Do you regularly buy bag-in-box wine? Have you ever bought bag-in-box? Would you ever buy bag-in-box?
Last week, while visiting the Rheingau, in Germany I met some Norwegians. Arne Ronald, MW, well known wine writer, and Mai Tjemsland, Wine Director for a group of Norwegian restaurants. They explained to me, that in Norway over 50% of wine sold at retail is bag-in-box (BiB). In Sweden it is estimated to be 65%, and in the United States about 20%.
When we think of bag-in-box wine, we most often think of cheaper, low-end wine. However, in Norway, and other Scandinavian countries, this is not necessarily the case, where wines such as Chablis and Sancerre from France are routinely sold in box.
Bag-in-box wines offer a number of advantages to the consumer. They are good value, convenient, lightweight, easy to store, unbreakable and especially great for outdoor activities.
However, there are also disadvantages such as being big and bulky to serve at table. Also, compared to a bottling unit, the packaging technology is quite complex. The bag inside the box needs to be both flexible as well as a good oxygen barrier. This combination is not always easily attained.
Additionally, 'bagged' the wine has a max shelf life of about nine months, after which the wine starts to lose freshness and deteriorate. So unless you know how long the box in your local store has been hanging around, it is hard to calculate how much more shelf life it has.
I'd love to hear your experiences with bag-in-box wines. Mine have been quite mixed. Some good, but there have also been many oxidized wines. In principle I think BiB is a great packaging alternative, and certainly has a future, as wine becomes part of so many more of life's occasions and activities.
FYI - The Norwegian wine market is run much like our own control states, in that all retail outlets are owned by the state monopoly Vinmonopolet.
So until next week, enjoy.
Mary
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
i stayed in a hostel in Genoa, Italy a few years back. In the hostel's cafeteria, for dinner, they served wine in the equivalent of an american kid's juice box. Single serving sized boxed wine. I had a few.....
view spiralcma's profile
I'm just finishing a pretty nice box of Pinot Grigio (can't recall the name right now), which has been disappearing at a much slower pace now that the weather has turned. For a nice weeknight wine, this works great. Still not sure I want to tote a BIB to a fancy dinner party, though.
view sara jane's profile
For those of who cook with (but don't generally drink) wine, bags-in-boxes are a great way to keep wine in the house without it going bad quite so quickly.
view leenwebb's profile
I guess I'm just not comfortable with the wine being in contact with plastic.
My first experience with wine in the box was at a crazy college party. When you take the bag out of the box it really is not unlike a bladder.
view art's profile
We just took a Black box of Shiraz on a conoe trip because it is illegal to have glass on the river/camping. Very simple red wine, but paired nicely with the the lamb and chicken Kabobs we had cooked over a fire. Not sure I would purchase to drink at home, but tasty for this situation.
view polish_princess's profile
Over the past year, bag-in-a-box wine has become a mainstay in my kitchen. Aside from the economic upsides (3L for $20, or in the case of Banrock Station, 3L for $12?!), BIB is perfect for having a glass whenever, without worrying that the wine left in an open bottle will go bad.
Will it replace the bottle? Of course not. But if it makes wine in America more affordable, durable, and portable, BIB stands to substantially benefit wine makers and wine drinkers alike.
view lordnelson's profile
PS - I forgot to mention that the wines sold in 5L boxes are still to be avoided. The newer products, all of which seem to be sold in 3L or smaller packages, have nothing in common with the dismal Franzias and Almadens that many of us tried (and likely regretted) in college.
view lordnelson's profile
My partner and I have integrated boxed wine into our household in addition to the nice bottles that we keep on hand for special occasions. The quality that we get is ~fine~ and we would definitely pay more for better quality if we could get it. The box is wonderful for cooking, and to have a single glass here and there.
Our community is heavily into the potluck, and a box of wine works out well for the casual get-togethers where people don't want to spend a lot of money but don't want to run out, either. To make it nice for guests, just keep a few glass bottles around, and fill them up for the table.
We usually throw the plastic insert away, but recycle the box.
view EmilyCatherine's profile
Works well on car-camping trips. That's about it.
view TannerAdair's profile
we usually have a box of red wine hanging around our kitchen. it's not the best wine i've tasted, but it is quite drinkable and affordable. the only drawback we've found is that it spoils in the summer when our apartment gets too hot. now that fall has arrived we can begin purchasing the boxes again.
http://threadtrace.wordpress.com
view cassiopia's profile
I'm with leenwebb--I get these in white wine for cooking. I hate drinking white wine, but I really like a couple of splashes in my risotto.
view lcg's profile
Being from Sweden I can confirm that the BiB is very popular. I don't drink alcohol myself but friends and family do and they think it's a great product. They still like to buy glass bottled wines of course, however, for cooking and the odd glass of wine with dinner during the week, it's a great saver.
(Although the ease of which you pour a glass from a BiB, and the fact that you can't see how much is left might make you consume more than you intended to...)
As for it being ugly to put on the dinner table, the solution is - don't! This is what you use a decanter for! We have some old heirloom crystal ones as well as newer pieces, both handmade and, believe it or not, from IKEA. ;) So don't turn the BiB down because of the ugly packaging - make it a reason to beautify your dinner table!
view Herzleid's profile
I'll second (or third....or fourth.) the suggestion for cooking. We can usually use a bottle before it goes bad, but if you regularly use wine for pan sauces or risotto, this is a good option because it keeps longer.
view Amanda0730's profile
The local winemakers here in France offer some amazing AOC wines in BIB. We love them! They are great "house wine."
view Chez Loulou's profile
I'm with Chez Loulou on this one. I wasn't sure about the BIB wine. But I've just tried the Tempranillo from http://www.hauswein.ch. I have to confess, I think it's quite deliciouse. I guess it' s not really a matter of box or bottle It's more about the right wine.
view TrickJames's profile