Like mini-fridges, pizza and all-nighters, boxed wine is pretty much a college staple. You need something classy to accompany the Spaghetti-Os you’re about to serve your dinner guests, but your bank account balance is hovering precipitously close to zero – enter boxed wine. A good boxed wine should taste like it came from a bottle, and if you strategically conceal it in your fridge, your guests will be none the wiser.

Inglenook Rhine$9.49 for 3 Liters

This wine claims to be “carbon efficient” (thumbs up, I guess?) and also gains points for its taste. Sweet enough to pass for apple juice, this is a refreshing wine to drink without a meal – it could easily overwhelm food and is best left for after-dinner sipping. But take caution: its lack of alcohol taste might make it a little too drinkable. And after more than two glasses, Iglenook’s finnicky twist-open nozzle could become a formidable challenge.Grade: B

Franzia Chardonnay$12.99 for 5 Liters

Franzia is the Busch Light of boxed wines: a tried-and-true party favorite that no one would enjoy in any other context. It yearns to break free of its cardboard confines and be chugged, ideally, straight from the bag (or served in coffee mugs because your roommate broke all two of your wine glasses). Perfect for those nights when you want to cling to some modicum of class while still getting hammered, Franzia should never be served for its taste. Try pairing The Franz with Lady Gaga karaoke and some bad decisions.Grade: C-

Black Box Pinot Grigio$21.99 for 3 Liters

Black Box’s sleek design and push-button serving spout immediately set it apart as the highest-brow boxed wine of the three sampled. It practically says, “I may be in college, but I still have good taste,” even when stored in a fridge stocked solely with condiments. Taste-wise, it could pass for a bottle on sale at D&D; dry and tasty enough to serve with a meal. Impressive and worth the extra cash!Grade: A-