Wine Packaging Takes on New Forms With Good Results

Once considered a rarity, boxes, cubes, pouches, cylinders, tetra paks and even aluminum cans have become commonplace alternatives to standard wine bottles.

The benefits of these types of alternative packaging have grown increasingly important as many of us try to live greener and be more environmentally conscious about our purchases.

Obviously, lightweight wine packaging is easier to transport than a bulky (and breakable) bottle, and that makes it a logical choice for picnics, tailgating parties, and other outdoor social events. I find that these packages carry a deceptively large amount of wine, so even if they look rather small, they often hold the equivalent of several 750-milliliter bottles.

Most non-bottle packages also come with a resealable enclosure. This cuts down on waste by keeping the wine fresher longer. Some companies claim that properly sealed containers will allow the wine inside to remain fresh for up to a month. That’s welcome news for anyone who’s come back to a good, unfinished wine on day two or three and found it to be less than satisfying.

The big sticking point that keeps some people from purchasing these wines is the stigma of inferior quality brought on years ago by cheap, boxed wines. That may have been a problem back then, but improved technology and the gradual increase in alternative packaging by premium wineries have all but eliminated this concern.

Granted, I wouldn’t expect to see Quilceda Creek or Leonetti Cellar serving up a box or pouch of something anytime soon. But a few other wineries such as Powers and Badger Mountain from Washington or California’s Clif Family Winery have taken the plunge with good results.

Badger Mountain Winery Pure White (about $20) and Pure Red (about $23) – Each of these boxed wines carries the USDA organic logo along with a “no sulfites added” designation. The white wine is a blend of riesling, Mueller Thurgau, and sauvignon blanc, while the red combines cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and merlot with a smidge of cabernet franc. Both containers hold a crowd-pleasing three liters of wine – equal to four standard bottles – and are available at the Community Food Co-Op.

Clif Family Winery “The Climber” Cabernet Sauvignon (about $17) – This portable 1.5-liter pouch has some really cool features including a built-in handle and air-tight tap. The wine leads off with red raspberry and cherry flavors that move more towards dark plum and black currant and a slightly smoky, peppery finish. The winery also produces a chardonnay in similar packaging.