BOX IT

NOT ALL GOOD wines come in a bottle. I know that’s not news to a whole lot of you, but since I tend to be wary of boxed wines myself, I invited the company to send some samples. I tasted through the line and decided that yes, the company does a really fine job with reds, including my favorite, the Cal Naturale Cabernet Sauvignon from French Camp Vineyard. I wasn’t a fan of the Chardonnay.
I love that these wines come in extremely portable cardboard, which means that I can take them almost anywhere – maybe even to the beach or the park. (Sorry, I don’t always like following the rules. Sometimes, when I like to enjoy the gorgeous parks that my tax dollars pay for – with a sip of red, of course.) Cal Naturale wines are made with grapes from California’s Central Valley. The wines are not excellent, but they’re several cuts above my standard glass of Charles Shaw, a whole lot better than most boxed wines, and pretty good drinking for a picnic. The wines are $12.99 per 1 liter carton; $6.99 for the 500 ml. www.calnaturale.com./