I like Franzia's boxed Chillable Red and their Red Sangria but both are too sweet for some tastes. When you live alone, having that collapsing bladder in the box is handy for keeping air away from the wine until you finish it off.

We picked enough Noble muscadines at the Tsali Notch vineyards Friday for about eight gallons of wine.

"We haven't tried Franzia."

Not as daring as I might have thought. The college kids say it is the bomb.

I am a wine snob who is married to a French wine snob. During the summer, we avoid red wine because of the heat, but he doesn't like white. So we get decent bottles of French rose.

There are no good boxes of rose. But reds are different.

In the winter, we buy red boxes. There are some decent boxed red wines and even Monsieur is OK with them. The Bota you mentioned is a decent weekday table wine. Black Box is also OK.

Franzia and Lindemann's are awful. Avoid, avoid.

The Mrs. here likes Chardonnay, but not in boxes. I, however, like to keep a box of red around. Best are some old vine Zinfandels, lately Bota. I can't remember the previous brand that was also good; it was an octagonal box. I want to say it was called Octavia. I made the mistake last shopping trip of getting a Pinot Noir by Big House, though, and it is just awful. By coincidence, before seeing this post I had just poured out a glass of it and opened a real bottle of red, Mouton Cadet Bordeaux.

I don't care ever to try a Franzia product.

Bota Malbec here.

I'm a fan of Bota Shiraz. Since I normally only enjoy a small glass in the evening, I prefer the box to a bottle.

My "go to" red wine box is Hardy's Shiraz

A reader writes to recommend Vina Borgia Garnacha

"Vina Borgia is not just good for boxed wine, it's good Spanish table wine, period. Not great, of course, you can only expect so much. But far and away my favorite of the many boxed reds I've had. It typically runs about $25-$28 a box, but for the last several weeks at least Bob's has had it on sale for $21."

I've been a fan of Black Box and Bota Chards for awhile. I have avoided the reds, but based on this discussion, I may have to change my thinking. Thanks.

My better half swears by Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon in the box. I'm more a merlot person when I have wine. Guess beer will always be my favorite though.

The Bota Box Cabernet tastes better than some Cabs in bottles. I like their Shiraz and Zinfandel, as well. As for 5-liter boxes the Peter Vella Burgundy and Peter Vella Chardonnay are pretty good.

Ashe's is having a great sale on Bota Box. It's $13.99/ box. That's $4 off. I think their sale ends on Wednesday. I stocked up last week.

bought some House Wine Cabernet Sauvignon, from Washington State, in a 3 liter box, while on vacation in Gatlinburg. Also bought some Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc. Both were very good. Gatlinburg has really changed! it seems to be gay and lesbian friendly as well as neo-nazi friendly. I even saw a woman on the Parkway with a veil over her face at night. Ate at Crockett's Breakfast Camp, on the Parkway. It was excellent.

Kinda hard to believe the diversity on the Parkway now. Sikhs, Muslims, bikers, African-Americans, neo-Nazis, people with cool tattoos, etc. They've come a long way since 2008-2009. The reason for their success might have something to do with free moonshine and wine samples... And some good restaurants, too.

The Mrs and I decided to go to a moonshine tasting today. We had about 14 small shots each. We could tell we had had something to drink. No wonder Gatlinburg is changing. The shots ranged from 80 proof to 100 proof. Some samples were on the sweet side. One tasted like Kentucky bourbon. one of the 100 proofs tasted like water.

it isn't just UT frat rats drinking box wine these days. The US is just now catching up with Europe and Australia. There's some good box wine to be had.

When I was in Italy I could buy good wine in tetra packs that was quite inexpensive. And the box wine in France was very drinkable and affordable.