Don't know that boxed wines are exactly chic and trendy...but they are definitely packaging better wines in boxes.
25 years ago only the low end wines came in a box. I don't know about Black Box wines first hand, because in Iowa we can only buy what the Liquor Commission decides to allow...
But if we could get it, I would certainly try it.
I am a fan of South Eastern Australian wines....and the Hardy's wines in a box are supposed to be good also.
Linda C

I'd give them a try. The trend is toward better wines in boxes and with screw caps because the wine keeps better. When I worked n the creative department for Robert Mondavi they were exploring boxed and aseptically sealed wine packaging.

Thanks...Linda I too like Australian wine but I always tend to by Califorian. Here on Long Island we have some great vineyards and its very popular with locals going wine tasting...usually a bunch of people rent a limo ride out east and get tuned up. I actually bought a wine cork on the North Fork crafted frome grape vine...very cool looking. Im gonna give this wine a go...hey worst that could happen is it beomes a cooking wine LOL!! I usually know with one sip if I will indulge. I am not a fan of white wines I always drink heavy reds but of course I cook with white wine and always have one for others when Im entertaining.

I did read that boxed wines are becoming "chic", at least they are boxing some of the better wines. I have kept boxed wine at home as the wine is not exposed to air until it's in the glass so there is little waste or overindulgence to avoid waste. Also was amused that blind wine tasting winners included some of the cheaper wines. I'll have to look up "black box wines", never heard of them -- yet. But, then I'm not a wine expert otherwise I wouldn't admit to keeping boxed wine.

I think this means I'm becoming "chic". LOLOLOL!!!

We've always got a box in the fridge. I love that it keeps longer, stands upright without re-arranging the entire refrigerator, and has that handy little tap...no wrestling with a cork!

I haven't seen Black Box though, so can't help there. Let us know what you think.
Are you drunk or making cioppino???

Deanna

I have had really good experiences with Black Box wines...been drinking them for about 2 years here in Maryland. I don't react well to Merlot, but the Merlot is good. As I recall, they offered 2 Cabs...one was pricier than the other. I usually get the one that's about $22 rather than $28. I also enjoy the Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, but I've had better of both for similar prices. And their newest, Riesling, is very good. It's not as sweet as other Rieslings that I've had, and it's a new favorite white for me. We have one liquor store that doesn't run sales, just keeps their everyday prices low. They sell the Black Boxes for between $16.99 and $20.99! What a bargain :)

I have loved the box wines for years. A box of Zinfandel will stay fresh in its spot under the sink for weeks! The vacuum keeps it tasting fresh and doesn't even have to be refrigerated.

Never heard of 'black box' wines, however.

I went to the website to see who owns this brand as I figured it was probably one of the biggies like Constellation, Gallo, Diageo, or Fosters. It is owned by Constellation Wines (contact info email is cwine.com), who purchased Robert Mondavi while I was working in the creative department there. That photo of a blue bicycle next to an olive tree is one I took years ago at Woodbridge Winery in Lodi for a brochure for Woodbridge. Woodbridge was Mondavi's very popular volume brand. Wonder if these are repackaged Woodbridge wines.

Deja vu!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bicycle photo.

Like you, Eileen, I've never been a fan of box wines. I've never heard of Black Box but I don't really peruse the box wine section so they might be available here, who knows.

HOWEVER, that is not to say that I don't buy "cheap" wines. By cheap, I don't mean MadDog 2020 or Boone's Farm.
By cheap, I mean under $10. I find that there are a LOT of wines under $10, some even as low as $4.99, that are quite nice. These are bottled wines with corks. I don't know if it's a local thing or a Texas thing, but I'm talking French, Italian, Argentinian, Chilian, Australian, Spanish wines, all under $10, and easily acquired.

I usually average about one out of maybe 15-20 bottles that I buy that I don't care for, and I use them for cooking. Yes, I know, I know, don't use a wine for cooking if you don't like it to drink. Absurd. I do it all the time and it works great.

My best all time good deal on wine was at my local HEB (grocery store). Stopped in to pick up a few items on my way home from work and happened to glance over at the wine section. There were several bottles of Black Swan Chardonnay on sale for $2.99. I bought one, figured I'd cook with it (!) if I didn't like it, and drank some that night. Delightful! Went back the next day and bought up all the rest. Got a 10% discount for buying more than six (I think I ended up with 10 bottles) so they came out to $2.69 a bottle. Wheeeee!!!

Anyway, I guess my point is, "cheap" doesn't necessarily mean "bad" as it did years ago when it comes to wine. It's definitely worth a try! Let us know what you think.

When Elery and I attending the Food and Wine show last year, several of the company representatives were saying that boxed and aseptically packaged wines were the "wave of the future", and that more and more wines were being bottled with the screw off caps because they were more easily stored.

Elery's favorite wine, and the one that won the "best of show" both in Grand Rapids and in Cincinnati (or Cleveland?) was a Chilean carmenere, it was being billed as the "Bordeaux of Chile". It was $8 a bottle. Second place wine was $54 a bottle. For some reason that entertained me. (grin)

It would appear that "cheap" isn't necessarily synonymous with "bad", just as "expensive" doesn't always mean good.

So go ahead and try the Black Box stuff. If it's good, I'll get some for Elery!

Hey, Barnmom, that's cool that they are using YOUR picture. I sure hope you're getting royalties or something!

Annie

Well my plan is forgoing my J Lohr Cab that I buy every Friday and im gonna give the "Black Box" a try this weekend. I plan to use myself as a gineau pig before serving this at my sisters party in 2 weeks. I will be sure to post back but of course this will be a review only on Cab Sauv as I drink no other wines. I have had some great "cheap" wines and some really crappy bottles of expensive ones like the $65 bottle the smolier recommended at Tellers Chophouse last month (the name escapes me). I of course felt bad to say it wasnt good ...truly not a horrible wine but Ive had better that were $13 IMO. Some people just like to say "I buy so and so and it costs me so and so". I love Cab Sauv but hell.. who could afford 2 at $65 a bottle a week certainly not me! We are gonna try 2 places in Manhattan next weekend one is called AYZA (31st &5th Ave) and WINEBAR (65 2nd Ave) both are suppose to be romantic wine bars. We also wanna check out The Carnegie Club (56th st btwn 3rd & Lex) this palce supposedly is like a nice 50's lounge with entertainment and you can smoke!!! Ok I know..but we are smokers and in NYC thats a BIG PLUS!!!

I always enjoy your posts Eileen, your life is so exotic to me! I tried out the new Chick-fil-a and had a coupon for a free sandwich. That's my exotica.
And my Sunday gravy is always brown and made from meat drippings :-)

Black Box wine isn't bad. We always take them backpacking because glass is too heavy to hike in and out.

I may be marked as a boorish unsophisticate for saying so, but one of the more drinkable inexpensive wines I've ever found is Almaden Golden Chablis. (Not the Mountain Chablis) Haven't seen it in a while. It was about $15 for a 5 liter box.

Keep it chilled in the fridge and draw off a carafe for your guests--maybe I have guests with no palates, but they seem to suck it down fairly readily without complaint.

No one would ever confuse this mildly sweet white with a Pouilly-Fuisse or Montrachet, but I've never come across another wine costing $3 a liter that was even remotely drinkable.

Bumblebeez: Your funny....my life is far from exoctic I just got done changing diapers for the last 14yrs and Im trying to get back to some sort of adult life LOL...Ive been called amny things in my life but never exotic..Ill take it !!! Ill keep you guys posted when we get back on Columbus day as to how it was. Wre leaving next Friday.