15.8 Transportation of Wine

Question 1

Historically, how has wine has been transported?

Answer 1

In animal skins, terracotta and, for centuries, in barrels

Question 2

Where, and when, did bottling wine in the winery became an important means of quality control? Why?

Answer 2

• Bordeaux
• 1920s
• Producer guarantees final wine bottled as intended, rather than being at the mercy of possible blending or adulteration if shipped in barrel to the final market

Question 3

What are the main options today for transport?

Answer 3

• in glass bottles

- in large containers (bulk)

Question 4

How are premium and super-premium wines transported?

Answer 4

• continue to be bottled in the winery

- transported in cases of individual bottles

Question 5

How are inexpensive wines transported?

Answer 5

• either in bottle or

- in bulk, bottling in or near the final market

Question 6

When is a wine more likely to be transported in bulk and bottled later?

Answer 6

Inexpensive wine that has a long journey to its final destination

Question 7

How is wine transported?

Answer 7

• Road
• Rail
• Ship

Question 8

What percentage of wine is transported in bulk and bottled at or near the final market?

Answer 8

30-40% of volume

Question 9

What are the two types of container used to bulk shipping of wine? Which is more common?

Answer 9

1. flexitank (more common)

2. ISO tank

Question 10

What is a flexitank?

Answer 10

• A single-use, recyclable polyethylene bag that fits into a standard container
• Bag is coated with a barrier to prevent taint from an external source and to reduce oxygen ingress

Question 11

What is an ISO tank?

Answer 11

• A stainless steel vessel built to the ISO standard that can be reused many times and may have additional insulation

Question 12

What are reefers?

Answer 12

• Insulated tanks with temperature control
• Used to transport bulk wine
• Additional cost

Question 13

What are the advantages of shipping wine in bottle?

Answer 13

The entire product – the wine, the bottling, the labelling and any external packaging – is controlled by the producer

Question 14

What are the 5 main disadvantages of shipping wine in bottle?

Answer 14

1. smaller amount of wine can be shipped in one container, higher cost
2. the financial and environmental cost of shipping the weight of glass
3. potential damage to the wine due to high and fluctuating temperatures in transit
4. potential spoilage of labels and packaging in transport
5. shorter shelf life of inexpensive wine because it is bottled earlier than if it were bottled in or close to the final market

Question 15

What are the 6 main advantages of shipping wine in bulk?

Answer 15

1 . more environmentally friendly

2. cheaper
3. greater thermal inertia of a whole container filled with wine, less fluctuation of temperature; reduces the effects of high temperatures in transport
4. strict quality control: key parameters can be measured at the point of filling the container and again on emptying it
5. the wine can be adjusted (e.g. level of SO2 can be adjusted) at the point of bottling close to the final consumer
6. shelf life extended (calculated from the time of bottling)

Question 16

Approximately how many equivalent bottles of wine can one container hold of bulk wine? Bottled wine?

Answer 16

Bulk: 24,000-26,000 bottles
Bottles: 9000-10,000 bottles

Question 17

What are the main disadvantages of shipping wine in bulk?

Answer 17

• loss of the direct relationship with the producer

- transfer of business and employment opportunities from producer countries to the countries close to the final market

Question 18

For what types of wineries is shipping in bulk feasible?

Answer 18

Only commercially viable for larger brands, for example those that will sell three or more containers per year