Wine is sensitive to high temperatures, and that makes shipping it during the summer months extra tricky. Even if a bottle never passes through what we typically think of as the “hotter” states, the temperature in a carrier truck during the summer can be high enough to ruin a bottle for the end consumer.
We’ve written about the various options for summer shipping many times before. But we realize that, with so many options and strategies available, it might not be clear how to start thinking about the problem, let alone discovering what will work for your wine club or DTC channel.
So, we asked some of our experts: What do you think is the most important thing to remember when it comes to summer wine shipping?
Here are their top three tips.
Tip #1: Get a Weather Strategy in Place for Wine Shipping
We might not know exactly when a warm front is going to roll in, but we do know that one will come around eventually. So plan ahead and get your weather strategy in place.
“If a warm front is coming, decide early if you are going to want to use ice packs/express shipping or if you are going to place certain states on weather hold until it cools off,” suggests Amanda Castorena, Account Executive here at Copper Peak.
In other words, choose something—because having a plan in place, any plan, is better than no plan at all.
Tip #2: Consider FedEx Cold Chain for Summer Shipping Needs
The FedEx Cold Chain is a great option for wineries to ensure that their products are not compromised en-route because of heat.
Basically, packages are picked up by FedEx Supply Chain Transportation and delivered to their consolidation point. From there, packages are then placed on temperature-controlled line haul trucks and delivered to FedEx hub locations around the country. Cold chain can be used in conjunction with FedEx Delivery Manager or FedEx “Hold at Location” (HAL) services.
“[FedEx Cold Chain] is especially nice if any of our customers are concerned about weather,” says Mike Galvan, our Senior Account Manager. “It provides a great alternative to ice packs.”
Tip #3: Communicate with Customers
Communication with customers is always key, and that goes double when there might be shipping delays due to the weather.
“The sooner you have your plan in place, the easier it will be for your winery to communicate what is going on to your customers when there is a delay,” says Castorena. “They will likely be asking about lead times and delays anyway, so it’s better to have your message ready to go.”
It also helps to communicate to your customers about the potential risks associated with shipping during hot weather—and do so both before and after they have placed the order. When customers understand that you are safeguarding their product, they are often much more willing to tolerate a short delay. Wine enthusiasts care about wine safety!
Just Get Started
Again, there are many options for protecting your products, or at least holding them until the heat dies down. Which you choose will depend on how strict your shipping schedule is, and if your customers are okay with waiting out the summer heat.
But equally as important as which method you choose, is the fact that you plan ahead. Need help working through the options and contingencies? Talk to your Copper Peak partners today.