The Times Australia
Sunday, April 6, 2025 1:07:41 PM
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

why Australia's love affair with boxed wine endures

  • Written by Adele Wessell, Discipline Chair, Humanities and Social Science, Southern Cross University
why Australia's love affair with boxed wine endures

Boxed wine is one of Australia’s most extraordinary contributions to the wine industry, also known as cardboardeaux, bag-in-box (BiB) or more commonly, goon (from flagon[1]).

Australian winemaker Thomas Angrove patented the design for a one-gallon polyethylene bladder in a cardboard box in 1965, inspired by the ancient method of storing wine in goat skins. The first model required drinkers to cut a corner of the plastic bag and reseal it with a special category peg (used to transport battery acid).

History of goon

Once a tap was designed in the 1970s goon climbed quickly to make up about 50% of wine sales in Australia. In the days when restaurants sold “house wine”, goon was known for being economical above anything else, and convenient, associated more with families on a budget and people on low incomes.

Wine in the ‘70s was still perceived as for special occasions and casks may have helped change that. Thirty years later, between 2004-2014[2], there was a 30% drop in cask sales but a 40% increase in bottled wine during the same decade. As domestic sales had been dropping, the cask concept (and its contents) were also being exported.

Goon has come a long way from its origins and reputation. The visual appeal of the box and the bag has evolved, along with the narrative the wine label[3] communicates about history, geography, identity.

As the environmental benefits of wine in a box have become more important to new consumers, the quality of its contents has also improved. Jilly Wine Company’s Chateau Cardboard Red at $71 for 3 litres, is a long way from the one gallon packs of table white, table red, port, sweet sherry and muscat launched in 1965.

There are good reasons why Australians love goon, and there are strong reasons for the love to grow.

Read more: A taste for terroir: the evolution of the Australian wine label[4]

Why Australia still loves cask wine

Portability

Whether going on a picnic or camping, goon is infinitely easier to transport than glass. It suits a lifestyle.

Lighter packaging also reduces carbon dioxide emissions since most of this during the wine production process is in transportation.

Market research showed cask wine sales jumped by 21% in the four weeks to April 2020. Bernd Juergens

Sustainability

A life cycle analysis of bag-in-box[5] packaging shows it is also more sustainable than glass bottles.

While the plastic – the bag and spigot – can present issues with disposal, the ratio of raw material to the volume of content, manufacturing process, light weight package and transport make it a better choice on environmental grounds, which is why goon is becoming a more popular and global choice.

Pandemic

Market research showed cask wine sales jumped by 21%[6] in the four weeks to April 2020, explained by a combination of people being housebound and concerned about money.

Once purchased, if you are drinking in moderation, you can avoid going out for wine for longer, which during COVID restrictions was safe and convenient.

Longevity

Contrary to popular opinion, goon is not only the choice of people who might want to drink a lot. The vacuum-sealed bag keeps the wine fresh for up to six weeks after it’s opened.

Price

Cheaper wine is taxed less. Wine is taxed on its wholesale value, not its alcohol content, through the Wine Equalisation Tax[7] (WET). This supports a health argument against goon, for serving no interest except the liquor industry[8] when there is much evidence for the damage caused by alcohol. Increased taxes have been found to reduce consumption and alcohol-related harms[9].

Goon doesn’t necessarily equate to cheap wine or a three day growth. The raw material used to produce it also costs less than glass packaging. Apart from Iceland and Norway, Australia has the highest alcohol tax rates among OECD countries[10]. There is a range of implications for wine pricing.

Snobbery and the wine in a bag

Quality is often associated with price, generating stigma around goon (evident in the label). There is a fair amount of snobbery in the wine industry[11].

Wine is both associated with wealth and status (an expensive bottle) and with being poor (goon); age corresponds the same way. What does a teenager know about how fruity lexia or moselle should taste besides sweet? But there is a gap in that argument that spins on a combination of factors – quality, environment, nostalgia, cost, lifestyle. “It took a monumental shift in perceptions of wine to make screwcaps popular and mainstream[12]”, according to professor of wine marketing at the University of South Australia Larry Lockshin.

The average wine consumer associates boxed wine with cheap wine, a stereotype worth dismissing. It’s time our secret love was not so secret anymore.

A life cycle analysis of bag-in-box packaging shows it is also more sustainable than glass bottles. oleschwander

Culinary cringe

Like macadamias, settlers in Australia may be more honest about their love of goon now that it is growing in popularity elsewhere. Boxed wine accounts for about 50% of the wine consumed in Australia, and Norway and Sweden[13]. The French have been boxing Bordeaux since 1997, and 44% of the wine sold in French supermarkets[14] comes in a box.

Youth and nostalgia

Goon hymns, goon-of-fortune and goon bag pillows are still in reach but the quality of wine has matured with us. Brisbane author Edwina Shaw drew on her personal experience in the novel Thrill Seekers (2019)

Our crusade. We wanted to be the coolest, and that meant being able to drink everyone else under the table. So we made a pact to drink a four-litre cask of wine a day, each, until we won. Moselle… We weren’t just any old drinkers – we were the “Goon Babies”.

When I arrived in Brisbane in 1984, the Goon Babies were legends; funny, intelligent, creative thrill-seekers. Shaw’s book also traces self-destruction and loss. I understand the irony of writing in such a cavalier way about the goon we could afford as students. But it would be snobby and ageist to suggest packaging alone maketh the wine or the issues that might drive us to drink, or that alcohol problems are the preserve of the poor and young.

Gen X goon drinkers are now in their 40s and 50s, and many of us won’t be able to stomach Moselle. We have to come to terms with the fact wine in a bag also can’t be aged.

But, as Colin Alevras, sommelier at New York restaurant DBGB’s put it, “The wine bottle is late-18th century technology. It’s time to move on”.

Read more https://theconversation.com/cardboardeaux-bag-in-box-and-goon-why-australias-love-affair-with-boxed-wine-endures-171484

The Times Features

RCD Installation: Why It's Essential for Electrical Safety

Electricity is a powerful force that powers almost every aspect of our modern lives, but it can also be hazardous if not handled properly. Electrical hazards like electric shocks...

Why a Garage Shed is the Perfect Addition to Your Property

The most straightforward and most wholesome extension for any property. A garage shed is a potential solution for you, whether you are looking for an additional space for storage...

Revitalising Homes Through Strategic Architectural Renewal

Residential window replacement is one of the few home improvement interventions that goes far beyond simple aesthetic upgrades. Door frames and windows constitute these vital archi...

The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Speech Therapy For Children

Speech therapy has long been a standard for supporting children’s communication and emotional development. But what happens when you introduce a furry friend into the process? Th...

The Hidden Dangers of Blocked Drains and the Ultimate Solution for a Hassle-Free Home

Drain blockages are a big hassle to every homeowner and business owner alike. Whether it is a sink in the kitchen or bathroom, a clogged toilet, or a foul smell circulating aroun...

Understanding the Dangers of Ignoring a Gas Leak

Gas leaks are silent threats lurking within both homes and workplaces. A gas leak occurs when natural gas or any other gaseous substance escapes from a pipeline or containment. T...

Times Magazine

CWU Assistive Tech Hub is Changing Lives: Win a Free Rollator Walker This Easter!

🌟 Mobility. Independence. Community. All in One. This Easter, the CWU Assistive Tech Hub is pleased to support the Banyule community by giving away a rollator walker. The giveaway will take place during the Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt & Ma...

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

How AI-Driven SEO Enhancements Can Improve Headless CMS Content Visibility

Whereas SEO (search engine optimization) is critical in the digital landscape for making connections to content, much of it is still done manually keyword research, metatags, final tweaks at publication requiring a human element that takes extensiv...

Crypto Expert John Fenga Reveals How Blockchain is Revolutionising Charity

One of the most persistent challenges in the charity sector is trust. Donors often wonder whether their contributions are being used effectively or if overhead costs consume a significant portion. Traditional fundraising methods can be opaque, with...

Navigating Parenting Arrangements in Australia: A Legal Guide for Parents

Understanding Parenting Arrangements in Australia. Child custody disputes are often one of the most emotionally charged aspects of separation or divorce. Parents naturally want what is best for their children, but the legal process of determining ...

Blocky Adventures: A Minecraft Movie Celebration for Your Wrist

The Minecraft movie is almost here—and it’s time to get excited! With the film set to hit theaters on April 4, 2025, fans have a brand-new reason to celebrate. To honor the upcoming blockbuster, watchfaces.co has released a special Minecraft-inspir...

LayBy Shopping