Love It and Drink It Blog

Can wine in a box actually compete with wine in a bottle? Surprisingly, there are some boxed wines that are quite tasty. See what six boxed wines we recommend and find out why the box might be a good alternative to the bottle.

What Is Boxed Wine?

Boxed wines haven’t been around for very long. Credit for their invention goes to an Australian winemaker, Thomas Angove, who claimed the patent for bag-in-box wine 50 years ago. 

Initially, boxed wine was cumbersome and difficult to handle. The bag (or bladder) of wine inside the box had to be removed, a corner of the bag snipped, the wine dispensed, the bag resealed with a paper clip or rubber band, and placed back inside the box. Not ideal. Eventually, an integral tap was added to the bag, which made serving the wine a much easier process. 

Early b

Barolo wine is known as the “King of Wines and the Wine of Kings.” It is the delicious expression of the Nebbiolo grape grown in the northern Italian wine region of Piedmont. Learn more about the noble grapes and wines of Italy that many consider to be some of the finest red wines in the world.

The Barolo Wine Region

Barolo is one of the most renowned Italian wine regions in the world. Because the Nebbiolo grape is thin-skinned, it easily takes on the properties of the region’s terroir. 

There are multiple subregions within Barolo, each with a distinctive terroir that gives a unique definition and flavor profile to the Barolo wine they produce:

• La Morra. The largest subregion in Barolo, La Morra, contains sandy soil which lends a velvety elegance to the wine.

Mulled wine is a warm treat made of dark, full-bodied wine, fresh fruits, and spices heated gently. It’s particularly popular around the holidays, which is why making mulled wine is a beloved tradition in some households.

Apart from the fruits and spices that define the best mulled wine recipes, picking the right wine for a base is essential. Although no single brand or variety of wine works best, some have specific characteristics that make them better suited than others.

Inexpensive 

First off, put down that $50 bottle of pinot noir! When it comes to making mulled wine, you’ll want to stick to inexpensive wines. Most recipes involve adding many spices to the mix, so the complexities of

There are wineries in Oregon? Yes, as a matter of fact, Oregon boasts more than 900 wineries throughout its 21 winegrowing regions. Its diverse landscape with rolling hills, deep valleys, and fertile soil makes Oregon wine country ideal for growing wine grapes and producing some of the country’s best Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling wines.

Oregon Wine Regions

From its deep valleys to its lush, rolling hills, Oregon wine country produces some of the world’s tastiest wines. 

Central Oregon

The growing season is short in Central Oregon—just 90 days—so winemakers here make the most of the time they have to produce some of the state's most outstanding wines.

Learn the Difference: Dry Wine vs. Sweet Wine

Do you prefer sweet red wine to enhance your dinner? Or, when you’re choosing a bottle, do you always reach for a dry white wine? We all have personal preferences, of course, but do you know what makes wine either sweet or dry? Discover the factors that impact a wine’s sweetness along with some great examples of both sweet and dry wines we love. 

What Makes Wine Dry or Sweet?

Following fermentation, wines that retain a high amount of residual sugar are considered sweet. While this appears to be a simple enough explanation, there are many factors that impact how sweet or dry a wine really is, including:

• Timing of the grape harvest. Winemakers who want to create a dry wine will pick the

Choosing the best white wine to drink or use when cooking doesn’t have to be challenging. There are a few factors to consider, such as dryness or sweetness, alcohol content, and of course, price. We invite you to read on to find out four of our favorites and what you’ll want to consider when choosing a white wine to sip or use to sauté.  

What Is the Best White Wine To Drink?

Of course, everyone’s palate is different, and we each have our own preferences when it comes to flavors and sweetness. When considering a white wine to drink or serve to guests, you simply can’t go wrong with one of these four.

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is typically a medium-dry white wi

Contrary to what some wine drinkers believe, Prosecco is not simply the cheap alternative to Champagne. In fact, there are many high-quality Proseccos that cost more than some Champagnes. So, what’s the difference between the two wines? To find out, you’ll want to learn more about Prosecco wine.

What Is Prosecco Wine?

Just as Champagne is named for the region in France from which it hails, so too is Prosecco wine named after its place of origin in Northeastern Italy. The sparkling wine is produced with Prosecco (glera) grapes that were originally brought to Italy from Slovenia. 

Some wine lovers are familiar with Beaujolais Nouveau but aren’t aware of other Beaujolais wines or that white or rosé Beaujolais wines exist! Here are the 10 most important facts about this beloved French wine.

What Kind of Wine is Beaujolais?

Beaujolais wine is usually made from Gamay grapes, which are purple grapes primarily grown in the village of Gamay in France’s Burgundy region. However, Beaujolais can also be made with chardonnay grapes.

The most basic classification is Beaujolais AOC, which can be made anywhere in the Beaujolais region of France. Beaujolais Villages wine comes from particular villages in the region's hilly, granite-rich northern area and is often more expressive and of higher quality. Beaujolais Crus is typically the highest-quality kind of Beaujolais wine. Beaujolais Nouveau is a special kind of wine harv

Zinfandel wine is almost exclusively produced in the U.S. It’s affordable and sweet, making it an ideal wine for those just beginning to try wine. Because so many new wine drinkers start with Zinfandel, it has developed a reputation for being somehow inferior to other wines. However, aficionados will tell you there are complexities of flavors and styles that make Red Zinfandel and White Zinfandel wine wonderfully drinkable.

What Is Zinfandel Wine?

Both Red Zinfandel and White Zinfandel are made from the Zinfandel grape that originated in Croatia. The grapes made their journey t

Storing wine properly ensures that when you pop the cork and are ready to drink it, it delivers the flavors and aromatic notes you were waiting for. The temperature at which it’s stored, bottle positioning, humidity, and light can all affect the taste of your wine. Follow these seven basic storage tips to ensure your wine remains wonderfully drinkable.

Red Wine Storage Temperature

If you’ve invested in a bottle of fine red wine that you plan to allow to age before drinking, you’ll want to make sure you’re storing it correctly. Ideally, red wine should be stored at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. You should never store red wine at temperatures below 25 degrees because it could freeze, while storing it above 68 degrees will speed up the aging process.