Though boxed wine may still not have the cachet of glass and cork, there is a new series of Sicilian sippers that are helping to stem the stemless tide.
Alileo Wines uses viticultural traditions that go back generations to make wines that fit the modern palates and proclivities. The hand-harvested grapes are turned into wines that are 100% unfiltered, organic, and both gluten- and sugar-free, allowing every sip to be fresh, fruity, and free of the pesticides and other chemicals that plague so many other wines. And as they come in recyclable boxes that are easier to ship and keep more wine fresher longer, the wines are as good for the environment as they are for your favorite oenophile!
Whether or not you have experienced them at their popular pop-ups in Boston’s Seaport District, at Caffe Nero at Legacy Place in Dedham, MA, or at Tuscan Village in NH, Alileo have surely been getting around and are popping up at restaurants and homes all over.
Among the bold boxes are a light and fruity Zibibbo Macerato, a dry and floral Young Grillo, a full-bodied, fruity, and tannic Syrah, and a darkly different Rosato Bronzato made from Syrah grapes with notes of cherry and red fruit.
Crafted in Sicily by a family that still clings to Old World ways, the wine is brought to the States and into the 21st century by a husband-and-wife who started the winery to fulfill a family member’s last wish.
Though they also sell shirts on their website (www.alileowines.com) that maintain that “boxed wine is not a crime,” Alileo also has sparkling wines made from the same organic grapes that come in bottles as well. They also have a wine club that sends you reminders to get more wine instead of forcing it into your mailbox. In the final analysis, however, it’s what’s inside and behind the wines that counts and Alileo is a great wine with a great story!