The Best Boxed Wines to Buy Instead of Bottles
If you’ve got an aversion to boxed wine, we’re about to change that. You may have dabbled in boxed wine in your youth, when drinking was more about quantity than quality. We promise, the best boxed wine available in 2021 is much more sophisticated than the cheap wine boxes and Franzia you may have imbibed in the past.
Today, many fine winemakers are embracing boxed wine as much for its eco-friendly benefits as its unpretentious, crowd-pleasing vibe.
There’s often a taboo around boxed wine given its large capacity, lower price point and lack of glass bottle. But when you really think about it, why should any of these factors be a negative rather than a positive? Your taste buds and bank balance might be pleasantly surprised by boxed over bottled.
It’s more than likely you assume the best wines come in a bottle, just like chips come in a bag or juice in a carton. However, outside the United States, there’s a growing movement for enjoying boxed wine instead of bottled.
Below, we’ve shared our favorite boxed wines to enjoy in 2021, with options available for every type of wine lover. From reds and whites to pre-mixed sangrias and blends, give your guests a boxed wine experience and education they won’t forget.
1. Black Box Red Elegance
BEST OVERALL
Produced in the Black Box winery in California, the Black Box Red Elegance combines petite sirah, shiraz, merlot and zinfandel grapes. The result is a bold taste with hints of red and black fruit as well as underlying chocolate flavors. This California red blend is an ideal choice for wine enthusiasts who prefer a bite-free wine or anyone looking for a tasty pairing for beef, veal, lamb or poultry. The full-body, bold flavor makes this one of the best boxed wine brands available.
Buy: Black Box Red Elegance $21.99
2. Bandit Pinot Grigio
BEST VALUE
This Bandit Pinot Grigio offers the delightful combination of a budget-friendly price and a taste you’ll love. It’s produced and boxed in Napa County and includes notes of green apple, citrus and peach. The refreshing experience pairs wonderfully with a range of foods, including cheeses, salads and other greens, too. Plus, the occasional hit of tartness keeps your taste buds awake and always eager for another sip. This 1L bottle is one of the best boxed wines for tailgates, camping trips and other adventures.
Buy: Bandit Pinot Grigio $8.99
3. Original House Wine Pinot Noir
MOST POPULAR
With its appealing combination of ripe raspberry and earthy spice aromas, it’s little wonder the Original House Wine Pinot Noir is one of the most popular offerings on our list. It’s produced in the Chilean Central Valley and comes in a 3L box which is enough to get any party started. The fruity and light pinot noir can be enjoyed by itself for a relaxing evening, or it pairs well with a range of foods, including fish, duck and other game birds. Its popularity is not unfounded, it’s one of the best boxed wines available.
Buy: House Wine Pinot Noir Box $21.99
4. Maison Cubi Syrah Carignan
BEST REVIEWED
If you trust and rely on reviews for your purchasing decisions, then this is one of the best boxed wine brands you could pick. This Maison Cubi Syrah Carignan falls into that category and comes well recommended by all who have enjoyed this French-made wine. The dry, full-bodied drink falls into the earthy & spicy category, making it a great pairing for game birds, pork and duck. The large, 3L box also means there’s plenty to go around, making this a solid choice for evenings with friends.
Buy: Maison Cubi Syrah Carignan $30.00
5. Vin Vault Chardonnay
BEST CHARDONNAY
This Vin Vault Chardonnay is sweet and buttery from top to bottom with tiered aromas of sweet pear and baked apple. The taste of the bottle has layers of brown spice, toffee and lemon cream intertwined with caramel and the finish is long, smooth and lingering. The grapes for this wine are harvested at optimal ripeness when surrounding temperatures are low to preserve the fruity flavors and balance the acidity. The mouthfeel comes out of this process expressive, and the delicate caramel flavors come from a light oak influence in the fermentation process.
Buy: Vin Vault Chardonnay $19.99
6. Big House The Great Escape Chardonnay
CONTENDER
The Big House The Great Escape Chardonnay won’t disappoint chardonnay and other dry white wine drinkers. This California-produced, full-body box offers a rich and velvety drinking experience you’ll enjoy time after time. Thanks to the size of this box, you will have more than enough to share with friends. It pairs well with fresh and soft cheeses, shellfish or meaty and oily fish. It’s one of the best boxed wines for happy hours and cocktail parties, in our humble opinion.
Buy: Big House Wine Chardonnay $22.99
7. Wine Cube Pinot Grigio
BEST FRUIT FINISH
Wine Cube is an award-winning brand producing delicious boxed California wine. Their Pinot Grigio box features hints of green apple and citrus. The box contains the equivalent of four bottles of wine and stays fresh for up to four weeks. If you like sweeter pinot grigios, then this may not be the wine for you, as it has a medium-to-dry finish.
Buy: Wine Cube Pinot Grigio $17.99
8. Bota Box Nighthawk Black Red Blend
BEST SWEET RED
If the promise that this is one of the best red wines in a box isn’t enough to pique your interest in the Bota Box Nighthawk Black Red Blend, we’re not sure what will. The full-bodied rioja blend pairs well with a wide range of dishes, including lamb, pork and other heavily spiced foods. Inside every glass, you’ll find hints of vanilla accompanied by berry, fig, chocolate and marshmallow for a complex experience your taste buds will love.
Buy: Bota Box Nighthawk Black Red Blend $19.99
9. Corbett Canyon Pinot Grigio
BEST TABLE WINE
If you’re looking for a new, go-to table wine, look no further than the Corbett Canyon Pinot Grigio. It’s full of floral flavors and tasty tropical notes, making it a fantastic choice for an everyday wine to pair with an afternoon snack or with your evening dinner. To top it off, the refreshing taste and crisp, clean finish give it an approachable taste for experienced wine lovers as well as those new to the world of vino.
Buy: Corbett Canyon Pinot Grigio $10.49
10. Château Tassin Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc
BEST WITH SEAFOOD
This wine hails from Rions, one of the oldest medieval towns in the Bordeaux region of France. The vineyard focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, and their wine is one of the best boxed wines to enjoy with seafood, cheese and pasta with creamy sauce. The straw-colored blend has a fruity aroma with notes of pear and citrus. It’s a dry white with bold acidity and a sharp mineral quality to it.
Read More: The Best Wine Clubs
Buy: Château Tassin Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc $39.99
11. La Vieille Ferme Boxed Wine
BEST VARIETY
This boxed wine brand is a rare triple threat where their red, white and boxed rosé wines are all worth trying. The white wine has hints of tropical fruits, banana and pineapple and a chalky mineral quality. The acid finish has a full-bodied mouthfeel that is sure to satisfy. Their boxed rosé is salmon pink with simple, straightforward flavors of strawberry, white peach and notes of prickly pear. More refined pallets will also pick up hints of Mediterranean herbs. Lastly, the red boxed wine is a softer red with earthy berry aromas and a bit of spice on the tip of the finish. This is one of the best boxed wine brands to turn to if you want a variety of wine types and flavors.
Buy: La Vieille Ferme Boxed Wine $23.99
12. Pacific Peak Chardonnay
BEST FOR BARBEQUES
Treating yourself to a chilled glass of Pacific Peak Chardonnay is a refreshing way to enjoy a summer barbecue. The delicious flavors of fresh fruit make it ideal for pairing with meats and for enjoying on its own in the sunshine. Furthermore, the crowd-pleasing tasting notes of melon and apples are ideal for using this crisp chardonnay as your white wine of choice when hosting dinner parties or family gatherings.
Buy: Pacific Peak Chardonnay $10.99
13. Double Dog Dare Cabernet
BEST RED WITH FOOD
A good glass of red is a must-have for many people when it comes to dinner time. If that’s you, you should consider Double Dog Dare Cabernet. This wine is a great dinner wine with a full-bodied flavor, low acidity and moderate tannin levels. However, thanks to its well-rounded flavors, this beverage is suitable for dinner parties while adding a little excitement to the mix with a hint of spiciness.
Buy: Double Dog Dare Cabernet $12.99
14. Franzia Chardonnay
LARGEST CAPACITY
The large, five-liter capacity of Franzia Chardonnay will keep you and your guests drinking for up to 34 standard glasses of wine. This is a semi-dry white wine with a fresh finish which is great in social environments. While there’s not anything overly distinctive about this chardonnay, it does have a crisp, clean taste and an enjoyable flavor, which is well-suited to most white wine drinkers.
Buy: Franzia Chardonnay $12.99
15. Big Sipper Rose
BEST FOR SANGRIA
To enjoy a fruity, refreshing taste of strawberries and sweet cherries in your sangria, use Big Supper Rose as your base beverage. Each box contains five liters of wine, which is plenty for several jugs of sangria. This box will certainly keep you drinking throughout a picnic or barbecue. At the budget-friendly price of just under $10, the light-bodied rose is a must-drink for any sangria lovers this summer.
16. Pour House Red Blend
BEST RED BLEND
When meat is on the menu, ensure Pour House Red Blend is on the wine list. Indulge in a smooth drinking experience full of well-balanced flavors, including berry notes, with this red wine. It’s made in California and pairs particularly well with burgers, so make sure you’ve stocked up with a few boxes for barbeque season.
Buy: Pour House Red Blend $13.99
17. Almaden Chardonnay
BEST WHITE WINE FOR PARTIES
Knowing which white wine to choose for your dinner party can be a challenge, but Almaden Chardonnay makes it easy to please your guests. The semi-dry taste is enjoyable to most palates and easy to drink. When this crisp white wine is in your glass, you’ll notice the apple and pears tasting notes as you experience the clean, crisp finish of every sip.
Buy: Almaden Chardonnay $14.99
18. Barefoot On Tap Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST FOR PARTIES
For an outstanding box of wine, bursting with flavor, choose Barefoot On Tap Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s packed with berry goodness with smooth attesting notes of raspberry and blackberry. This wine enjoys a 4.5-star rating from existing customers. When the occasion calls for a cheap, crowd-pleasing house wine, Barefoot is a popular option. So if you like Barefoot wines in the bottle, opt for the Barefoot boxed wine next time.
Buy: Barefoot On Tap Cabernet Sauvignon $16.49
19. Bota Box Pinot Grigio
BEST PINOT GRIGIO
If you find yourself sitting down for a meal with salad, shellfish or any other kind of seafood, consider adding the Bota Box Pinot Grigio to the mix. It’s got playful aromas of white peach, nectarine, hints of lime and a light floral palate. It’s medium-bodied with ripe peach and nectarine flavors with a clean finish. It’s a refreshing drink for after an afternoon hike or paired with simple dinners like grilled chicken salad or adult mac n’ cheese.
Buy: Bota Box Pinot Grigio Starting at $18.99
20. Crafters Union Chardonnay White Wine Box
BEST GIFT
Looking for a crisp Chardonnay that’s just the right size for your next small get-together? This box from Crafters Union holds 1.5 liters, the equivalent of two bottles of wine. It has a convenient pour spout so your guests can refill at their convenience, and the stylishly designed bottle makes this the kind of boxed wine you won’t be embarrassed to leave out. Its flavors include pear and tropical fruit.
Buy: Crafters Union Boxed Wine $19.95
21. Black Box Pinot Grigio
BEST ITALIAN WINE
Another option from Black Box is this Pinot Grigio, which is medium-bodied and dry, and it’s a good option if you don’t want a wine that’s overly sweet. It comes in a 3-liter box, which is equivalent to four 750ml bottles. While many of the wines on this list are from California, this is an Italian wine from Trentino Alto Adige.
Buy: Black Box Boxed Wine $18.99
22. Franzia White Zinfandel Pink Wine
BEST BUDGET WINE
Boxed wine can be hard to find, but Franzia is one of the most widely available options on the market. As we explained above, Franzia is the type of boxed wine that you buy when you’re looking for quantity over quality. This is a White Zinfandel that’s sweet, so it’s a good option if you enjoy fruit and berry flavors. This is one of the larger boxes of wine — at 5 liters, it holds almost seven bottles worth of wine.
Buy: Franzia Boxed Wine $13.99
23. La Petite Frog Picpoul
BEST BUDGET FRENCH WINE
Looking for a French wine to enjoy from the box? La Petite Frog Picpoul is a crisp, light-bodied wine with citrus and tropical fruit flavors. It’s a Picpoul wine, which is a type of white wine that comes from grapes from the South of France. This is a 3 liter box, which is the same as four bottles of wine.
Buy: La Petite Frog Picpoul $29.99
14. Wine Cube Rosé
BEST BUDGET ROSE
You might not think that Target’s signature wine box would actually taste good with aromas of watermelon and raspberry but the flavor is solid. It’s not too sweet and is perfectly refreshing for a picnic or weekend afternoon on the deck. The flavors are not artificial and the overall quality is high for its price point.
25. Double Dog Dare Chardonnay
BEST BRANDING
Some see a boxed wine as less worthy of taking seriously, but for Double Dog Dare, that’s an asset, not a detriment. Double Dog Dare’s playful branding leans into the youthful energy that boxed wine has, and this Chardonnay is a fruity option with apple and pear. Like most boxed wines, this white wine comes in a 3-liter box.
Buy: Double Dog Dare Chardonnay $12.99
26. Bandit Chardonnay
HONORABLE MENTION
Bandit Chardonnay is a dry, smooth, full-bodied versatile wine with tropical and citrus aromas. It’s perfect for enjoying during an impromptu celebration or barbecue in your backyard. It’s best enjoyed chilled with soft cheeses, shellfish or fatty meats.
It’s Time to Give Boxed Wine Another Look
We feel confident in saying that at least a glass or two of wine is going to be consumed as we continue on through 2021. Granted, it’s hard to imagine boxed wine is ever going to replace the classy appearance of a fancily shaped glass bottle as a gift, but when it comes to casual consumption, there are plenty of reasons the best boxed wines should be on your radar.
So why is boxed wine better? Here are three reasons why boxed wine could easily be considered as a better option than bottled:
- Shelf Life – when you uncork a bottle of wine, you have around a week until it spoils. Compare this with wine in a box, which comes stored in a vacuum-sealed bag, and you will find that boxed wine can last between four to six weeks.
- Storage – Boxed wine has an advantage when you think about how you store your wine in the fridge or cabinet. The straight edges make them much easier to stack prior to opening and stand once opened.
- Eco-friendly – Another huge factor in favor of boxed wine is their environmental impact. It’s easy to assume that glass is the better of the two but once you add into the equation the cork, the bottle’s seal, the cardboard boxes for packaging and the emissions caused by shipping heavy bottles around the world, it’s not quite as straightforward as you may have once assumed. Boxed wine is easier to ship, comes in recyclable packaging and is generally sold in larger quantities, meaning there are fewer containers involved in the consumption process.
Boxed wine is growing in popularity, so now is the time to reassess its reputation. While cheap boxed wine may have been popular among your roommates in college, there are plenty of premium boxed wines that make a worthy replacement for your bottled table wine of choice. Above, you’ll find a collection of the 21 best boxed wines available for sale online.
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