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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters have a beer from a keg instead of a glass bottle, we'll avert the weight of 11 lions in container waste.
COCKTAIL FACT
To deflect concerns that it marketed to minors, Budweiser paired its "Bud Pong" branded beer-pong game with rules that called for water instead of beer.
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home › tip library › Bigger Drink Containers
What sound does a party animal make?
The Bite
S/he growl(er)s. When it's time to throw your next rager - or even dinner party - opt for beer growlers or kegs from your local brewery (or if wine's more your thing, magnums), and save resources it takes to make smaller bottles and cans. Rowlr!The Benefits
- Growls for reusability. Growlers and kegs are reusable, and bigger wine containers save glass.
- Less savage on our resources. Aluminum and glass production require mining resources from the earth. Just an example: Producing 1 ton of aluminum creates 20-30 tons of mine waste.
- Impressing your fellow animals. A big container of your local brew is bound to go over better than a case of PBR.
Personally Speaking
We tested more than a few boxed wines, hoping to include a couple, but haven't found any that we love. Let us know if you've found a tasty one in the blog.Wanna Try?
- Many local breweries sell beer in growlers, and some offer a discount when you bring them back for refilling. You can get wine magnums at most supermarkets and liquor stores.
- Greenware Compostable Cups - bioplastic cups that don't hang around forever in landfills after the party's over ($8/50).
- Beertown - find a brewery near you.
Jul 09,2008
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Boxing Sideways
When I visited Portland for a long weekend in June, I spent a good part of my time there helping finish my friend's box of Franzia wine (slogan: "The world's most popular wine").
Boxed-wine pluses:
- The box is recyclable (the bag that contains the wine...not so much).
- New boxed-wine technology (i.e., new and improved plastic bags) keeps the wine good for a month after you take your first sip.
- Paper and plastic are way harder to break and less heavy than glass, so boxed wine takes much less energy and packaging to ship.
Now we just need what Sideways did for Pinot to happen for boxed wine so that it's more acceptable to drink, prompting finer winemakers to sell by the box. Then again, maybe the Pinot-esque boxed-wine zeitgeist is already upon us, seeing as "the world's most popular wine" doesn't come in glass bottles.
-Toshio...off to w(h)ine about 6 a.m.-boot-camp-related exhaustion...
Biter Comments...
The Black Box boxed wines are certainly drinkable. They make for decent table wines. They're definitely a step up from the majority of other boxed wines. I'd love to see an increase in higher end alternatives.
a decent boxed wine: Black Swan Shiraz
I served it to several friends w/o telling them it was a boxed wine. After each of them said they liked it, I told them and watched their faces. Each was willing to put aside the notion that only bad wine comes in boxes.
Yet another advantage, not mentioned in your Bite, is that the wine stays fresh and doesn't oxidize so you can enjoy one glass at a time over several weeks and each one tastes fresh.
I admit it... I have found a boxed wine that I really like! It's called Bandit and it is made by Three Thieves. I've only tried the Pinot Grigio. It is perfect for the summer - light and refreshing (and the fun little box makes it perfect for the beach). There is even an interesting thing to read on the side of the wine box about how much better the box wine is for the environment.
Powers Winery from Columbia Valley, Wash. makes a great boxed wine called "Power Box" Cabernet...the bag is recyclable and biodegradable too!
I agree with Evelyn--black box is not half bad and available pretty much everywhere (I can even find it here in Utah). Also, for more high end try French Rabbit. It comes in "single bottle size" cardboard containers. Good reds and great for camping trips.
If you like Cabs, try "Wine 4 Grilling" from Cost Plus World Market. I haven't tried the other varieties.
It is a far cry from Franzia or any of those old school boxed wines. I love it.
French rabbit makes a nice Pinot Noir and will be organic soon, perhaps the first...try it.
I haven't personally tried Hardy's box wine but it was reviewed recently and is supposed to be better than Black Box. Cab is best bet in the Hardy's line of wine. Hardy's 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon SE Australia Smells like fresh fruit, rather than chemicals, with bright raspberries, blueberries, black cherry, earthy leather and coffee flavors. Refreshing acidity on the finish. Well structured and by far the crowd favorite.
I like Pinot Evil. I got it mostly because I thought it had a clever name, but it's actually quite good.
http://corkd.com/wine/view/51777-Pinot_Evil_in_a_box
we've been finding bota box wines on sale around us and really like their pinot grigio & merlot for the price! the box is not only recyclable, but that the manufacturing of the box is green.
http://www.botabox.com
My favorite Cheap Wine that I Can Serve to Company, Fish Eye, just started making boxes of wine, which has me very happy!
I haven't found a boxed wine that I really like, maybe because when it comes to wine I have become spoiled, because I have a cousin who is a wine maker and has worked a some very nice wineries over the years. Though I must confess, when I like to have a cold glass of Sangria, I buy Carlo Rossi Sangria and get the big jug. I take it home pour it into a piture and add slice fruit (oranges, limes, and lemons), put it the fridge to let it get cold and then enjoy a nice cold glass of Sangria on a hot day. Try it, it's very good, and I can recycle the glass jug. I really enjoy my cousins wines and his recomendations.
There is nothing like having a few friends over and enjoying a glass of wine some cheese, crusty bread, and some fruit. Enjoy!
No one has yet to sing the praises of Target's boxed wines. My husband and I like the Cab/Shiraz blend and I also think the new Sangria is refreshing. Haven't tried the others mentioned above to know how it compares. They do single serving "juice boxes" as we call them but I don't think the singles are recyclable. Big boxes are around $7.99 for 1500 ml.
Ideal Bite should do a battle of the boxes!
ditto. target wine cubes are amazing! the pinot grigio even has won some awards.
Our favorite is the Black Box cab...tasty and therefore quite the economical choice for a larger crowd or to just have on hand in case someone stops by the house.
Ditto BOTA Box! They are fabulous and consciously green. For a sweet summer wine, you can't beat their Chardonnay.
You all are making me thirsty. I like the Black Box as well. The Target brand is not bad. I have tried the Alice White brand as well and that is very good.
Black Box is my favorite too, the whites can be frozen in advance so they double as an ice blockl for your cooler while traveling and then when you arrive at your destination it is very cold and refreshing. I have not tried other because when you find something you like it is hard to experiment. Will definitely have to check out Target though! Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Hey Melanie, I'm drinking Target boxed wine as we speak! I agree with you, it's pretty dang good! I have tried almost all the varieties of the Target wine cube (*currently am drinking the Pinot Grigio) and we have really enjoyed them all. They make for a great travel wine and the presentation is quite fun!
I tell people that I work where I do because they are the only ones that carried a particular brand of boxed wine that had become a favorite of mine. It is Almaden White Sangria. Boxed wines are great--You don't have to finish the entire container at one setting, so if you want a glass after working a late shift and no one is awake to help you, pour, enjoy and relax. The box is recyclable, it is a lot lighter than the bulky glass containers and there is less likelihood of breakage.
You will not be disappointed if you try ...Pure Red box wine by Badger Mountain!! Big PLUS in my book, totally organic. Whole Foods carries it normally, if not, call them directly and order by the case. Pure White is awesome also!! DRINK HAPPY!!!
There is a boxed pinot grigio from Fenn Valley Winery in Michigan. It is the same as their bottled wine, but 1 box is equivalent to 2 bottles. Very tasty and refreshing.
I have to say that I saw a lot of posts for Black Box, which made by Blackstone, I agree is very good (esp. their Reserve Merlot). However, I saw one post for Sangria but no one posted about Real (Ree-al) making their Sangria now in a 3L box wine. It tastes just like the bottled Sangria, which I think is better then Carlo Rossi and its in a box. Also, Avery Lane makes a decent table red and white box wine.
There is a great new wine company here in Maryland that produces boxed wines. Terrapin Station Winery produces vegan wines with a portion of their profits going to the Terrapin Foundation to help save the Terrapin Turtle. I've bought their Traminette wine and it is delicious! It's a nice sweet white wine that I absolutely love!. The packaging is eco-friendly and recyclable (though as a previous poster commented I dont believe the bag is). Hopefully they'll be selling in more stores around me soon!
I really enjoy the boxed wines from Target, their Pinot Grigio won an award up against bottles. The reds never give me a headache. I think their collection is curated by master sommelier Andrea Robinson. I used to work at a restaurant/wine shop and buy cases. Once I broke some in my trunk on a long trip, and even though had professionally cleaned at my first stop, I could never get the smell out. I had to replace the trunk liner. Although I still enjoy a nice bottle, boxes are perfect for everyday and especially for travel.
Yay for Target's Wine Cubes! they stay fresh for much longer, and are very reasonable, not to mention cute and fun to take to a party :) I buy the small box of 4 individual cab servings so my boyfriend can have one when he's occasionally over for dinner, and I keep a box of the white sangria "on tap" for myself :)
http://sites.target.com/site/en/supertarget/supertarget_wine.jsp
Yes, yes, yes - Black Box is the best of the boxed wines. Excellent for backpacking: ditch the box and it packs like a camelbak - but much tastier! If only I could figure out how to attach a sippy straw...
We were very skeptical about trying boxed wines, but we actually love the Fish Eye Chardonay. The Black Box Chard. is what we have in our fridge right now. The boxes are great -they stay fresh in your fridge for over a month ready for you to enjoy without having to deal with finding the wine opener etc.
French rabbit is very good, hard to find in our area. I also like Fish Eye. Booo to the Franzia. Most jug wine is also down there with Franzia.
Cameron, where do you live? French rabbit's pretty widely out there...
For a cab I like Black box as well, but used to like Trove better, but I can't find it anymore.
Seems like Black Box is winning. I'm just glad that there is more than one brand out there that is good enough to drink.
Thanks everyone for sharing the different brands. I might be more adventurous the next time I go to the liquor store.
A nice boxed wine that (according to my mom had been around a while!) is Blue Nun Riesling. It was my wine of choice all this past winter...perfect for just about ever Holiday Meal!
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Chris | July 09, 2008 at 01:18 AM