OWC - Original Wood Cases

[Andy Velebil]

Most VP's and SQVP's come in wood boxes for ease of storing and shipping. I admit to loving these heavy yet very sturdy containers and using many of them to keep my precious bottles in. However, the more wine I collect and thus need to store (which translated means I have to pick up and move them around in my cellar) the more I tend to discard them and use lighter 6-pack cardboard boxes that also take up less space. That said, I am glad more and more producers are switching to smaller and lighter 6-pack wood cases instead of the traditional large and heavy 12-bottle ones. The newer 6-pack ones seem to take up less overall space and are far easier to pick up and move without feeling like I'm going to throw out my back. Now I don't always toss out the unused boxes, but often reuse them at home to store DVD's (The Vesuvio ones are perfect for this), or other things in the garage.

So my questions are, do you like these heavy wood boxes that Port comes in and what do you do with them? Do you keep them, do you reuse them as flower pots once empty, once empty do you reuse them to store other bottles, do you toss them and put the bottles into some other type of lighter storage medium, use them as fire wood (preferably without the bottles still inside), or something else entirely??

[Derek T.]

If I have bottles that I want to put into off-site storage I re-use them. If not, I chop them up and use them for kindling on my garden fire.

I am glad more and more producers are switching to smaller and lighter 6-pack wood cases instead of the traditional large and heavy 12-bottle ones. The newer 6-pack ones seem to take up less overall space and are far easier to pick up and move without feeling like I'm going to throw out my back.

I'm no mathematician, but isn't that just because the are half the size and only contain half as many bottles?

[Moses Botbol]

I store all of my port in them and take out bottles as needed. I would like to see the heavy OWC continue as is. I can't think of a think about vintage port and how it's presented that I would change. 6 pack OWC's are nice and welcome as vintage port is quite expensive for current release and maybe a 6 pack is all most can afford for any one purchase.

[Eric Menchen]

The 6 packs are great. I've yet to buy a full case of anything, but I've bought many sixers. And when I've managed to get an OWC, I keep it, and reuse it. I put overstock in them. I do have on twelve OWC, a 2007 Noval that has six Noval and six Silval in it. It's heavy, but I don't plan to move it too often, or open it for a good while anyway. The Silval will be earlier drinkers, but I have at least one not in the OWC to evaluate in a few years.

[Al B.]

I like wooden cases. For storage and handling, I prefer the 6 bottle case but for re-use I (at least my other half) much prefers the 12 bottle cases.

In the house, we have a couple of Vesuvio boxes which we use to store CDs and DVDs - and the first full case that I ever bought, a case of Fonseca 1966 that I sanded, varnished and added brass hinges, latch and castors.

However, most of the old cases get used in the garden as planters. They get filled with soil and used to grow vegetables, salad and flowers. The preference is for 12 bottle cases, but even single bottle wooden boxes get used for seedlings. Each case lasts 2-3 years before falling apart - when it gets torn apart and used for kindling.

[Andy Velebil]

If I have bottles that I want to put into off-site storage I re-use them. If not, I chop them up and use them for kindling on my garden fire.

I am glad more and more producers are switching to smaller and lighter 6-pack wood cases instead of the traditional large and heavy 12-bottle ones. The newer 6-pack ones seem to take up less overall space and are far easier to pick up and move without feeling like I'm going to throw out my back.

I'm no mathematician, but isn't that just because the are half the size and only contain half as many bottles?

Two newer 6-packs seem to be overall smaller than the old 12-bottle ones. Especially older Dow cases that were HUGE to say the least.

[Peter W. Meek]

This talk of destroying OWC makes me cringe. I have wooden whiskey boxes that my father acquired and saved for general storage when he was a child (1920s). Still in excellent condition. I also have wooden cases that my grandfather bought his shotgun shells in, also in great shape. There is a great need for sturdy storage boxes (why else would plastic tote boxes be a major industry?) and it is sad to see a box destroyed that could be useful for a century.

I would drive 100 miles to pick up a decent collection of unwanted OWC, but probably not 1000 miles.

[Andy Velebil]

This talk of destroying OWC makes me cringe. I have wooden whiskey boxes that my father acquired and saved for general storage when he was a child (1920s). Still in excellent condition. I also have wooden cases that my grandfather bought his shotgun shells in, also in great shape. There is a great need for sturdy storage boxes (why else would plastic tote boxes be a major industry?) and it is sad to see a box destroyed that could be useful for a century.

I would drive 100 miles to pick up a decent collection of unwanted OWC, but probably not 1000 miles.

If you happen to get lost or just wanted to go on an extended drive to the southwest, let me know, I've got plenty for you to have.

[Peter W. Meek]

This talk of destroying OWC makes me cringe. I have wooden whiskey boxes that my father acquired and saved for general storage when he was a child (1920s). Still in excellent condition. I also have wooden cases that my grandfather bought his shotgun shells in, also in great shape. There is a great need for sturdy storage boxes (why else would plastic tote boxes be a major industry?) and it is sad to see a box destroyed that could be useful for a century.

I would drive 100 miles to pick up a decent collection of unwanted OWC, but probably not 1000 miles.

If you happen to get lost or just wanted to go on an extended drive to the southwest, let me know, I've got plenty for you to have.

I don't expect to be that far west anytime soon. But you might see if any schools or preschools in your area are looking for such a thing. Maybe a recycle/reuse center.

[Derek T.]

This talk of destroying OWC makes me cringe. I have wooden whiskey boxes that my father acquired and saved for general storage when he was a child (1920s). Still in excellent condition. I also have wooden cases that my grandfather bought his shotgun shells in, also in great shape. There is a great need for sturdy storage boxes (why else would plastic tote boxes be a major industry?) and it is sad to see a box destroyed that could be useful for a century.

I would drive 100 miles to pick up a decent collection of unwanted OWC, but probably not 1000 miles.

I actually feel (quite rightly) reprimanded by this. It's that feeling you had as a kid when your parent told you off for doing something naughty and, knowing they were right, you couldn't think of anything to say in your defense.

I hereby promise that each time I find myself with an empty OWC I will select one of the dozens of cardboard boxes full of junk in my garage and replace it with the OWC and then place the cardboard in the re-cycling bin.

[Peter W. Meek]

I hereby promise that each time I find myself with an empty OWC I will select one of the dozens of cardboard boxes full of junk in my garage and replace it with the OWC and then place the cardboard in the re-cycling bin.

Your children and grand-children (or the antique collectors who pick through "all that crap that grandpa had in the garage") will thank you.

I may be the last one in my family who keeps things like the old wooden boxes and the things that were stored in them 70 years ago. My daughter prefers a more Zen-like clearness and simplicity in her life. I expect that when I'm gone, someone will have a field-day going through boxes, taking a quick look, and saying "toss that" (but maybe "keep the box") to nearly everything.

[Marc J.]

I must say that I really like the heavy. sturdy 12 bottle OWC. That being said, I typically use them to store wine in my off-site and I also have a few in my in-house cellar. I have also found that the smaller lighter cardboard modern cases are far easier to move around and deal with. Going forward I only keep OWCs from older vintages (pre-1980) and toss the rest. I now realize that I'm going to need to repurpose them (thanks Peter!) for some other use rather than just chopping them up.

[Peter W. Meek]

Then again, there is a pernicious development that should be discouraged wherever possible.

I have recently received a nice, middle-weight Italian Merlot in a sort of OWC. It is made from 5mm plywood, with strips of sheet metal fastened with staples to form the corners. Totally useless as to æsthestics, unpleasant as a general purpose container, fairly useless as kindling, and extremely difficult to dismantle for disposal.

Tell your wine merchants that use of such a case is grounds for finding another wine, and perhaps another merchant.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Over the years I have collected unwanted wooden boxes from liquor outlets and use them to store my wine and ports. The port boxes of course are used for port bottles and all the others for wines. I can never get enough of them and invariably have had to resort to using cardboard cartons. It is here that the six-pack is useful as they seem to be stronger, and last longer, than the usual full size carton.

I cannot recall throwing out any wooden boxes. The few that have come apart due to wear and tear have been donated to friends for firewood and kindling.

Cheers.......Mahmoud.

[Roy Hersh]

Good to see the OWC topic raise its head again, as it made for a fun read. It would be fun to glue all the OWC topics together into one long thread at some point as opinions on both sides of the pond have evolved over the years.

[oscarquevedo]

And in the producer point of is also interesting to see what people think about Port in wood / cardboard boxes. We have all our Vintage Port available in wood boxes, but we always ask if the importer wants all the batch in wood cases or if some can go in cardboard, so at least we save some trees. If part of it goes to shelf, at least part of the wood boxes are going to be destroyed.

[Eric Menchen]

... in wood cases or if some can go in cardboard, so at least we save some trees. If part of it goes to shelf, at least part of the wood boxes are going to be destroyed.

Well, cardboard and OWC both come from trees, don't they? I guess the cardboard, however, is a little more indirect and may have more recycled content.

One of my local b&m stores puts the empty OWCs on the tops of the racks. When I buy enough bottles I ask for one of those to take with me. So while they do unpack the OWCs to put bottles out on the floor, those aren't necessarily destroyed.

[Moses Botbol]

I like cardboard over the wood so I get both. Bring back the hay bottle liners!

[Andy Velebil]

I like wood, but I prefer six pack wood cases. Much easier on the back to lift, move, and store. And they seem to take up slightly less space than some of the 12 pack ones...some of the Dow's 12 pack wood cases are just huge.

[oscarquevedo]

Well, cardboard and OWC both come from trees, don't they? I guess the cardboard, however, is a little more indirect and may have more recycled content.

Right Eric, both come from wood, but a 6-bottle cardboard box weights 0,2kg while a wood box weights 2kg!

In any case, the solution of your local store is pretty reasonable!