know because we tried it all!)

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The Top 10 Boxed Wines at a Glance

1

Best Classic Boxed Red Wine

Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon

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2

Best Pinot Noir Boxed Wine

Bridge Lane Pinot Noir

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3

Best Red Boxed Wine for Non-Wine Drinkers

Franzia Chillable Red

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4

Best Orange Boxed Wine

Juliet Orange Wine

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5

Best Cozy Boxed Wine

Nomadica Red

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Meet the Expert

Tyler Balliet is an entrepreneur and journalist who has been innovating the wine industry since 2006. As the co-founder and CEO of Rosé Mansion, Balliet designed, promoted, and operated a giant Rosé-themed interactive experience in New York City. Prior, Balliet was the co-founder and operator of Wine Riot, a traveling wine festival that toured the U.S. between 2009 and 2016. Named to Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30 and Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40, Balliet has been interviewed by every major newspaper in the U.S. As a journalist, Balliet judges international wine competitions and travels to wine regions around the world, meeting with and interviewing the most influential people in the industry. Most recently, Balliet is the author of Rebel School of Wine, the ultimate wine guide for the unconventional enthusiasts. Balliet has appeared on the likes of CNN, ABC News and Good Morning America.

How I Chose and Vetted the Best Boxed Wines

To create this list of the 13 best boxed wines, I spoke with Balliet about brands he likes and the characteristics of a good wine. Then, I researched the internet to see which brands people were talking about before organizing wine tastings of more than 30 wines from seven different producers. PureWow editors and testers evaluated brands based on the sniff test, tasting notes and packaging aesthetic. To make the list, the wines had to deliver on their tasting notes, be pleasant to drink and reasonably priced.

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Best Classic Boxed Red Wine

1. Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon

What We Like

  • rich, dark fruit aroma
  • classic red

What We Don’t Like

  • some buyers have said that it does run on the drier side

Black Box

Our tester, Annie Tsai, described Black Box’s Cabernet Sauvignon as “nutty and dark with fermented fruit jam. The first sip was punchy but not super dry, light on the tannins. The dark fruit and rich aroma really shines.” She reported that this Cabernet Sauvignon was the winner of all the brands she tried, also noting that she appreciated how flavorful and full-bodied it was. Tasting notes include black current, oak, vanilla, blackberry and chocolate. Tsai dubbed it a “really classic red wine” she’d serve at a dinner party. Pair it with PureWow’s Lamb Chops with Buckwheat and Black Pepper Strawberries or Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: black current, oak, vanilla, blackberry, chocolate
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $0.95

Best Pinot Noir Boxed Wine

2. Bridge Lane Pinot Noir

What We Like

  • pleasant woodiness tempers berry notes
  • no-nonsense design and packaging (can easily pour into carafe)

What We Don’t Like

  • not as full bodied as you may expect from a red

Bridge Lane

Bridge Lane is a local (to New Yorkers) winery producing fun, accessible wines that don’t take themselves too seriously. PureWow Vice President of Editorial Candace Davison sampled the Pinot Noir, saying, “It has a cozy, berry-meets-woodsy scent to it. Cherries, wild strawberries and earth are noted, and after taking a few sips, I totally see it. I immediately tasted warm spices, berry notes and a hard-to-place woodiness, almost like tree bark, which sounds odd but works here. It tempers the berries and offers a dry finish. If this wine were a mood, it’d be Taylor Swift’s Folklore album. It made me think of picking berries in a mossy forest, wearing wellies and smelling the dew as I meandered, all in a single sip. Yes, it’s medium-bodied, so it won’t be too knock-your-socks-off for non-red wine drinkers, yet it’s hearty enough to satisfy.” Serve with Ina Garten’s Tuscan Turkey Roll or, dare I propose, pepperoni pizza.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: cherry, pomegranate, earth
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $2.40

Best Red Boxed Wine for Non-Wine Drinkers

3. Franzia Chillable Red

What We Like

  • good entry into red wine for those who don’t drink often
  • sweet, fruity, light

What We Don’t Like

  • red wine connoisseurs will find it too sweet

Franzia

OK, OK, hear me out on this one. Yes, PureWow staffers told me I was taking them straight back to college when I pulled out the boxes of Franzia for a team taste test session at the office, but it wasn’t in a bad way. At least, that’s my opinion as someone who doesn’t drink much and whose mantra is, “the sweeter and lighter, the better.” Franzia’s red is fruity and sweet, as opposed to the more jammy aroma you might expect. Everyone on the team likened it to punched-up grape juice. Honestly, for this lightweight, that’s a winner. Now, if you’ll throw in some Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya or Lamb Loin Chops over Minty Pistachio Butter, I will be there.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: jam, fruit
  • Volume: 5L
  • Cost Per Glass: $0.35

Best Orange Boxed Wine

4. Juliet Orange Wine

What We Like

  • beautiful packaging
  • delicate mandarin scent and crisp apricot notes

What We Don’t Like

  • some may find it a little to acidic

Juliet

First things first, Juliet wins on the packaging front. Gold accents? Pastels? Sleek black rope handles? I didn’t hesitate to haul three boxes to my birthday picnic, without panicking that they would be out of place among the many flower bouquets, vintage silverware and antique glassware. The brand’s orange wine, with mandarin, apricot, acacia and beeswax notes, was a hit. I found that that the orange really came through as a scent and the apricot in the aftertaste. I served it alongside a berry fruit medley, sabayon and cheese board.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: mandarin, apricot, acacia, beeswax
  • Volume: 1.5L
  • Cost Per Glass: $3.5

Best Cozy Boxed Wine

5. Nomadica Red

What We Like

  • spices come through to create a festive mood
  • darjeeling top note is light and refreshing

What We Don’t Like

  • spices can feel almost too Christmas-y

Nomadica

The PureWow team’s verdict of Nomadica’s red wine was that it brought us straight to Christmastime. (We’d totally queue this up for some mulled wine.) The scent is intensely jammy and moody. One editor said, “It tastes like a holiday party!” The clove and bay leaf come through as mid notes, and, interestingly, darjeeling tea is the top note. The wine is lightly floral and acidic, with a cherry aftertaste. You’ll catch us serving this at our next holiday party or pulling it out as we make s’mores by the campfire.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: dark red fruit, bay leaf, clove, darjeeling
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $2.75

Best Dry Rosé Boxed Wine

6. Bridge Lane Rosé

What We Like

  • crisp sour cherry notes
  • light and fresh

What We Don’t Like

  • some may find it too dry

Bridge Lane

If you have rosé naysayers in your life, Davison thinks Bridge Lane’s will change their mind. “The rosé has a very light, freshly washed fruit scent, as if you rinsed berries and sniffed them from a foot away,” she explains. “Peach, watermelon and sour cherry are noted, and I definitely get the sour cherry—you sense this mouth-puckering astringency mid-sip that’s crisp and kind of delightful. It’s a very light wine overall, and probably for people who prefer a drier rosé. I enjoy that it starts light and delicate and ends with a bang. This is a rosé for my red-wine drinking friends, the ones who fear anything rosé will veer into Moscato sweetness. It’ll change their minds.” Serve it alongside a light fruit salad and it’ll be the epitome of summertime.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: guava, peach blossom, strawberry, watermelon
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $2.40

Best Sauvignon Blanc Boxed Wine

7. Bridge Lane Sauvignon Blanc

What We Like

  • mineral notes take you to the seaside
  • crisp and fruity

What We Don’t Like

  • delicate, so don’t expect something full-bodied

Bridge Lane

Sauvignon Blanc fans, I present to you Bridge Lane’s iteration, which will take you straight to the beach. “[When I did the wine sniff, I caught a] minerally scent with freshly cut grass and fruit,” says PureWow Assistant Editor Delia Curtis. “[I thought it was also] a bit briny (like ocean water). I definitely taste the minerals and citrus, while cut grass was more of the aroma. This Sauvignon Blanc is smooth, buttery, full and a little bit sweet, but not overpowering. I’d say it’s a more delicate sip, yet still has some roundness to it. This is a very nice laid-back wine that takes me to the seaside. I feel like it would pair nicely with fish or lighter meats and some crispy vegetables. It goes down smoothly and has a fresh fruitiness that I really enjoy.”

Fast Facts

  • Notes: citrus, grapefruit, cut grass
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $2.40

Best Boxed Pinot Grigio Wine

8. Black Box Pinot Grigio

What We Like

  • light and juicy
  • pear and honeydew notes

What We Don’t Like

  • not for those who want a bold flavor profile

Black Box

When taste-testing Black Box’s Pinot Grigio, Tsai dubbed this a “super light and juicy white wine—the first sip almost tastes like white grape juice. There are forward flavors of pear and honeydew.” She reported that of all the wines she tasted, this one was her favorite. It’s easy to see why. Tsai says it goes down smoothly, is incredibly flavorful and pairs well with fruit, cheese and crackers. Time to put together that charcuterie board you’ve been dreaming about.  

Fast Facts

  • Notes: pear, honey, elderflower
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $0.95

Best Rose Boxed Wine for Non-Wine Drinkers

9. Franzia Sunset Blush

What We Like

  • approachable for people who don’t like the taste of alcohol
  • berry and rose notes

What We Don’t Like

  • wine aficionados will find this too sweet

Franzia

The other Franzia wine that made the cut was the brand’s Sunset Blush, which is a rosé iteration. The edit team agreed: It’s sweet all around, from the bright rosy color to the sniff test and taste. We picked up rose and berry perfume notes. Some likened it to candy, pink lemonade and fruit juice. While that may be turn-offs to some, I was all over it as someone who doesn’t typically appreciate the taste of alcohol. And at nine percent ABV, it’s one of the milder (if not the mildest) picks on this list. I’d happily take a glass alongside some Sour Patch Kids or a serving of fruit.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: strawberry
  • Volume: 3L, 5L
  • Cost Per Glass: $0.53

Best Rosé Boxed Wine

10. Nomadica Rosé

What We Like

  • interesting mineral notes
  • has body and a tang that cuts through fatty foods

What We Don’t Like

  • strawberry notes don’t come through very much

Nomadica

Looking for a great rosé? Nomadica has our vote. The editors appreciated the floral scent and salty, minerally aftertaste, though we found the strawberry note lacking. This rosé is mild with body and tang, ideal pairing for fatty foods to cut the richness. (Perfect for serving at a cookout alongside burgers, hot dogs, potato salad and mac and cheese.) Nomadica calls their rosé and “ode to July” and we say, it lives up to the hype.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: strawberry, saltwater, violet
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $2.75

Best Chardonnay Boxed Wine

11. Really Good Boxed Wine Chardonnay

What We Like

  • interesting combination of notes
  • fruity scent
  • hip design

What We Don’t Like

  • some may find it too bold for a white wine

Really Good Boxed Wien

Curtis deems Really Good Boxed Wine “not your mother’s boxed wine. It feels hip and cool, and the geometric pattern and bold white lettering on the box are fun. Drinking the Chardonnay, I picked up buttery, mineral notes that were slightly fruity. I was surprised to find out the notes were lemon curd, green apple, pear and chalk. That last note is slightly off-putting in theory, but I see what they mean. I picked up the green apple and pear in the sniff test. Upon tasting, the Chardonnay is very punchy, acidic and fruity, so definitely on the bolder side of the white wine range while still being a tad sweet. The strongest notes were lemon curd, and I think the chalk note manifested as a mineral taste.” They noted it’s “fun and refreshing,” though cautioned “it might be too bold for some wine drinkers, but I think plenty of people would be excited to drink this at a party alongside some light bites.”

Fast Facts

  • Notes: lemon curd, green apple, pear, chalk
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $3.50

Best Boxed Wine for Apéro

12. Really Good Boxed Wine Sauvignon Blanc

What We Like

  • light and floral
  • strong grapefruit notes

What We Don’t Like

  • may not be as crisp as other Sauvignon Blancs

Really Good Boxed Wine

Hosting a happy hour? PureWow’s Vice President of News and Entertainment, Philip Mutz, says this is what he’d serve at an apéritif. “The nose on this is light and subtle with floral hints,” he says. “The tasting notes say that I should get lime, grapefruit, guava and fresh cut grass, but I’d say the dominant, overwhelming notes are the grapefruit ones (something to keep in mind if you aren’t a fan of grapefruit). The wine is fairly light and easy to drink, though the flavors definitely shine through. However, it is less crisp than some Sauvignon Blancs that I’m used to. The grapefruit also lingers a bit afterwards. I think the wine would pair nicely with an earlier dinner course like a salad---the citrusy notes would definitely go well with light greens.” For even more pairing inspo, the brand recommends lobster rolls, oysters, fruit tarts and tabbouleh.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: lime zest, pink grapefruit, guava, fresh cut grass
  • Volume: 3:
  • Cost Per Glass: $3.50

Best Affordable Red Boxed Wine

13. Sandy Giovese Red

What We Like

  • rich cherry notes
  • fruity and light-bodied

What We Don’t Like

  • some may find it too acidic

Sandy Giovese

Tester Ryann Logeais called Sandy Giovese’s packaging “summery and attractive, chic for boxed wine.” She praised it as being acidic and light, noting that “It’s fruity in a deep way, but rather light-bodied instead of rich. The cherry notes come through strong. Punchy but refreshing.” At $1.75 a glass, this red wine won for balancing quality with affordability. In addition to cherry notes, expect violets and tannins.

Fast Facts

  • Notes: cherry, violet, tannins
  • Volume: 3L
  • Cost Per Glass: $1.75

What to Consider When Shopping for Boxed Wine

First, let’s debunk the myth that boxed wine is somehow inferior to bottled wine. According to Balliet, most of the wine on the market that’s under around $30 a bottle will be the same whether it’s in a box or a bottle. “There’s tons of research and tests [that show that] nobody can tell the difference in a blind test between wine that’s boxed and wine that’s bottled,” he says. “It’s the exact same thing in two different packages.” The example Balliet cites in his book, Rebel School of Wine, is Trader Joe’s famous Two-Buck Chuck. Newsflash: It’s Franzia under a different name in fancier packaging. TJ’s simply cracked the code. If someone had a bottle of wine in their shopping basket, they were apt to spend more money on higher ticket items like cured meats and cheese.

Boxed wine, Balliet asserts, is superior in many ways. “[The wine is stored in a] food-grade, airtight, sealed plastic bag so it doesn’t leach any flavors. The [major] benefit of [boxed wine is that] you can pull single glasses [without the wine oxidizing]. If you open a bottle of wine right now and drink one glass, the next day, it will not taste as good because because oxygen is interacting with it. After a week, it will be disgusting and undrinkable. The flavors will completely change, but [this doesn’t happen with boxed wine].

The only reason you might want to avoid boxed wine is if you plan on aging it, Balliet says, as wine can’t age in plastic and will only last at most a year or two unopened. When shopping, he gravitates towards Long Island-based winery Bridge Lane, the female-owned Nomadica and grocery store staple Black Box—all of whom made this list. And don’t make the mistake of thinking your options are limited. From Moscato to Chardonnay, rosé, orange wine and Sauvignon Blanc, there are plenty of options.

Once you’ve procured your drink of choice, pairing it with food is easy. “What you generally want to do is pair weights,” Balliet explains. “Think about food as light, medium or heavy. [For example,] sushi and salad [are light] whereas a beef bourguignon would be heavy. Wines have weight, too.” That means pairing white wines and rosés with foods like fruit, salad and fish, while heavier red wines do well with red meat dishes and heart vegetables like potatoes. Ultimately, Balliet says you shouldn’t overthink it. As long is you pair like with like, you’re good to go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is boxed wine good quality?

Yes. As Balliet explains, until you’ve reached a certain price point (or are planning to age your wine), there isn’t a difference between boxed and bottled wine—see the Two Buck Chuck example. In fact, boxed wine has many benefits, chief among them the ability to have a single glass without needing to commit to the full bottle. Boxed wine prevents oxidation, so the wine lasts longer.


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From 2017 to 2019 Heath Goldman held the role of Food Editor covering food, booze and some recipe development, too. Tough job, eh?

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