FEBRUARY 7, 2024
We’re in our boxed wine era and it feels great. From the “goon bags” of Australia to “slap-the-bag” juice from college, this wine-drinking format has come a long way. We’ve been watching this category for some time now, and it only continues to grow and improve in quality. Today there’s a slew of producers, from big brands to boutique wineries, making a diverse set of boxed wines, all vying for your fridge space.
As the wine industry faces a growing concern over the environmental impact of heavy glass bottles, mindful producers are leaning into this sustainable packaging option. So not only is boxed wine incredibly fun and approachable, it also helps reduce wine’s carbon footprint. But what about the quality inside?
We tapped into all the boxes out there and came away with the cream of the crop. These wines are perfect for dinner parties, picnics, or for indulging in a quick weeknight pour. And the best part is they can stay delicious and fresh in your fridge for weeks. Here are the 15 best boxed wines for 2024, in alphabetical order.
Nomadica Red
This wine is made from the medium-bodied and somewhat spicy Teroldego grape. Native to northern Italy, this variety is rarely seen outside its home region, but this boxed wine from California fully embraces its vibe. When you tap the box and take your first sip, you’ll feel the need to toss the stemware to the side and grab a juice glass like the old-guard Italiani used to do. (Maybe rock a tank undershirt with a bay leaf behind your ear — or was that just my family?) It’s incredibly juicy with ripe, brambly berry notes and some more savory characteristics like earth and spice. It has a soft, plushy palate with acidity that screams “pizza per favore!”
Average price: $50/ 3L
Rating: 91
Nomadica White
What if you had a party and upon entry, some cups were stacked up next to a box of wine with a sign saying “self-serve welcome drinks”? You would want a crisp white that will excite the senses without being too fussy. This blend of Chardonnay and Colombard is just that. It has tropical fruit aromas with a floral hint and a vibrant palate with soft fruit and a lot of acidity. Welcome!
Average price: $50/ 3L
Rating: 89
FAQs
Why is boxed wine so cheap?
Generally, boxed wine is cheaper than wine in bottles due to the lower production costs involved with distributing in cardboard rather than glass. In 2022, the cost of glass bottles increased by approximately 20 percent, significantly increasing the costs of distribution, and therefore increasing the amount consumers are spending. On the other hand, boxed wine, which is packaged in plastic bags stored within the cardboard box, remained relatively insulated from the increase in prices, making the products notably cheaper than their glass bottle counterparts.
Is boxed wine poor quality?
It is a complete myth that boxed wine will be poor quality or lower quality than wine stored in glass bottles. While you may encounter some boxed wines that are produced with profits in mind — and are therefore lower quality — the same goes for some wines packaged in glass. Many boxed wines on the market right now are equally as high quality and delicious as glass bottle wines.
How many bottles are in one box of wine?
Boxed wine can come in a number of different sizes, but on average, a box of wine will contain the equivalent of four bottles of wine, or around 3,000 milliliters.
Why do Australians call boxed wine ‘goon’?
Down under, boxed wine is often referred to by its slang name: “goon.” The term originates from the word flagon, a large metal or pottery vessel once commonly used for storing and pouring wine. Aussies now use the phrase to describe boxed wine by referring to the box itself as the “goon box,” the bag inside as the “goon bag,” and the overall product as simply “goon.”
VinePair’s Tasting Methodology: How We Rate
Throughout the year, VinePair conducts numerous tastings for our popular Buy This Booze column and wine and spirits reviews. Our mission is to offer a clear, reliable source of information for drinkers, providing an overview applicable to day-to-day buying and drinking.
In alignment with our reviews mission, we believe in purposefully tasting all products as our readers typically would, with full knowledge of the producer, the region, and — importantly — the price. Tastings are therefore not conducted blind.
For Buy This Booze roundups, we typically include a maximum of one expression per brand, though we do often taste multiple expressions from a brand, and do sometimes allow multiple products from the same production facility (i.e., released under different labels).
For this list of the best boxed wines, our overall aim was to provide a complete overview of the growing category and to highlight options that are standouts in terms of taste, quality, and value. We feel confident that every box included in this final list delivers on flavor, balance, depth, and complexity for its respective price point.
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