Cold Chain Wine Shipping – Eluding the Elements
“Weather” or not to use cold chain shipping
Each harvest season brings something new, and the resulting wines capture that unique moment in time. The weather is a key influence, and once our wines are bottled and ready to enjoy, it must be considered again. Wine is perishable, so extreme temperatures during shipping can damage your investment.
From Grape to Glass – to You
For those who have discovered fine Oregon wine, it is a thing apart – here in Pinot Noir country, we know that this fickle variety requires – and deserves – just as much care and attention at the vine as when it is finally uncorked and enjoyed. So why would shipping be any different?
We’re fortunate enough at REX HILL to be located at the entry to the Willamette Valley, but not everyone can make a winery visit part of their regular jaunt. That doesn’t make you any less stalwart in your dedication to quality wine. And whether your “cellar” is a temperature-controlled, dimly-lit cavern or a humble hall closet, your investment is worth protecting, especially as it makes its journey to you. Enter: cold chain shipping.
Cold Chain Wine Shipping: Wine’s Favorite way to Travel
Once it’s made its journey to the winery, a grape’s transition to becoming wine is defined by many things, but temperature control is key to every step, and it doesn’t stop once it’s in bottle.
What is Cold Chain Shipping?
Cold chain shipping is the transportation of temperature-sensitive products in a consistent and controlled environment – ideal for your wine delivery. For REX HILL’s Pinot Noirs, Rosé, Chardonnays or Sparkling wines, maintaining the right temperature throughout transit is essential to preserving quality and taste.
The Importance of Temperature Control for Wine
The ideal temperature range for storing and shipping wine is between +50°F to 68°F (+10°C to 20°C). Any deviation from this range can lead to accelerated aging, flavor deterioration, and, ultimately, compromised quality. If you’ve ever known the disappointment of trying something amazing in the moment, committing to the purchase, then feeling like it just wasn’t the same at home, then you know what’s at stake!
Winery Shipping: Know your Options
Cold chain shipping services provided by companies like FedEx and UPS offer specialized solutions designed to maintain optimal conditions during transit. They use advanced technologies and specialized packaging to protect wines from exposure that could damage flavor and character, keeping them within the ideal temperature range – riding in style.
Protecting the “Goods”
Whether you’d classify your relationship with wine as a love affair or “getting serious,” at REX HILL, we get it. Creating exceptional wines is a labor of love, a process that begins in the vineyards and continues through meticulous attention to detail through harvest, pressing, aging, bottling, and – you guessed it – shipping. Cold chain wine shipping allows us to ensure that when you order wine, each bottle arrives at its destination in perfect condition, ready to be cellared or savored.