The economical benefits to “bag in a box” wines are many: for $16 you are buying the equivalent of four bottles of wine. The bag has a convenient tap that dispenses only what you want, while the rest of the wine stays sealed in the bag, fresh and ready for your next glass. The box itself is biodegradable. What’s not to like, right?

The question is, of course, how do these boxed wines TASTE?

My wife and I saw Bota Box wines on the shelf and on a whim picked up RedVolution, just to see if it was terrible. What began as a joke turned into a complete surprise to us: this was actually pretty good!

RedVolution is a Zinfandel-led blend which also includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petite Sirah. Once you pull out the tap mechanism, the wine comes out in a gush, with jammy aromas of black cherry and plum. Since the contents are sealed, definitely let the wine breathe in your glass before you drink it. This is not a dry wine, but the berry and cherry flavors are pleasant. It has nice acidity and light tannins, which balance the fruit and keep it from being cloyingly sweet. The strong fruit flavors and residual sugar in this wine make it a good choice for barbecue, burgers, even spicy Mexican.

This isn’t a top shelf wine, but it’s a solid, economical, very drinkable choice. And you know what? It’s a big step up from the jugs of Barefoot, Carlo Rossi and Livingston Cellars wines you see lining store shelves, and you can recycle the packaging when you’re done, which helps the environment!

We have tried other Bota Box wines, and while the Merlot is OK, this so far has been our favorite. That being said, other reviews have put the Old Vine Zin at the top of the Bota list. We will have to try that one next.

It’s time to erase the stigma of boxed wines: that’s 20th century thinking. Pick up a Bota Box for about $16, and see if you agree with my rating: on a 5 cork scale, based on taste and value, RedVolution gets 3 corks!

—Brian