Speaking of Wine…in a Box

This declaration will not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with my views on wine—I am a big fan of boxed wines.  As someone who enjoys having wine with his meals on a daily basis, boxed wines are perfect.  They are unpretentious, young and fruity wines; reminiscent of the house wines I have enjoyed in France referred to as pichets and the carafes of house wine I quaffed with relish in Spain, Italy and other European countries. 

On a practical note, boxed wines are also very affordable.  A standard three litre box of wine is equivalent to four 750 ml bottles of wine, which on a per bottle basis usually cost about five dollars a bottle. Additionally, an “opened” box of wine can last for over four weeks without any noticeable taste degradation.  All of which make it a perfect choice to have at home whenever the spirit moves us (no pun intended).

My most recent box wine find is a vinho tinto (red wine) from Portugal, produced by Quinta do Figo.   This palate-pleasing wine is aged in oak barriques (barrels), providing ample body for hearty dishes, with mild tannins and moderate acids plus inviting hints of black raspberry and dried prune taste sensations.  The price for this three litre box of wine is just $16.00 which equates to only $4.00 a bottle!

Wine lovers who are not familiar with the quality of the wine that awaits them in a box will discover an excellent example of a good wine that just happens to be in a box.  My fellow box wine enthusiasts will join me in placing this offering from Portugal on the top of our list of favorite box wines.