If you’re skipping the high expectations (and potential crushing disappointment) of a clichéd “romantic date” on February 14 in favor of hosting a soirée with your female friends, you’re all but guaranteed to have fun — especially when the wine starts flowing. But instead of placing bottles on the table next to the bouquet you bought for yourself, set out boxes of wine. You heard us.
A new-ish brand that’s delicious in the glass also comes in a package that’s pretty enough to hold its own next to your fancy stemware and table linens: Juliet.
Founders Allison Luvera and Lauren De Niro Pipher wanted to share their passion for wine while elevating the boxed wine category and showing a true commitment to sustainability. Juliet wine is packaged in an Eco-magnum, a cylinder made from recycled cardboard into which is stuffed a pouch filled with two 750ml bottles of wine. The large format and airtight spout keep the vino fresh for up to 6 weeks (not that you and your gal pals would ever dream of holding onto it that long), and the silk corded handle makes it easy to tote to your get-together — whether it’s at your friend’s urban loft or a picnic in the park.
The company currently makes three expressions priced at $45.99 each, all using grapes sourced from a Certified California Sustainable Winery in the Central Coast. Sauvignon blanc (in a sunny yellow box) is produced with grapes from the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara, with aromas of Meyer lemon, honeydew melon, ripe pear and a touch of grassiness; serve it with goat cheese spread on toasted baguette slices topped with a dollop of lemon curd. Pinot noir (in a royal blue package) is a classic expression of the variety, with red cherry, raspberry, savory spicy and a smooth mouthfeel; it’s a great match for mushroom flatbread or filet mignon skewers.
But let’s face it: You and your girlies probably want to drink pink that evening. Juliet rosé is made from grenache sourced from the Las Olivos and Edna Valley AVAs. Light in style and inspired by Provence, it has notes of strawberry, watermelon and freesia; try it alongside smoked salmon, crème fraîche and caviar on crackers, or with freshly-shucked oysters. It comes in a gorgeous pale salmon cylinder that’s perfect to re-gift to hold a scarf, candle or another nicety for your BFF when she hosts the next ladies’ gathering.
After all, who needs a Romeo?
