The Boxed Wines I’d Actually Buy Again
I have to admit, boxed wine isn’t usually the first thing I reach for.
But the more wine I taste, the more I realise there are some genuinely good wines hiding in UK supermarkets, and increasingly, some of them come in a box.
So I’ve been having a look at the bag-in-box and pouch wines currently available from Waitrose and Tesco, and these are the ones I’d actually buy again.
Not because they’re in a box, but because I like the wine.
1. La Vieille Ferme Rosé Bag in Box
La Vieille Ferme is a French rosé made from Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah. It’s dry, fresh and fruity, with strawberry, raspberry, peach and nectarine, followed by a lovely refreshing finish.
The 1.5-litre bag-in-box is the equivalent of two bottles, so it makes perfect sense for a long lunch, barbecue or picnic when you know the rosé is going to disappear rather quickly.
My take: Fresh, fruity and very easy to drink. One I’d happily have in the fridge. 2. Bijou Grenache Rosé Le Chic Pouch
I like this rosé, and this one caught my eye for another reason too. It comes in a rather lovely pouch.
Made from Grenache in the Languedoc-Roussillon, this is a dry, refreshing rosé with citrus and red fruit flavours.
It’s the sort of wine I can imagine taking away for a weekend, opening with lunch or putting in the middle of the table with a few plates of Mediterranean food.
And at 1.5 litres, there’s enough to go around.
My take: Fresh, dry and easy to pair with food, a very useful summer rosé. 3. PinotPinot Pinot Grigio Rosé
This one is a little different. It’s from Moldova, a country I’ve been discovering a lot more of recently, and it’s a dry, fresh rosé with juicy peach and white fruit flavours.
The really useful thing here is the size. 2.25 litres is the equivalent of three bottles of wine.
At 11% ABV, it’s also a lighter option for a lunch or an afternoon in the garden, particularly alongside seafood, salads or creamy pasta.
My take: Fresh, fruity and very easy to share.
4. Porta 6 Bag in Box
Porta 6 is a Portuguese red made from Tinto Roriz, Castelão and Touriga Nacional. It’s soft and fruity, with ripe berry flavours and a medium-to-full body.
This is the sort of wine I’d open with a plate of pasta or a Sunday roast. Nothing too complicated, just a generous Portuguese red that works well with food.
My take: Soft, fruity and full enough to stand up to dinner.
5. Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages
Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages has ripe cherry and plum alongside pepper and sweet spice. It’s a fuller, 14% ABV red with plenty of fruit and enough structure to make it a good partner for food.
Think roast chicken, sausages, coq au vin or something from the barbecue.
My take: A proper, food-friendly Rhône red that happens to come in a box. 6. Trapiche Reserve Malbec
Trapiche Reserve comes from Mendoza in Argentina, with grapes grown at altitude in the foothills of the Andes. It’s a richer style, with ripe fruit and the added complexity of French and American oak.
At 13.5% ABV, this is the sort of boxed wine I’d reach for when I want something with a bit more body, particularly with steak, burgers or anything cooked over fire.
My take: Richer, fruit-forward and with enough oak to give it some extra depth.
So, is boxed wine actually any good?
Yes, but I’d buy it because I like the wine, not because it comes in a box.
That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve taken from tasting these.
There are some very good boxed wines and bag-in-box wines in UK supermarkets, and the format can actually be incredibly useful. A 1.5-litre box gives you two bottles of wine, while the larger formats make sense when you’re entertaining, heading away for the weekend or simply want wine in the fridge without opening another bottle.
For me, the box is just the format. What matters is what’s inside it.
So if you’ve always dismissed boxed wine, perhaps it’s time to have another look at what’s on the supermarket shelves.
And if you’ve found a boxed wine you’d actually buy again, I’d love to know what it is.
Elizabeth Hawthorthwaite
Comments