Wine- Boxed, Corked Bottle or Screw Cap Bottle?

Many reasons account for the resurgence in the purchase of boxed or box wine. The first one is cost. The stigma of the cheapness no longer adheres. Today’s quality is so good sommeliers are hard pressed to tell the difference. The second reason is the ease of use. You don’t need any extra equipment and you don’t have to expend a whole lot of energy opening and closing the box. Some boxes even come with a spigot. Thirdly, boxed wine has a longer shelf life. You can resist the urge to drink the entire package (like you would with the bottle) and avoid waste or intoxication. Fourthly, the packaging is much lighter and more transportable than the bottle. So less care is needed in shipping and handling. This also helps to reduce cost. The fifth reason is recycling. Our current green-conscious world leads many to believe that the box is easier or perhaps better to recycle. Lastly, the overall appearance of the packaging is much more attractive.

It is a known fact that bottles are more earth-friendly. They are also better for the aging process of wines. Some wines like Riesling age better in the bottle and cork is necessary to reduce the amount of air that can enter. Besides these technicalities, there is something to be said for an attractively corked bottle of wine especially in a romantic setting. The popping sound it makes when opened sets up pleasurable expectations. The cork itself, whether natural or synthetic, is traditional. And the natural cork is biodegradable.

The advantages of the screw cap bottles of wine are that they are less expensive though not as much as the boxed. They are also easy to open and close, and there is no moldiness or mustiness to affect taste as you might experience with cork. So wine-freshness is preserved. The one big disadvantage is that screw caps aren’t eco-friendly.

Some interesting facts about wine:

1) The U.S. ranks number one in worldwide consumers.

2) The top three wine-consuming states are California, New York, and Florida.

3) Cork was first used to close wine bottles in the late 17^th century.

4) The current standard wine bottle holds 26 ounces or 750 milliliters of wine.

5) The U. S. is fourth in the world in wine production. France is first followed by Italy and Spain.

6) There are at least 10,000 varieties of wine grapes.