Boxed wines get a bad rap. Forget the Franzia stigma and open your mind to the economic and ecological benefits of the BIB (bag in box). With some of the world’s top distributors and winemakers thinking inside the box, the quality matches the quantity in the following favorites. Word on the street (and by “street” I mean the wine aisle at Whole Foods) is that this easy-drinking Italian red is served by the glass at some of the finer Italian restaurants… at least in downtown Asheville. A great fall porch wine, it stays fresh for 45 days after opening — but I dare you to make it last that long. Fuori Strada “Off Road” Sangiovese – 2010 Fruit-forward, yet balanced with a hint of spice. Goes great with grilled veggies! This Italian red couldn’t be more green: it’s made with organic grapes, comes in eco-friendly packaging, plus they are part of 1% for the Planet. It’s like saving the world, one glass at a time. You’ll see mixed reviews for all of the Bota Box varieties (people seem to love it or hate it), but I’m a fan.

Like most of my favorite boxes, this one’s a blend. A combo of Merlot, Cab, Zin, Syrah and Petite Sirah, it’s a great everyday red. A longtime fan of Big House Wines, I was cautiously optimistic when it started coming out in box form. Could this crisp, crowd-pleasing blend of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Malvasia Bianca, Orange Muscat and Muscat Canelli sip as well from the tap as it does from the bottle? The answer is thankfully, “yes”. If you’re not familiar with Big House, don’t let the pretty packaging fuel your skeptical side… it is as good as it looks. Pepperwood Grove “Big Green Box” Pinot Noir I was introduced to Pepperwood Grove by the bottle while working at a wine store in college, way before their “groovy green bottle” rebranding. Today, the label is different, but the value and flavors remain. The pinot noir is meduim bodied, fruity but not too jammy with light peppery notes. This versatile wine goes with everything, or like in my college days, all on its own.

2010 La Petite Frog Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet This dry French white is just plain dangerous to keep in the house. Slightly costlier than its boxy counterparts, the quality is also higher and worth the price of admission — sure to be a palette pleaser at your next party.best red wine with asian food I love that this is a company dedicated solely to the box. best place for a glass of wine in londonTheir commitment shines through with all of their accolades, from Wine Enthusiast Best Buys to Gold Medals. can you buy wine in japanYou won’t hear much complaining about any of the Black Box varietals, but the Syrah is a definite stand-out. Berry flavors and full tannins make this a great meat-paring alternative to a chewier cab.

While their whites are nothing to write home about, I finally get what the Y+B fuss is all about with their malbec. Plus, they get extra karma points for their green initiatives (yellow + blue = green, get it?): 100 percent certified organic, a carbon footprint less than half the size of the traditional model, and the Tetra Pak packaging. The Climber Wine Pouch, Clif Family Vineyards Inside every box is a bag. The Climber Wine Pouch from Clif Family Vineyards simply takes the box out of the equation for a packable, drinkable wine. One pouch is equal to two 750ml bottles. This comforting cab is sure to go quickly by the campfire. Virginia Wineworks White Blend Box Currently only sold in stores in Virginia and DC, this is the box to watch. Renowned winemaker Michael Shaps and his partners use 100 percent Virgina grapes in their bag in a box line, which is approachable both for your wallet and palette. The versatile white blend is a great place to start, but all six are worth a try.

More than most boxes, it’s still a steal when you break down the price by the bottle. Check their website for a list of states where they ship direct.We've said it before, and we'll say it again, there is a lot to love about boxed wine. It's convenient, cheap, and earth-friendly in a lot of ways the bottle just can't beat. It's unfortunate that there's still a stigma around bag-in-a-box wine. And as much as I try to convince friends and unwitting strangers, there's one trick that almost never fails to convince folks of the box's merits: don't tell them. Pour the wine before guests arrive (better yet, pour it into a decanter to seem extra fancy), have them taste it, and wait till glasses are nearly empty for the final reveal. Of course, this magic only works if the wine is actually decent, and that's where we can help. We tried 9 different wines from Bota Box to see which were the best, and which just wouldn't work to convince anyone of the merits of skipping the bottle. For the whites, we sipped the Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Grigio and Riesling.

In our trial of the reds, we tasted through Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Old Vine Zinfandel, and the red blend "Redvolution". (They also have a Shiraz we weren't able to track down—if you've tried it, let us know how it is in the comments!) If you're looking for a Bota Box near you, their website conveniently allows you to pick a varietal and search for vendors in your area. Bota Box sells for around 5 bucks for the the 500mL and $18 for the 3 liter, which is the same volume as 4 regular bottles. I should note that this is about $7 less than Black Box large format, which makes a difference in some cases. Read on for the full details. The Riesling from Bota Box is a touch sweet, but its balance impressed us. With only 11.5% alcohol, this wine has a sweet, floral scent which comes through in the flavor: think white peaches and honey. If you're partial to dry wines, we felt the Black Box Sauvignon Blanc was worth the extra dollars in comparison with this box, but if you're open to a little sweetness—especially if you're serving it with slightly sweet dishes like pad thai, the Bota Box riesling is a solid budget option.

We found the other Bota Box whites be a little too rough on the edges, and a bit chemical tasting. The Pinot Grigio smelled of tart Starburst candy and had crisp lemon flavors. The Chardonnay's oaky vanilla scent and flavor were not overwhelming, letting green apple flavors shine through as well. But you'll need to serve these with food to smooth them out. We'll pass on the Moscato altogether—it was just too sweet, and had a strange artificial-seeming aftertaste. We far preferred the reds over the whites. Our favorite, the Old Vine Zinfandel had all the deep, inky cherry and savory black pepper that you'd want from a Zin. It also had good structure—lingering, mouth-watering acidity that ends with well-integrated tannins. At 14% alcohol, the wine was initially a bit hot—serve it with a beef stew or grilled skirt steak. Though most of our tasters picked the Zinfandel as the favorite, the Bota Box Merlot was a close second. The scent reminded us of blueberry jam and the flavor evoked black currant and cinnamon.