Wine logistics require real know-how. Its fragility is primarily due to its packaging in glass bottles, which increases the risk of breakage. What's more, the taste of this living product can change (for better or worse) under certain storage conditions. Its transport temperature must be controlled throughout the supply chain to ensure that its quality and taste properties are not altered. Thelogistics company handling this particular type of shipment must therefore have specific knowledge, a skilled workforce and the right equipment. Here are 8 fundamental requirements for optimizing the transport of wine and spirits.
1. Maintain correct temperature during transport and storage
In a cellar, bottles of wine flourish thanks to a certain coolness. Even if the temperature varies from one season to the next, the change is never abrupt. A transport vehicle must therefore reproduce the same conditions of preservation to protect the product from any alteration.
The temperature appreciated by wines and spirits varies between 12 and 16°C. The delivery method must therefore be equipped with a device to measure and regulate the temperature, avoiding any sudden changes. This guarantees quality of service for consumers and respect for the work of wine professionals.
2. Choosing the right packaging
Once packaged in glass bottles, wine can be transported in two main types of packaging: cartons and crates. This choice is crucial, since it must ensure resistance to shocks and vibrations during transport. Breakage during transit not only results in the loss of a bottle, but also causes the liquid to spill out. This damages the carton and the labels on the other bottles.
So it's important to choose packaging that protects the goods during transport, handling and storage. In addition to being sturdy, it must be resistant to humidity. Logistical cushioning using cardboard trays or sheets is recommended for wine deliveries. It separates bottles from each other and prevents them from colliding.
3. Position wine bottles correctly during each journey
The horizontal position is ideal for wine bottle storage. It helps maintain contact between the liquid and the cork. The aim? To prevent the cork from drying out and shrinking, which can lead to rapid oxidation of the wine.
If a bottle is stable in a cellar or warehouse, it is constantly being shaken in a delivery vehicle. Lying horizontally, the wine is constantly bouncing against the cork. And this is very bad for its preservation. During transport, it's best to keep the wine upright, with the cork facing upwards. This is why cartons containing alcoholic beverages are marked "transport this side up". They indicate the direction of origin in which they should be positioned.
Transporting grands crus such as Bordeaux wine is more complex. As in a bottle crate, the bottles are packed in cardboard boxes or wooden crates and laid horizontally. There is no indication of which way the containers should be placed. When the temperature is perfectly controlled and the journey is not too long, this is not a problem. But in extreme cases, handlers have to open the crates and return the bottles to their upright position to guarantee safe delivery.
4. Select the right loading and unloading mode
If the number of wine cartons to be delivered is small, loading should be carried out on the opposite side to the exhaust pipe. Located under the trunk, the exhaust pipe transmits high levels of heat to the interior of even the best insulated vehicles.
In the case of full loads, on the other hand, the crates should be insulated with a good insulator, such as polystyrene or polyurethane sheets. Covering the goods with a thick blanket offers even more protection. This helps to maintain the initial temperature for as long as possible.
5. Protecting wine from temperature variations during long-distance transport
A prolonged stop in direct sunlight can destroy the quality of your wine. This is why it's essential to choose a shady spot on the freeway. If the journey is very long and the driver needs to rest, it's essential to park the cargo in a covered parking lot. This also applies to holidaymakers who return from their stay with a bottle of vintage wine as a souvenir.
Wine is just as resistant to high temperatures as it is to very low ones. In periods of extreme cold, this living material can freeze. This can cause bottles to burst. There's also the risk of corks popping out of the necks. Vertical positioning can save the day, keeping the liquid inside the bottles (if they don't explode). To recover the product, long chambering is necessary. However, this is no guarantee of maintaining good quality.
Transporting wine by sea requires that the cargo be placed in an air-conditioned container. The container must also be fitted with a permanent temperature recording system. The aim is to check on arrival that there is no risk of deterioration. Indeed, delivery by ship can expose wines and spirits to a number of dangers:
- lasting exposure to the tropical climate on the ship's deck;
- storage in bunkers overheated by machines ;
- a long wait on the docks before the freighter's departure.
7. Careful unloading of wine boxes
On arrival, the wine bottles must be unloaded as quickly as possible. They should then be stored in a cool, damp cellar or warehouse. Immediate placement in a horizontal position is then necessary to allow the liquid to regain contact with the cork. This prevents the cork from drying out, which causes more problems than the effect of heat on the wine.
6. Last-mile logistics
Delivery in urban areas is often a constraint. For a fragile product that does not tolerate stagnation or temperature variations, traffic jams can be a real hazard. That's why it's so important to anticipate the problems associated with last-mile logistics. This means organizing pick-up and delivery rounds properly, taking into account times when traffic is free-flowing, and using modes of transport suited to city centers.
Working with a network of partners gives us access to urban logistics platforms. It also means having a wide choice of transport vehicles to facilitate the delivery of bottles to the end consumer.
8. Allow to rest before tasting
The journey is a tiring ordeal for the wine. It needs three to four weeks' rest to regain its original shape. A grand cru will require several years of patience to mature and blossom.
If you're in a hurry, you can stabilize your wine at a temperature of 4 to 8°C (in the refrigerator for private customers) for 1 to 3 hours. Then return it to a temperature suitable for tasting, between 11 and 14°C. Is it an old vintage? Prolong its stay in the fridge a little longer.
9. Use a professional wine and spirits transporter
The last piece of advice we can give you is to choose your wine transporter carefully. He or she will be responsible for maintaining the quality of your fragile product, which requires advanced skills and specific equipment.
D&figroupe offers you an adapted and specific service. We give special treatment to wines and spirits to preserve all their initial taste properties. You can rely on our extensive network of logistics partners to find tailor-made solutions, taking into account all your needs and constraints. What's more, our customs service will assist you with the administrative and legal formalities involved in the international transport of your wines and spirits.
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