While your opinions of boxed wine may be heavily affected by the hangovers of yesteryear, hear me out. A new crop of boxed wine producers are on a mission to put great wines into the humble format.
Ross Dawkins, co-founder of Healdsburg, California-based Ami Ami, was one of the first to fully wed the concept of boxed wine. A few years ago, Dawkins and winemaker Woody Hambrecht released a line of 1.5 liter boxes in high-design formats—ones that wouldn’t look gauche or gaudy on your counter or bar cart.
The wine itself doesn’t slouch either. Both Dawkins and Hambrecht are seasoned industry experts: Hambrecht is a third generation winemaker and the founder of Haus. Dawkins spent seasons in the great wine regions of the world: South Africa, Western Australia, Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and Sonoma. They source wine from the South of France—the white is an approachable combo of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The red is Syrah, as is the Rosé (though dosed with Malbec). The orange—painfully hip—is skin-contact grenache blanc. All wines are made by 8th-generation wine growers.
Beyond good wine, the benefits of boxes are compelling. Boxes are far more storage efficient, especially in a fridge—no more awkwardly stacking bottles over the week’s produce. Boxes also stay fresher for longer than bottles—up to six weeks. They’re transportable—bring it to the beach, camping, or to your back deck without worry of breaking glass. And for the environmentally minded, boxes have a considerably softer carbon footprint than typical bottles.
If you’re dubious about serving a box to guests, pour it into a decanter to serve but one sip will definitely change their minds. All four wines are surprisingly elegant and endlessly quaffable. Intro set, $75
Kate Dingwall is a WSET-trained sommelier and spirits writer. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Forbes.com, and Food & Wine, and she pours wine at one of Canada’s top restaurants.