Boxed Wine vs. Canned Wine: What’s the Difference (and Is Either Any Good)?

Back in the day, when boxed wines made their debut on the market, the results were less than delicious. Actually, they were terrible. Technology has improved since then and there are new iterations on the market, including canned wine.

Related: 5 Questions It’s Okay to Ask a Sommelier

Before you turn away, cans and boxes keep wine fresher longer and are a better value. And you’ll never break the cork while trying to open a bottle. So what are the benefits of each? Read on to find out. [pagebreak]

Benefits of Canned Wine

Not all wine makers sell their wine across all three varieties and canned (or boxed) wine isn’t a substitute for bottled wine – it’s a different experience. Canned wine is great for on-the-go parties and / or single servings of wine. And since wine in a can doesn’t last more than a year, it’s usually reserved for light, refreshing, inexpensive wines.

Canned wines are also a good value. Since canned cans are light and compact they’re cheaper to get onto a shelf, so you pay less. Cans are also a great way to satisfy a variety of tastes – everyone gets a few cans of what they like best. That also benefits you, buy a can to taste test before you invest in more. [pagebreak]

Benefits of Boxed Wine  

We know, we know – boxed wine has a bad rep but times have changed. Technology has gotten way better so it’s time to try again. Open boxed wine can last six to eight weeks (longer in the fridge) because the plastic bib seal is way better than a cork and glass (and eco-friendly). It’s also a better value because you’re paying for less of the business of winemaking (think foil and corks, etc.) and shipping costs involved with those heavy traditional bottles.

The plastic bag the wine is stored in (inside the box) is also cleaner and more durable and keeps wine longer: unopened 6-8 months for whites and 10-13 months for reds. It’s also a great value because a typical box holds 4 bottles of wine. So if you’re having a party or you’re particularly into a single wine, boxed wine is the way to go!