Thinking Inside the Box Means Greener, Cheaper Vino

A move by Italy toward wine in boxes should be a kick in the grapes for US producers and consumers, Tyler Colman writes in the New York Times. “But the sky isn’t falling. Wine in a box makes sense environmentally and economically,” the author and blogger continues, given how a switch would shrink carbon footprints and transportation costs for vintners.

Since only the world’s very best wines need to be aged in a bottle, everyday vintages are a no-brainer for boxes—where they’ll keep longer, too, Colman points out. Rising quality should help shake off its “down-market image,” so “if you’re sorry about the change, squeeze off another well-preserved, affordable, low-carbon serving of boxed wine and mull it over.” (More boxed wine stories.)