SOME TIME AGO, I read something about wine coming in plastic bottles.
Despite the fact that glass is easily recyclable, and plastic isn't, this was hailed as environmentally friendly (something to do with the shipping it around the world).
Today, I stumbled into my local Morrisons, randomly stamping on small children and shoving old people aside as I desperately tried to reach the liquor aisle. Scanning the shelves for that enticing Half Price (or better still, the relatively new gambit, Better Than Half Price) sign, my bloodshot eyes somehow alighted on this new fangled contrivance - wine in a carton.
It's new - yes, it is new (as the Fat Fighters woman in Little Britain says). In fact, it says on the side of the carton Why Should I Try This New Pack? Top of the list of reasons it gives (before "Environmentally Friendly", to entice the guilt-ridden middle class people; and "Wine Quality", to ease the suspicions of people used to their wine coming in glass) is Value For Money. Yes, these tetrapaks hold an entire litre of wine, not just a miserly 75cls! Oh, and the picture on the front is reassuringly olde worlde, where as we all know everything was Done Properly And Was Quality.
I've yet to taste this Italian Pinot Grigio; I'm sipping a Baileys over ice as I write this, despite the fact it makes me feel sick and gives me a headache.
Is the wine-in-a-box unique to the UK, or have global, wine-guzzling ka-os|theory readers seen this phenomena in their own liqour purveyors?
I think your blog ate my comment the first time. Did it?
ReplyDeleteI WILL NOT SUBMIT TO SUCH WILD ACCUSATIONS!
ReplyDelete(To coin a phrase...)
Your comment would appear to have lost - the above one is the only one I've seen! I truly hate it when that happens.
As I was saying...:
ReplyDeleteWHAT?! Wine in a carton? If I want a carton, I'd buy milk or orange juice. Besides, it would look awfully funny to put a carton of wine on the dinner table for a dinner party. What's next? Drink it out of plastic cups? Ugh. Give me glass, thank you.
So anyway, how's it taste? Any different? Just as good as the in-the-glass-bottle variety?
I know, aesthetically it's a fail, but as cartons go it's not bad looking really. It's got angles and stuff. lol...
ReplyDeleteI'm actually drinking it now as I write this week's news catch-up. There's no difference in taste, no "carton boquet" lol. I'd actually buy it again. Remember, people resisted plastic corks and screwcaps - I think this will take off.
I'm resisting it, then. LOL.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I gonna do with my wine refrigerator???! This won't fit! Not to mention a "collection" of 70-or-so carton in the refrigerator would just look... wrong. Oh my god..... and mine has a clear-glass door. LOL. I'm looking at it in horror.
You're such a snob!
ReplyDeleteThe design is actually quite appealing, and it's also quite pleasant to grip - the angles give it an edge. I was very dubious when I saw it but I've been won over.
And as I'm sure you know, Dusty, size doesn't matter, it's how it tastes that counts.
Bah. Taste, indeed. lol!
ReplyDeleteTrust me the UK is not the only country to sell wine in a carton. I remember watching Frazier and the Crane brothers, who lived in Seattle, were both crapping on the idea and that was a few years ago. Also, I think I may have seen wine coming out of a box at somebody's Christmas party recently.
ReplyDeleteI had wine out of a box at somebody's Christmas party recently in Philly, so it's not just a UK phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteWine in a box is common in Spain. I can't think of a time I've been to this crazy country when there HASN'T been wine in a box on offer at the supermarket...