Also great for anyone who loves a glass of wine! 😉

SPECIAL OFFER: Use promo code ONTHEROAD to save 10% off your order when you check out Really Good Boxed Wine here! This code is valid on top of any other discounts available on the site.

What is the best wine for RVers? On our sailboat, we were extremely cautious about bringing glass of any kind on board. When we sold our boat (and house) to live full-time in our motorhome, we adopted the same rules we had for life on the boat. Minimize the risk of broken glass by not having it on board.

Wine has always been one of the few exceptions to our rule. Since my husband and I started sailing, I’ve dreamt of finding good wine in a box. Boxed wine is perfect for RVing or boating because:

• There’s no glass to break⁠
• It takes up less space⁠
• It weighs less than bottled wine⁠
• Creates less waste⁠
• Is the equivalent of 4 “normal” size bottles⁠
• Stays fresh for 6 weeks after opening⁠

What’s the problem with boxed wine?

For me, the problem has been finding quality wine in a box! I’ve tried some varieties of Bota Box and Black Box, but I’m always disappointed. To me, the wines seem over-manipulated and fake, either with too much added liquid essence of oak or acid-adjusted with the acidity riding high and lacking integration with the wine itself. Worse yet, I still remember the horrific sinus headache I had after I drank a couple of glasses of Franzia boxed wine about fourteen years ago. I can assure you it was not a case of over-consumption!😜

Despite efforts to eliminate some of the glass on board, we have continued to drink bottled wine in our house on wheels. That is, until we found Really Good Boxed Wine.

What makes Really Good Boxed Wine better than other boxed wines?

Let me start from the beginning. An old colleague and friend from the wine business told me about his new job working with a company representing Really Good Boxed Wine. One thing I know for sure about this friend is that he has an exceptional palate for food and wine and has worked for some fantastic producers over the years I’ve known him. We discussed how wine in a box is perfect for RVers and boaters, and he offered to send me some samples.

We opened the Pinot Noir to enjoy with Thanksgiving leftovers. From the moment I tasted this Pinot Noir, I was extremely impressed. I have experience selling some of the finest Pinot Noirs in the world, having worked for Vineyard Brands, a national wine importer with a great selection of Burgundy. It’s a varietal that I love when done well, but I also find it can be easily over-manipulated.

I can tell you Pinot Noir from Really Good Boxed Wine is not overworked! It offers silky-smooth tannins, loads of fresh berry and cherry fruit flavors, and a hint of spice on the finish. Even better? I noticed a terrific salinity to the wine, indicating minerality. I wasn’t surprised when I took a closer look at the packaging to find that the wine came from San Luis Obispo Coast in California. In fact, it’s from a single vineyard located less than a mile from the ocean. No wonder it offered this magical saltiness to go with it!

As it turns out:

• The wines are made using specific grape varieties from specific growing areas well-suited for the varietal. Some are even single vineyard wines.⁠
• They believe in minimal intervention in winemaking and aren’t adding anything artificial to force a flavor profile.⁠
• While most boxed wine doesn’t indicate the vintage, Really Good Boxed Wine is from a single vintage.⁠
• Instead of putting the money into the packaging (glass bottles, corks, etc.) and shipping (boxed wine weighs less), they are investing in the quality of the wine!

Can you taste the difference between wine in a box and wine in a bottle?

You will not be able to taste the difference between boxed and bottled wine. Not even a master sommelier, one of the most highly-trained wine professionals, can taste the difference. That’s because they use BPA-free plastic bags that do not impart flavor.

The only wines that benefit from being in a cork-finished bottle are the wines you intend to age. Since these wines are meant to be consumed within a year, there is no benefit for the wine to be in a bottle.

However, there are environmental benefits when buying and drinking wine from a box!

How is boxed wine better for the environment?

Boxed wine is more environmentally friendly because it has about 50% less carbon footprint than 4 of the same wines. In part, this is because of shipping. Bottled wine weighs a lot more than boxed wine. Also, it takes an incredible amount of energy to produce (and recycle) glass bottles. And, while there is still packaging for boxed wine, it is only one package instead of four.

As sad as I am to admit this, recycling when you live in an RV is extremely difficult! Most RV parks do not offer recycling which only adds to the challenge. Dedicating space solely for recyclables in your already tiny home is very tough!

When you boondock and have to find places to take your garbage, it’s easiest if you try not to have a lot of garbage! If you love getting off the grid, boxed wine is the best for boondocking!

How do you store boxed wine?

As long as the wine isn’t open, you can store the box in any way you want. Once the wine is open, you’ll want to store it with the pour spot down, ensuring no air gets in the bag. An open box of wine will last for six weeks (if you can make it last that long). You can keep it in the refrigerator, on your counter, or in your pantry.

Where Can You Buy Really Good Boxed Wine?

Really Good Boxed Wine is working on its distribution network in the USA. That said, it is currently available for direct-to-consumer shipment in 43 states + DC: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, ME, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.

You can order Good Boxed Wine directly from their website: https://reallygoodboxedwine.com/. Use “ONTHEROAD” when placing your order to save 10%!

You might also consider signing up for a subscription! You can also take all the effort out of wine shopping by automatically having the wine shipped to you each month. Because the only thing that might be better than having Really Good Boxed Wine available is never running out.

Can RVers Have Wine Shipped to Them?

Having wine shipped to you isn’t much different than getting a shipment from Amazon. You’ll want to confirm that the park or resort you are staying at will accept deliveries. Please note there is a 21 or older signature required. If packages go directly to your site, you must be home for the parcel to be delivered successfully.

If you’re not 100% sure you will be home, you can ship Really Good Boxed Wine directly to a UPS location close to where you will be. You’ll be able to collect your wine without an issue. I believe UPS waives any charges since it ships via UPS.

What Wines Do They Have?

Because Really Good Boxed Wine doesn’t mass produce, you’ll find their selection changes from time to time. I’ve had the opportunity to taste four of their wines so far:

• 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé from Russian River Valley is dry, full of fresh berry fruit flavors, and offers excellent acidity. This wine is delicious on its own and also pairs well with charcuterie.
• 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County is a richer, rounder version of Sauvignon Blanc than what you’ll find from some parts of the world. This wine has delicious citrus fruit flavors and paired well with Fish En Papillote I made recently.
• 2020 Pinot Noir from San Luis Obispo Coast is an absolutely delicious Pinot Noir with loads of fresh cherry and berry flavors and a subtle salinity that makes it a perfect pairing for many foods, including roast chicken, Thanksgiving dinner, and air-fried salmon.
• 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles comes from a single vineyard, the Truesdale Vineyard. They age the wine for 18 months in a combination of French and American oak, providing some spice and toffee notes to go with the dark cherry and plum flavors. This wine is delicious with steak!

So, now you know! I think wine from Really Good Boxed Wine is the best wine for RVers! You’ll find additional wines available on their website, including some special, very limited-production wines.

Again, don’t forget to use “ONTHEROAD” to save 10% off your order!

(Full disclosure: I have an affiliate relationship with Really Good Boxed Wine in which I may make a small commission when you purchase. This doesn’t cost you any more money, but it may help keep us on the road!)