Wine in a box?
For as long as I can remember, people have looked down on folk that drank wine from a box.
That's probably because boxed wine is typically cheap and sold in grocery stores. Just not any snob appeal there.
But this might change soon. It seems that some scientists in Canada are reporting that multilayer aseptic cartons of wine (aka "boxed wines") may help reduce levels of substances that contribute odors to wine and can lower its quality. Neat, huh? Here's the reference if you want to read about it.
Dr. Gary Pickering, Chair & Professor of Biological Sciences/Wine Science at Brock University has conducted research showing that trace amounts of chemicals called alkyl-methoxypyrazines are generally negative to wine quality. The chemicals give wine an unpleasant green taste by masking the desirable fruity and floral flavors.
Pickering's results? Boxed wine had less alkyl-methoxypyrazines -- up to 45 percent less -- than any other type of packaging. Pretty impressive, huh? Kinda makes those boxed wines look a whole lot better. One caveat though, boxed wines have evidence of greater oxidation of the wine, which itself is undesirable during wine storage. So the shelf life is a lot shorter when in a box. So you'd better drink it fast. Once it gets to be a year or so old, it gets nasty.
That's probably because boxed wine is typically cheap and sold in grocery stores. Just not any snob appeal there.But this might change soon. It seems that some scientists in Canada are reporting that multilayer aseptic cartons of wine (aka "boxed wines") may help reduce levels of substances that contribute odors to wine and can lower its quality. Neat, huh? Here's the reference if you want to read about it.
Dr. Gary Pickering, Chair & Professor of Biological Sciences/Wine Science at Brock University has conducted research showing that trace amounts of chemicals called alkyl-methoxypyrazines are generally negative to wine quality. The chemicals give wine an unpleasant green taste by masking the desirable fruity and floral flavors.
Pickering's results? Boxed wine had less alkyl-methoxypyrazines -- up to 45 percent less -- than any other type of packaging. Pretty impressive, huh? Kinda makes those boxed wines look a whole lot better. One caveat though, boxed wines have evidence of greater oxidation of the wine, which itself is undesirable during wine storage. So the shelf life is a lot shorter when in a box. So you'd better drink it fast. Once it gets to be a year or so old, it gets nasty.
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