From the cellar to the customer: What needs to be considered when transporting wine.

Wine is not just a drink, it is also an art and a cultural asset. With a product as noble as wine, transportation is crucial to ensure it reaches customers in the best condition. From transporting individual bottles to large containers, there are important aspects that should be considered at every step to maintain the quality of the wines.

Important Factors in Wine Transport

No matter what amount of wine you are dealing with, there are some important factors that should always be kept in mind:

temperature control

First of all, the temperature should always be controlled, as wine is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. The temperature must be kept constant during transport to avoid any loss of quality.
At Vioneers, we therefore temporarily stop shipping when temperatures are extreme. If this happens in mid-summer or winter, we will notify our customers immediately.

As a customer, you should always keep in mind whether you will be at home on the delivery date or on vacation, for example. The wines should never be left in a storage location in the sun, as constant temperatures cannot be guaranteed here. In such cases, it is best to specify your neighbors as an alternative delivery location or contact your wine dealer. Vioneers offers its customers the option of timing the delivery so that the wines are delivered on a suitable desired date. If you have any questions, please take a look at our FAQs on this topic.

tremors

Furthermore, when shipping wine, care should be taken to cushion shocks and vibrations, or better yet, to prevent them altogether. Shocks can cause the wine to oxidize and affect the aromas or damage the wine bottle. Use suitable cushioning materials to minimize shocks during transport.

storage

Storing the wine before shipping is just as important as the transport itself. Our warehouse in Stuttgart is therefore located in suitable cool cellar rooms without direct sunlight. If you have one, we recommend a similar location for storage. You can read more tips on storing wine here .

What happens to the wine when there are large temperature fluctuations?

Large temperature fluctuations can cause the wine to expand and contract. This can allow air to enter the bottle, causing the wine to oxidize and negatively affecting the taste of the wine.

It can also cause the wine to release its aromas more quickly, which can lead to a loss of complex flavors and nuances. Low temperatures, on the other hand, can slow the release of aromas, making the wine flat and unbalanced.

In addition to the two effects mentioned above, cork damage can also occur. Fluctuations can cause the cork to shrink and expand. This can lead to the cork no longer sealing properly and air entering the bottle, which in turn leads to oxidation or can spoil the wine.

Last but not least, extreme heat can cause wine to age and deteriorate faster. This can be particularly problematic when it comes to a wine that still needs to be stored to develop its best qualities.

Different types of wine transport

As with all other food products, there are different shipping options for wine depending on the quantity.

If you order a single bottle of wine, there are special individual boxes that we also use at Vioneers. These must be sufficiently padded to prevent damage.
If more than one bottle is ordered, we use boxes of 3, 6 or 12. Our catering customers usually receive their orders on pallets, as these are larger quantities.

When wine is exported in large quantities, it is transported in containers. This is the case, for example, when overseas wineries ship their wine to Europe. Special precautions are required in terms of temperature control and shock absorption, as the transport takes longer.

Conclusion

Transporting wine is an art in itself. Whether you are sending individual bottles or entire containers, the right packaging and care when handling the wine are crucial. At Vioneers, we attach great importance to ensuring that our customers receive their wine in the best condition, and that is why our transport and storage processes are thought through down to the smallest detail. If you have any further questions, please contact us by email or by phone on our service number: +49 7191 2206 085.