'Tis the season for holiday parties! I'm bringing the food and beverages to a cookie exchange this week, and I've decided to make some mulled wine for the occasion. Wine people tell you when you're cooking with wine or using it as a base for other drinks, you still want something drinkable, and I absolutely agree with that. But I wouldn't waste a $20 bottle in a heated, spiked drink or on a big crowd of party-goers. Instead, I turn to box wine as the ideal party wine. Why?- Box wine is inexpensive (around $20 for the equivalent of four bottles), and the quality has gotten much, much better over the years.
- Boxes are lightweight, easier to transport, and greener than glass bottles, so when you're serving in quantity, those numbers add up.
- Box wines stay fresh for a month after opening because of the vacuum seal, unlike bottles, which should be refrigerated and drunk within 3 days if possible.
Here are a few decent box wines to try:
Bota Box Pinot Grigio or Shiraz ($16)
Black Box Merlot or Shiraz ($22)
Banrock Station Chardonnay or Shiraz ($19)
My mulled wine recipe is after the jump.
While you're thinking about what to serve for this holiday season, here's something else to think about: AOL Food's 
With all the holidays coming up, we here at Slashfood want to help you celebrate and share some recipes with you. Hot or cold they're all good, and just the thing to put you in a party mood. Some of my favorites are hot drinks like mulled cider with rum and mulled wine. They're easy to make and you can control how strong they are, so you don't get obliterated at the beginning of your party, or fall asleep on your guests late at night.
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