Boxed wine is something I would pass by without giving it a second thought. That is, until now. I was given the opportunity to try samples of CalNaturale wines. Well, of course! I never turn down a chance to sample wine. I have to admit when the samples arrived the first thought was “Oh, boxed wine”. They also arrived during a very busy time. I knew I could not give them the proper attention so they sat beside my wine rack until last week.
Thanksgiving and the following weekend were quiet days. I had decided to catch up on many of my to-do’s. Some were to work on behind the scenes stuff on this blog, to read, play with my “new” camera, and taste the CalNaturale wines.
CalNaturale Chardonnay is made with grapes from Mendocino, CA. It is what I would consider a middle of the road Chardonnay; not too oak-y and not too buttery. It is smooth and clean with flavors of pear, green apple, and a hint of citrus.
CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon is made with grapes from Paso Robles, CA. It is an easy drinking Cabernet; soft tannins and a nice finish. The flavors are of dark cherry, plum, currant and a bit of oak.
Both wines are made from certified organic grapes and packaged in Tetra Paks. They are available in 500ml and 1 liter sizes, selling for about $7 and $13 respectively. These are not only good everyday wines, but also great for wine to take on the go. Tailgating, picnics, poolside, or anywhere glass is not an option. They are much lighter than a bottle. No corkscrew needed either. The Tetra Paks are eco-friendly, resealable, and do not leak.
My opinion of boxed wine has changed. It appears this category of wine has taken steps in the right direction. I would buy the CalNaturale again. Have you had a good experience with a boxed wine? Comment below and pass along your thoughts and/or recommendations on boxed wine. Cheers!
Eileen Gross
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
I have no hangups about boxed or bagged wine. I just haven't found one that I've enjoyed. I do keep a box of Sauvignon Blanc in the mini-fridge when I need a dash or two to cook with. These sound interesting, and I'll try to seek them out here on the East Coast.
Renee
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
You can find them at Whole Foods and some other retailers. If you go to the CalNaturale website you can find sellers in your area.
amy @ fearless homemaker
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
we've had a very good experience with boxed wine. our family dinners with my siblings-in-law, their spouses, + my in-laws usually are about 8 adults, so the larger size of some boxed wines helps serve us all. we've tried a whole bunch of boxed wines - big house red is a good standard red blend, + yellow + blue makes wonderful organic boxed wines - yellow + blue savignon blanc is probably my favorite!
Renee
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
Thanks Amy for the recommendations. I'll have to try them some time.
Terry B Gardner (@tbgdesign)
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
It's more than the taste for me when drinking wine. It's the esthetic. I like the experience of the bottle, the label the process of uncorking. This packaging idea will never fly for me. It's like eating sushi out of the Styrofoam container. I would just rather not eat it at all.
Renee
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
I also enjoy the process of uncorking a bottle and I love the "pop" sound. It is different than unscrewing a top. However, there are times when a bottle is not convenient and I would rather have the option to enjoy wine rather than not. I'm glad there is now a good wine I can rely on for those occasions.