Quite often, the Gorilla and his lady primate are invited to dine at the homes of others. On many occasions, he himself, has been the host and as any good host or guest will tell you, there is always good wine served to celebrate the occasion. The Gorilla happens to be quite fond of wine, and although he certainly doesn’t believe in over-indulgence, a nice glass of wine always tops off the evening in such an eloquent way. Being of European descent, we knew as children that a nice glass of Vino, was a ritual really, and it was a rite of passage to indulge by the time you were a teenager (although, no one actually admits to this) in a taste or two. Many of the Gorilla’s best memories have been shared over a robust glass of Bordeaux, or a dry and mellow glass of Chardonnay. (The Gorilla prefers, a nice Bordeaux from St. Emilion or Riesling form Alsace). But whatever your taste, know this: There’s a new kind of wine in town, and it’s not from a bottle.
Wines in a box are all the rage! The Gorilla has been hearing about these wines in a box, and no, he is not talking about Franzia here! These wines are actually tastier, more expensive versions of the boxed wines of the past, and have become the new “it” wines on the market of late. They are aromatic reds and sweet whites, and although they don’t have quite the consistency of bottled wines, they are, as the Gorilla found, quite tasty. In the Gorilla’s own taste test of one Black Box Cabernet, here’s what he found:
At first sip upon opening, it seemed bland and lacking. Then after remembering that wine must air a bit after you open it, he went back for another sip about 10 minutes later. Not bad at all! It had a nice consistency, that although was not as “thick” as bottled wines, it still appeared to have some depth. Would the Gorilla call it fabulous? Well, no not quite, but for a nice change, cheap and simple, why not?
It has been nearly a decade since wine makers have tried any new innovations in their products, so it’s a refreshing new idea. “Those from 25 to 40 don’t want to drink what their grandparents are drinking, or even what their parents are drinking; they want something that’s for them,” says Gurvinder Bhatia, contributing editor at Tidings magazine. “I think that’s why the French have gone this route, trying to make wine more accessible and fun and cooler than it used to be.” The good thing about it is that it comes in recyclable cardboard boxes, which last for up to 4 weeks. (Bottled wines only last for one week.) If you are a person who only likes a glass or two a week with a meal, this could be a good wine for you! Okay, so the Gorilla admits, he’s certainly no vino aficionado, and although it’s not exactly Chateau Margaux with a straw, it seems that for a simple, fun, and fresh diversion, it’s worth a try!