Bag-in-Box reports from the Scandinavian frontline.

Visiting mum here in Sweden in July and as perhaps some of you know, Scandinavia is pretty much the BiB epicenter of the world. 58% of all wine sales come in BiB here in Sweden and the Scandinavian market was kind of the first one that went “upmarket” with it. Or perhaps more correctly; shedded some of the stigma, (even if they didn’t go upmarket), so consequently BiB has much less of a bad connotation here than in the US. Which from an environmental, wine preservation and shipping perspective makes total sense. I’ve always said that BiB will become big everywhere eventually.

That said, my first few BiB encounters here have not been great.

Ruby Zin (NV): Went in and grabbed this one without looking too closely. Thought it’d be fun with a “California Zin”. Boy, was that a mistake. Only after first sip did a realize what a huge mistake I’d made. This was one of those C-celebrity wines from some tired old popstar here. Wine was a sugary, sweet mess, with nothing going for it. Like sweet strabwberry juice, with no tannins, no finish, nothing. Later I read it had 12g/L of sugar - holy crap! I can’t believe this is one of the biggest sellers in the country. Atrocious. 60pts.

Chateau Ste Michelle Syrah (NV): After the humiliation of the Zin, I thought I’d better get a somewhat reputable US producer to restore the glory, so grabbed this. Well, better, but still very far from good. Over-oaked mess, with lots of plummy sweetness. 60% French oak and 40% American Oak it said, but felt rather like 200% American oak chips to me. Not good. 82pts.

Terre de Mistral Cotes-du-Rhone Reserve Organic (NV): The least offensive of the bunch, but still a rather mundane wine. Feels uninspiring, but is at least not a complete sweet syrupy mess. Some good tannins and a slightly aged feel, but not really filling anyone with any excitement. Village wine from the co-op, basically. 85pts.

Well, that was a bad run, but it also shows how much potential there is to be had for future producers. The BiB bar is pretty low. The market is already committed to the vessel, so now all they need is to improve quality of wine.

I was reading a very interesting article on the “premiumization of BiB” and the future it holds:

Will we see the same thing in the US within the next 10-20 years?





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FIFY, because that’s what we do!!

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Sorry - fixed!

There was a BiB wine offered during an earlier Berserker Day -I can’t remember the details but I took one to a work picnic and it was a pleasant red - not sure if the company is still around.

I’d be in favor of this, lots of smaller blancs or simpler reds would be great to have just a glass with low concerns over oxidation over an extended time. We once stayed at a ski house where one of the perks was a big box of La Vielle Ferme rouge on the counter (I moved it to the fridge) so one could have a glass of red CdR any time they wanted, and save the cork finished bottles for dinner. It was cooler than I would have expected.

Are these kinds of wines actually exported in those boxes/bags? Or is it sent over there in a giant tank, and then bagged up locally?

Also: if you drank 3 BiB, that’s impressive!

The Chateu-Ste-Michelle is bagged up in Denmark at a company named Globus, so it probably goes across the ocean in a tank.

I’m glad that you are going through these wines so we don’t have to… neener

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I used to get drunk on this stuff when I was a poor university student (Im from Denmark). You could buy 3 liters for around 12$ :rofl:. My dad still serve it. I hate it, I never had a decent glass from a BiB.

The idea for simple everyday wine is not bad though.

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Texier has a BIB packaged wine. Maybe trade only.
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I do love the “Low in tannins!!!” On the zin box.

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