Most people are of the notion that wine doesn’t ship well in the hot summer months…and most people would be correct in that assumption. Wine is perishable and when subjected to even moderately warm temperatures for a short period of time, the results are not good. Heat causes wine to prematurely age, leading to a loss of the intended aromas and flavor. The most common descriptors for wine that has endured some heat damage is that they taste overly jammy, like burnt caramel or even stewed fruits. Generally speaking, those are not the desired outcomes for a bottle of vino that somebody likely paid decent money for. So, is that it — wine refrigerators destined to be barren from May to October because wines can’t handle the heat? Fortunately, there are solutions…
TEMP-CONTROL / COLD-CHAIN SHIPPING
What are these terms and what do they mean? Well, if you are a veteran of shipping wine in the warmer months, these are things you’ve probably heard before. Essentially, they are the same shipping process with names that can be used interchangeably. However, even if you are familiar with the ‘temp-control’ and ‘cold-chain’ terminology as it relates to wine shipping, you might not fully understand the process.
As things start to warm up around the country, the major shipping carriers offer a service that transports wine shipments via a refrigerated truck, or railcar, to a regional distribution hub that is closest to the final destination of the order. Once the wine reaches the distribution hub, the shipment is packed with ice and the “final mile” of the delivery process is carried out through a traditional delivery truck. The idea is that the heavy-lifting portion of each order’s transit journey is done through climate-controlled conditions. Wine shipped through this process is only exposed to potential warm weather for a few hours rather than a few days.
You might be asking “does it work”? Yes, it is pretty effective. However, even the most sophisticated of systems can have potential downsides. With temp-control/cold-chain shipping, transit times to the final destination can be much slower than what we are typically accustomed to. The reason is that these refrigerated modes of transportation usually are dispatched once per week vs. once per day. In addition, tracking information is not accessible until the order reaches a distribution hub — whereas with traditional shipping, tracking information is immediately available once the order is in transit. With the delay in tracking availability, it can make coordinating a final delivery a bit more cumbersome. All of that being said, when it comes to an affordable and reliable summer-shipping solution, this is the way to go.
SLIGHTLY OLD SCHOOL
Another option you could potentially pursue when it comes to shipping wine during the hot summer months is not revolutionary or complicated. If distance and time spent in a sweltering delivery truck is the ultimate enemy for keeping the integrity of wine intact, then it would make sense to limit exposure as much as possible. Expediting orders through overnight or 2-day air shipping really leaves nothing to chance. With overnight shipping, the wine is shipped and delivered to its final destination the next morning (local time) ideally before the hottest parts of the day. For an extra layer of security, expedited shipments can also include ice packets so that the wine inside can stay extra cool.
What is the downside to shipping in this manner? It might be somewhat straightforward, but it comes down to cost. Shipping via air is also going to be expensive, but we at Ricci try to keep our customers’ cost as low as we can. Should you be interested in shipping wine this way, we are always happy to work with you and your budget — and sometimes paying slightly more is worth the peace of mind in knowing that your wine will arrive safe and sound.
WAIT OUT THE HEAT
Maybe it goes without saying, but the most fail-safe method of shipping wine during the blazing, dog-days of Summer is to simply wait until things cool down. Yes, brilliant, we know. Why mention something that is seemingly so obvious? Well, to some, it may seem like a burden for us to hold onto your wine for a prolonged period of time; but if it means keeping your bottles safe and secure and shipping a few months from now versus replacing wine because of heat damage, we definitely choose the former.
Please rest assured that you are not inconveniencing us in the least if we have to hold onto your order for you. We are happy to keep your wine for as long as needed. Ordering wine now and having it held until the scorching summer days are in the rearview mirror is a win-win for all involved. If you absolutely don’t want to wait and need your wine sooner rather than later, the two options outlined above are your best bets. Cheers and stay cool out there!
