Who says boxed wine has to suck? Bota Box has their 2010 wines on shelves right now, in flavors such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Old Vine Zinfandel, Moscato, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. So which ones are worth your money? We taste tested three of the above juice boxes and found that they’re quite good for their $3.99 price tag.

Each of these 500 mL Tetra Pak boxes holds three 5.6 ounce glasses (or 2/3 of a standard 750mL wine bottle) and costs only $3.99. This packaging has a smaller carbon footprint than a standard wine bottle, reducing greenhouse gases by 75% and waste by 50%. The boxes weigh much less than glass bottles and can be packed more efficiently than a round bottle, cutting fuel emissions. Lastly, they’re produced mainly from paper which is a renewable resource.

First we tasted the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, which had a nice ripe fruit aroma and that classic cab spice, yet had zero cheap alcohol burn and is very easy to drink. I did however get a tiny hint of the packaging flavor on the finish, which required really searching for it and slurping in a way normal people don’t drink wine. I say that because although I did get a bit of that flavor, you won’t notice it if you drink this cab normally without looking for flaws. This was our favorite box of the three and I’d suggest everyone give it a try, and it costs less than a happy meal. ABV is 13.5%.

Next, the 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel was a bit spicier at 14% ABV and was a fuller and darker garnet red with notes of ripe raisins, fig, and prune juice. It had a richer mouth feel than the Cab, but was also on the sweeter side which was a negative for me personally. Had it been less sweet, this may have just surpassed the Bota Box Cabernet. Still, a very surprising value for Zin lovers if you can get past the sweetness.

Finally, the 2010 Moscato at 11% ABV was the lowest alcohol of the three and also the sweetest. I immediately got the citrus, almost spearmint aroma on the nose which is best described as a chilled chamomile tea. The Moscato is one of the most viscous wines I’ve seen in a long time, and had a very pleasant herbal nose. The flavor was a little grassy, but sweeter and much more floral than most Sauvignon Blanc. With the popularity of Moscato these days this is also a great little box for $3.99 to taste test with friends that you won’t feel guilty about dumping if you hate it.

The side of the box even gives us a graphic that reminds us all of the activities that are better with boxed wine:

Activities better with boxed wine… agree or disagree?

Clearly, we’re told that these activities are better with boxed wine: hiking, boating, beach trips, camping and picnicking. What do you think about this graphic on the side of the box? Chat with us on Twitter and share your thoughts.