The Auswine Forum

do you buy wine by mail order this time of year? it seems there are a lot of wines released at this time when it is very hot and I would think it is not good to have wine sitting in the back of a delivery van for a couple of days.

Most will hold them until the cooler months (I am in Brisbane). If they don't - don't buy. Our esteemed host Gavin also holds wine until cooler times so check if he has what you're after.

Cheers

Michael

It's good to see that more retailers are becoming concerned about heat during transport. I once waited 4 months for a delivery, and that was preferable to receiving baked wine.

I've often wondered about wines transported from the northern hemisphere to OZ and vise versa. I assume most are sent by ship but wonder about temperature control in vicinity to the equator. Are they shipped in a temperature controlled environment?

Chuck wrote:I've often wondered about wines transported from the northern hemisphere to OZ and vise versa. I assume most are sent by ship but wonder about temperature control in vicinity to the equator. Are they shipped in a temperature controlled environment?

Good importers will use refrigerated containers (aka: reefers) to transport wine from overseas.
[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerated_container[/url]

Fraser from Sami Odi doesn't send the wines till May. Almost sure I ordered in January.

As others have said, most half decent retailers will hold it until the temperature drops and as Michael said - if you are worried about it, or the retailer won't hold it - don't buy.

I do often wonder why wineries put out mailing lists in the middle of summer though.....

Cheers
Ian

ticklenow1 wrote:I do often wonder why wineries put out mailing lists in the middle of summer though.....

Maybe trying to move stock to help free up space for new vintage wine that doesn't spend much time in vats etc or maybe trying to generate some cash flow to cover some expenses like?

Dunno, I only drink the stuff so don't have a great appreciation of the operational side of things other than it's crazy hours during vintage with all sorts of things going on.

Ozzie W wrote:

Chuck wrote:I've often wondered about wines transported from the northern hemisphere to OZ and vise versa. I assume most are sent by ship but wonder about temperature control in vicinity to the equator. Are they shipped in a temperature controlled environment?

Good importers will use refrigerated containers (aka: reefers) to transport wine from overseas.
[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerated_container[/url]

Many importers don't with new technology insulation. I've argued with a number and I only use reefers.

I've always had a bone to pick with Rockford. I reckon by the time the wines get north they've had a baking. Even Adelaide, their pick up times can see the wines left in the Aussie Post warehouse over the weekend. I always pick them up though am missing vintages now as the motivation to get to CD not as high as once upon a time.

Unless you're driving the vino home yourself what assurances do you have? Unless there's a temp gauge in said delivery truck or 'reefer' (reefer means something else to me but anyways) that can be monitored 24/7 from your phone there is a unknown risk element.
Recently a mate of mine received some vino that a few of us had chipped in on and it was delivered in the middle of Jan in the blistering Adelaide heat. 46+. Seriously. He said the wine came in fridge truck and was cool to the touch. We had joked pre delivery that maybe we should just ask the driver to sling it on the porch.As long as it's in the shade no worries!
End of the day there's never a 100% guarantee. I don't mind getting Quaffers at any time but the more expensive stuff I really like to try and get it myself if possible. The Wendouree mailer is always delivered in the depths of winter which is a good thing. But I've seen inside those little delivery vans and noticed boxes have clearly been bumping and bouncing around. Harmful?
Whenever I've been concerned about heat or whatever Ive set up an esky with ice packs and tea towels and created a cool place for the wine to be stored. Great in the warmer months if you're taste hopping and don't want to worry about a 30-45 min tasting session while the previous winery purchases are waiting in the car.

Scotty vino wrote: ... I've seen inside those little delivery vans and noticed boxes have clearly been bumping and bouncing around. Harmful?

Many years ago the American wine magazine Wine Spectator decided to test the shaken and disturbed theory by conducting a test. They used a mechanical device to shake one bottle and compared it to an identical bottle that lay undisturbed. The result of the tasting was that the two wines were indistinguishable.

The article notwithstanding, I would still prefer a wine to have rested at home for a few weeks before opening.

Mahmoud.

Scotty vino wrote:Unless you're driving the vino home yourself what assurances do you have? Unless there's a temp gauge in said delivery truck or 'reefer' (reefer means something else to me but anyways) that can be monitored 24/7 from your phone there is a unknown risk element

Scotty that was my point with Rockford. I like to pick them up myself.

Reefers are monitored 24/7 and insured if dealing with a professional merchant . I have been contacted by UK merchants when a reefer failed. I was shown the temperature charts and offered full refund or I could take the stock. I opted for refund. Another time a reefer wasn't connected- same !