We may currently be experiencing some new trends in the wine industry.
It is not to the wine itself that we are alluding, but the packaging. For centuries, it has been the indomitable and ubiquitous glass bottle and natural cork that has ruled the roost in the world of wines. What worked in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries would not do for modern man, so changes were inevitable. That bit of philosophy may not fully explain the desire for change, but economics sure do, as the price of glass bottles and natural cork have gone through the roof.
First, it was the natural cork that had to go, being replaced by synthetic stoppers and screw-tops. Next, they turned to the bottle. Some tried plastic, but just the feel of the bottle turned many wine lovers off. The next step was to use cardboard boxes with sterile bags inside to hold the wine.
The first of these were ridiculed, but after a short time on the market, they were praised. The wine lasted much longer, stayed fresh and remained unchanged for weeks. Best of all, the cost was a heck of a lot less than glass and allowed for larger quantities of wine to be packaged at lower costs to the consumer.
This started with less expensive wines, but now, even premium wines are beginning to embrace the boxes.
One of the pioneers of boxed wines is Don Sebastiani & Sons, producer of the groundbreaking “Big Green Box” line of wines. From our experience, if a Sebastiani has a hand in it, the wines will be exceptional.
Each of the boxes holds the equivalent of four bottles of wine, and if you do not consume that much at one sitting, the wine inside the box will remain in excellent condition for at least six weeks. Another perk of a Big Green Box is its price, which works out to just $5 for the equivalent of one standard 750 milliliter bottle.
Big Green Box Pinot Grigio ($19.99)Don Sebastiani & Sons search the world for the best examples of wine varieties. This wine came from California and is a fine example of that particular style of the variety.
The wine prominently displays the aromas of lemon and green tea with a flavor that is true to the variety's reputation - crisp green apple with a mineral-laced lemon background. The wine also has a fruity finish that unfortunately does not last very long.
Don’t be fooled by the price; this is an excellent wine.
Big Green Box Pinot Noir ($19.99)Big Green Box Pinot Noir is a well-made wine that exhibits all of the properties of wines selling for a considerably higher price.
Big in flavor, its ruby color heralds the aromas of dark cherries and red summer berries. These aromas are carried right through to the flavor and continue on to the finish.
Finding a decent pinot noir that is selling in this price range is almost impossible.
Big Green Box Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99)This is a friendly incarnation of a usually stiff and often austere wine, but with all of the charm and depth one seeks in a cabernet sauvignon.
The aroma of this wine is heavy with the scent of cherries and black currents, with an unmistakable undertone of cedar. The flavor is broad and layered, accenting the cherries and black currants found in the aroma, but with a noticeable additional berry component.
For the price, it's a very nice wine.
Big Green Box Chardonnay ($19.99)This is one of the few wines where the aroma exactly mirrors the flavors.
The wine is very tropical in nature, exhibiting a melding of the flavors of apple, pear and pineapple, showcasing an incredible balance of the fruit acids with the flavor.
Do not restrict this wine to the usual fare reserved for chardonnays, as it can accompany a broad spectrum of foods and also can be an excellent sipping wine.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and helps manage ArticlesOnWine.com with his wife, Sheila. He can be reached at frojhe@suddenlink.net.[[In-content Ad]]
