Arghhh...shipping into the heat wave

I was overly confident and ordered my last big pre-summer shipment recently. So I have three cases, including some mid 1990s Bordeaux and Cali cabs, coming into Washington DC on Friday afternoon. Predicted high temps now: 85 degrees tomorrow, 79 degrees Friday. FML, as the kids say.

Reassure me, fellow Berserkers…how badly screwed up is this. THe thing I hate about heat is that unless there is seepage you never really know if serious damage has been done. The good thing: all these guys are drinkers and I don’t intend any of them to still be sitting there even a year from now.

coming from?
Mode: 2nd day. ground?

2nd day air from NY.

Maybach shipped on Monday 2nd day and I forgot it was coming today. 81 degrees here in sunny Chicago. It’s hanging out at the depot for me to pick it up in an hour. I hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

Kind of bummed as they have been forecasting this weather for well over a week. I’m not in a hurry for the wine.

Should be fine.

I wouldn’t worry about it in the slightest. Add 10+ degrees to that, with the wine stuck in a warehouse over the weekend or something, then maybe it’s an issue, but what you described sounds completely harmless to me.

Ditto for Craig B.

Same thing for me here. I was able to re-schedule for today before it left the warehouse, but just came home and nothing ever showed up. I just got off the phone with GSO who said they couldn’t deliver because there is a security gate ( that’s why there’s a phone so I can buzz you in). I’m leaving tonight for a few days so this sucks.

I still have a couple of orders yet to ship (Cabot, Big Basin, Mount Eden) I live in the desert and the window is seriously closing!

+1

I think people get way too worked up over this for the most part. “OMG, the temp is going to be 71 (or 81, take your pick) today! My wine is doomed!” Chances are the wine itself will never break 65 because of the insulation and the thermal mass.

I think the stuff is way more resilient than we give it credit for being, anyway.

I agree for the most part, but 1 day is one thing 4 days is another.

Sure. Four days of sitting in the sun is detrimental for sure. It would probably kill you and me, too. [berserker.gif]

+2

Totally agree. The world wide movement of wine does not come to a grinding halt over a forecast of 80 degree weather.

I wouldn’t be worried at all. Your wine will be fine

Marcus,

Just my opinion. When shipping from NY to D.C. I would always choose ground. With ground the wine travels on a straight shot from point A to point B. With air you never know where in the USA the wine may stop. For instance, from the west coast to the Chicago the plane stops in Dallas.

I always use ground shipping from NY to DC - it comes overnight usually. And I really don’t think the sun/heat is strong enough right now to hurt your wine.

If these are all early drinkers, you have not got a thing to worry about.

The only thing that would be at issue on short trips is whether its shipped in styro or pulp. Bottles shipped in styro hold up much, much better than bottles in pulp. In 10 years we’ve lost 12 bottles to cold, 100+ bottles to mishandling/breakage and ZERO bottles to heat. Of course, we monitor weather and when necessary wrap the bottles in insulated bubble wrap and include ice packs.

Worry about the gorilla from the Samsonite commercial. He’s you delivery person.

walking around boca park last week i could feel mother nature stirring…

Should be fine. Here (SOFLA) is a different story. Many problems and short shipping season, especially this year !
AND ESPECIALLY IF SHIPPING MAGGIES !!!

Should not be a problem at all if packed in styro. Of course an energency tasting by Beserker DC may be appropriate to confirm lack of damage! [cheers.gif]

What’s done is done and you’ve now confessed. I think you’re all set here.

I’m with those that say “ship ground from NY to DC” and those that say “this is not an issue”.

Cheers,
fred