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something new to bring into the bush. a litre of wine in a BW/Q acceptable container. I haven't tried it yet but I am sure one or two will find there way into my pack this year. i am always reluctant to bring in a typical 5ltr box because of the weight and the crappy taste of the contents inside. anyone ever tasted these wines?

thebutcher

We have tried a couple of different ways over the years to take in a little vino around the campfire late at night.  I have taken some good Cabernet in a bota bag - those goat skin squirt bottles.  It can take a LOT of punishment and not leak.  I have tried a lot of the box wine at home and it is becoming quite popular for good quality wine to be put in the boxes - not just rot-gut.  5-litre - just remember it does get lighter throughout the trip :-)  The cheaper is like Almaden the better is Banrock Station and some pretty good is Black Box.  Just some suggestion.  We enjoy it.  Walleye at midnight a a toast with some Cab at 1 am - a perfect trip :-)

thebutcher,

I had the french rabbit Pinot Noir last week....it was OK.  By far the best boxed wine is made by Three Thieves called Bandit.  The Cab and Merlot are very good!  It comes from Napa and it catching on in MN.  Great wine packaged afforadably in a box(-:

seamsealer

Cranberry,

So you are the one drinking all the wine while I am fileting the walleye for the 1 AM fish fry.  Are you going to carry the 5L box over the Yum Yum this year(-:

seamsealer

Real funny sealsealer :-)  If you are paddling by, stop by and grab a glass.  I will take over the fillering - I of course will do a better job than you - just kidding.  

I have tried the French Rabbit tetra-pacs.  I was far from impressed by the quality of wine and by day 3-4 and some fairly rough travel the containers were beginning to seep.  Not really a full leak, but some wine escaping around the edges.  I think the Chateau l' Cardboard (five litre boxes) produce better selection for quality wine and a more durable container.

For what it is worth.

Park

My paddling partner and I always enjoy a glass of merlot with dinner when doing paddling trips into the backcountry. I can't say that I really enjoy the boxed variety so we will buy a few good bottles and transfer it from the bottle into a 1 liter platypus. The trick is to squeeze the air out so the wine does not start to turn.
flp

We bring in wine every year.  Typically 4 - 6 litres.  I know it sounds like a lot but there are usually 4 of us!

For us the key is good young wine.  We like vintages a 4 + years younger than the trip so last year we brought in some 2000's and one 2001.   Younger vintages take longer to oxidize so a good full bota with no air can last all week no problem.  We had a couple of hearty zins last year that peaked the second week for sure.  Or maybe that was just us peaking trying to finish before the end of the trip;D flpaddler is right - keeping the air out as long as you can is crucial - another trick to this is to go to William Sanoma or such and you can buy a device to take the air out of your storage container.  

To be sure reds are heavy for fish but few things are better than a clear calm sunset in the Q, a stomach full of trout and a half full bota of something nice ;)  ;D

Don't know bout the rabbits, but any wine stored in a good quality bladder, such as a Platypus, will do a great job keeping wine safe and drinkable. As the wine is consumed, the bladder shrinks, keeping air out.

We have had pretty good results with decanting younger red wines into Nalgene bottles the night before we put in.  Because we have four in our party, we finish one bottle with dinner and don't have to worry about the air factor since the Nalgenes travel full.  We have found that a fish stringer can make a very attractive hanging wine cellar! Smoking Loon cab is appropriate for the setting and we have also found Cline Red Truck or Rosenblum Zin to hold up well.  Nothing nicer at the end of a day's paddle than a good meal with a nice glass of wine.  

Hey Cranberry,  we must have the same taste in wine,  I love Banrock Station and Black Box.  It's gotta be Cabernet.    ;D  Kim

I've always brought dehydrated wine into the back country - BRANDY ;D  Last year we took a parents w/no kids trip with three couples (left the kids with grand parents).  We brought a box of margareta.  Wooo Wee - we forgot our lessons of moderation that night.  The portages were twice as long the next day.