# Why is boxed wine looked down on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** wine\ **Created:** [April 19, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806 "2017-04-19T19:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/41 "2017-04-20T22:06:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Today’s screwtops are used for many quality wines (especially from Australia, not so much for California wines which still seem to feel there’s an image problem, nor for the tradition-conscious French) and they are far superior to the back-alley grade screwtops that one used to associate with super cheap wines. Some California vintners have been bucking tradition for years, though. Tin Roof proudly calls attention to its screw tops in its very name; I tried their Chardonnay a dozen years ago and it was very decent. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/42 "2017-04-20T22:25:32Z")
Wine on tap is (slowly, very slowly) catching on at some upscale spots in CA. It makes a lot of sense if you’re selling wine by the glass anyway. I drink lots of Sauv Blanc from NZ, and I’ve never seen one that DIDN’T come in a screw-top. I’m generally OK with non-cork packaging, even if the whole cork ritual thing is still kinda cool for special occasions. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/43 "2017-04-20T22:26:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Except they’re not all sold in 5L boxes. Like I said, 1.5L and .5L are also common. The only boxed wine I’ve ever bought has been of those sizes. Looking at my local wine megastore, it seems that actually the 3L boxes are the most commons size, with the 5L boxes being pretty much reserved for Franzia. I know, I was responding to the post above mine who was pondering why more expensive wine isn’t available in larger box sizes. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/44 "2017-04-20T22:54:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Wine on tap is (slowly, very slowly) catching on at some upscale spots in CA. Along those lines, a number of grocery stores in Portland now have wine growler fill stations. People are usually filling half-growlers (32 oz), but you see some full size. The wine is generally decent ($15-25/bottle). But it suffers the same issue as a bottle in that the wine is in contact with oxygen once you pour some, so it won’t last. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/45 "2017-04-20T22:58:57Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I know, I was responding to the post above mine who was pondering why more expensive wine isn’t available in larger box sizes. Ah, sorry. Missed the immediacy of the reply and assumed to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/46 "2017-04-20T23:32:08Z")
I’m not sure of the exact details, but I’m guessing boxed wine came about as cheap wines were looking for cheaper packaging. It used to be the “table wines” came in the 1 gallon glass jars. I’m not sure if the box is cheaper than that big bottle, but I’d guess shipping costs would be less because of reduced weight. The first wines in the box were the cheaper wines, so that’s how most people think of them. Even if the box is better for the wine than the bottle, they would have to change people’s perception of “box=cheap wine” Even back when the cheap wines were in the 1 gallon bottle, that was just for the lower quality wines. If you wanted good wine, it was in the normal wine bottle. Even back then there was the perception that “1 gallon bottle = cheap wine”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/47 "2017-04-21T00:40:40Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Even back when the cheap wines were in the 1 gallon bottle, that was just for the lower quality wines. If you wanted good wine, it was in the normal wine bottle. Even back then there was the perception that “1 gallon bottle = cheap wine”. Although there were/are always exceptions. **Gallo Hearty Burgundy** is a really _good_ table wine, and seems to be sold in 1/2 gal bottles exclusively. Their regular Burgundy is plonk. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806/48 "2017-04-21T01:10:30Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Ah, sorry. Missed the immediacy of the reply and assumed to the OP. I should have quoted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boxed-wine-looked-down-on/784806.md?page=2)