The Best Boxed Wine for 2021

You will have seen us extol the virtues of the new face of boxed wine. We’ve shouted about it on the radio, we’ve given you a few goodies to try and why is this? So many reasons, the key ones being much tighter technology, which means wine stays fresher, which means that producers trust the packaging to put better wines in. Simples! There’s also the pretty major fact that most wine boxes are infinitely greener to make and more recyclable too. Let’s not forget the price per bottle ratio being even better value either. 

Check out this previous piece and video about 8 reasons to try boxed wine! 

It’s clear that the UK particularly is taking boxed wine to its heart and more and more producers are following suit, offering their wines in these larger, greener formats. We’ve fallen on our swords for you and tasted a huge round up of recent releases. Here are the best producers of boxed wines for 2021 in our not so humble opinion as well as some singular suggestions:

3 Boxed Wine Companies to Seek Out 

There are three companies who are out and out leading the way when it comes to wine quality, range of wines, premium packaging and green credentials. Presenting their wines in 2.25L boxes (the equivalent of three bottles), they’re the perfect size for entertaining or to sip over a couple of weeks at home. 

The BIB Wine Company

The BiB  Wine Company were the first we saw to make their packaging sleek and sexy, to match the impressively high quality of the wine insides. This is where you come for your luxury, fine wine in a box that looks as good as it tastes. What’s more, for every box you buy, they will plant a tree through a partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects. They also have a wine club that offers regular discounts. What’s not to love? 

Try…

...The Clos du Roi Sancerre (£49.90 for 2.25L) as your splash out white this festive season. Beautifully balanced, grassy, chalky and elegant, it’s hard to believe it’s from a box! Snag this for your smoked salmon. 

I’m also a huge fan of the Bea Organic Monastrell (£26.80 for 2.25l); a pocket friendly, easy drinking red from DO Yecla in Spain that packed full of spiced strawberry and black berry fruit.  

Laylo

Laylo boxes are so pretty, they could be the centrepiece for your table. Personally, I’d like to go for a range of them on the sideboard this Christmas to keep the family happy! The wines are great too; sourced directly from small-scale producers and interestingly off the beaten track a lot of the time. Their green credentials are impressive as well.

Try…

... The Pinot Blanc (£32.99). Unusually from Slovenia and with a splash of fragrant furmint, (that’s a grape), this is deliciously perfumed, crisp and ctrussy. A great, quirky find. 

We’re also big fans of the Rosso Vulcanico (£36.99); a blend of rustic, licorice and berry-scented Nero d'Avola & Nerello Mascalese from the slopes of Etna. 

When in Rome

When in Rome was the other early adopter of decent boxed ‘craft’ wine as they call it. Specialising in Italian wines made from lesser known grape varieties, their wines are brilliant value and the boxes are arguably the easiest to recycle out of anyones. When in Rome are also the producer of Phillip Schofield’s own wine range!

Try…

... The Organic Grillo (£25.99) for a refreshing, orange and pineapple, citrusy glass of white. This Sicilian wonder is a brilliant crowd pleaser and great alone or with hard cheese. 

I’d also recommend the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (£25.99) for a juicy, blackcurrant and spice experience in a glass. Perfect for a mid week spag bol or pizza. 

Other wine in boxes to seek out 

Côtes-du-Rhône, Famille Jaume

This is a youthful, fresh Côtes-du-Rhône red with lots of lively, dark berry fruit and a touch of spice. Made with Grenache and Syrah from young vines, this is a Wine Society stalwart and a must if you’re hosting at Christmas!

£45 from The Wine Society (approx £6.75 equivalent)

Terre di Faiano Rosso

I should probably stop banging on about this one but it’s so pretty inside and out; it looks like an easter egg! A blend of Negroamaro, Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon from Puglia, this juicy, figgy, plummy red is organic as well as vegan. Full-bodied and a touch on the sweeter side. 

£25.99 for 2.25L from Waitrose Cellar

See what we tasted in talk radio recently here and find that article with a video about 8 reasons to try boxed wine!

Thursday Club with Talk Radio: Boxed Wine

Do you whisper it or shout it out loudly and proudly? Boxed wine, bag in box wine or even bagnums these days (see what they did there?) are on the up with consumers and for many good reasons too. Quality packaging has come such a long, long way, so wines are kept fresher for longer, which in turn has meant that producers are happy to put higher quality wines in there. New, natty little taps and better bags keep oxygen out and flavour in and in many cases, the packaging has been upgraded too, to something you wouldn’t mind showing off in your kitchen. Add to this the fact that the same wine is cheaper when you buy it in more volume like this AND the packaging is generally much less harmful to the environment and you have a win-win situation. 

I’ve tried and tested a lot for you (it’s a tough job, eh?) and here are three boxed wines that are cracking value:

When in Rome Organic Grillo, Sicily, Italy. 

When in Rome were one of the first to bring high quality, interesting wines to the box, all the while keeping their green credentials intact. I love this crowd-pleasing, organic Grillo (that’s the grape); it’s crisp and ultra refreshing with a very aromatic nose of peach blossom and lemon cream. Fruity but light on its feet, it's highly drinkable and perfect for parties or that sneaky midweek glass straight from the fridge. 

£24.99 for 2.25L (bottle equivalent = £8.33) from Waitrosecellar and on offer on Amazon for £22.80

Terre di Faiano Rosso IGP Puglia Organic Rosso

This Italian red wine blend certainly wins the prize for great packaging with its eye-catching, blue tube. It is also a big, juicy hug in a glass. If you’re a fan of Primitivo with its notes of cocoa dusted raisins, very ripe dark berry fruit and vanilla pods, then you’ll love this. Of a slightly sweet style so not for lovers of old school, dry Claret perhaps, but a very easy drinking drop on a cool, Autumnal day. It would make a great match with some hard, salty cheese. 

£20.79 on offer (was 25.99) for 2.25L from WaitroseCellar ( £6.33 bottle equivalent)

Bea Organic Monastrell, The BIB Wine Company

The BIB Wine Company have nailed compact, classy looking boxes that hold properly fine wine. Come here for your quirky blends from lesser known wine regions as well as your old favourites, from Sancerre and Cotes du Rhone to fabulous Portuguese blends and dry, Hungarian Furmint. This Spanish Monastrell (that’s the grape. It’s also known as Mourvedre in France) is bold and grippy, much drier and tannic than the Rosso above and more old school European in style - dusty in a good way. Give it a steak and it will sing. 

£26.80 fro 2.25L (£8.93) from bibwine.co.uk

Stay tuned for more boxed wine recommendations on The Three Drinkers soon! In the meantime, here are 8 reasons why you should try boxed wine again.

4 Great Rosé Wines for Winter

Words by Helena Nicklin

I have always been a huge fan of pink wine in Winter and have frequently served them with roasts and full-on Christmas meals. Why? They are just so versatile. Quite often too, you don’t want heavy reds at lunchtime but you might want something with a little more oomph than a crisp white. Not all pinks are the same however. For food, you’ll want a rosé with complexity and texture rather than a simple fruit bomb. Here are four styles of pink wines to whet your whistle this festive season. 

Provence

Your fail safe go-to region for winter pinks is Provence. While they’re pale and very pretty, the special soils and climates by the sea give these wines salinity and texture. There’s huge complexity of flavour too in a non-shouty way. What you may not realise however is that there are three sub regions for Provencal Pinks: AOC Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and AOC Coteaux Varois en Provence. In Winter and for food, my slight preference is for wines from the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence because of their pronounced minerality, freshness and complexity compared to the other two sub regions. Try: 

Château Barbebelle, Rosé Fleuri, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence

Ballet-shoe pink and with golden tints, this is a zippy, fruity Provencal pink with a pleasing bitter, kick. Think apricot, peach and strawberry with a cool saline tang. It’s fruit salad in a glass!  

Find it at Randalls for £9.99

Etna

Nerello Mascalese grapes grown on bush vines in the volcanic soils of Sicily’s Mount Etna make for unique, interesting and delicious wines. Again, texture and saline minerality is key here along with delicate notes of red berry. Try: 

Etna Rosato, Tenuta del Terre Nere, 2019

Supremely elegant but multi-layered and textural, this is a beautiful, textural yet vibrant pink with subtle notes of red plum and cherry. A gorgeous winter pink and a great food wine, especially with fleshy fish dishes. 

Find it at Justerini & Brooks for £11.25

England

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that England is smashing it for Classic method bubbles at the moment. What I’m personally loving in some of the sparkling rosé wines at the moment is a quintessentially English note of hawthorn or rosehip among the wild strawberry and hedgerow. With lots of flavour and good acidity, this is an ideal style for smoked salmon or cold cuts and can take turkey and the trimmings too. Try this:

Digby Fine English, Leander Pink, Brut NV

Medium pink in colour with the crunchy red fruit notes mentioned above, while technically dry, there is a slight sweetness on the finish to this wine, which means it could also take dishes heavy on the salt or even, a slight hot spice. 

Find it at Armit Wines for £33

Bag-in-Box

If ease, sustainability, value for money and space saving are the order of the day as we approach a time when - dare I write it - we may be able to socialise with other humans, finding a decent bag-in-box pink will save the day. Try:

Phillip Schofield Rosato IGT Verona

Philip Schofield has just released a perky little pink for your tasting pleasure in partnership with When in Rome wine. Quite different from the wines above, this one is aromatic and sappy, with very ripe strawberry fruit and a crushed raspberry tang. Very easy going and a great aperitif wine that will take you into your starters. 

Find (2.25L) for £25.99 from wheninromewine.com


If you are more of a fan of red wine then check out Aidy’s must-try Zinfandels and don’t forget to check out orange wine too!