Melbourne is known for producing over 21 varieties of tipple and boasts of at least 800 wineries. Local wine producers are no doubt keen on maintaining Australia’s reputation as the world’s largest non-European wine exporter. If you operate a winery and your bottled output is ready for distribution, whether domestic or overseas, you can count on transport companies from Melbourne such as State Transport to rise to any challenge.
Aside from carrying out the necessary precautions prior to shipping, you must also see to it that your shipments receive proper handling and storage. You cannot afford to have any blunders, after all, particularly if circumstances require that your stock be shipped out fast. Take some notes from veteran sommelier Curtis Marsh.
In an article for wine and fine dining website The Wandering Palate, Marsh recounts the disappointment of learning that an unfortunate combination of extreme temperatures and poor handling ruined a fine 2004 vintage. Clearly, you need to carry out certain best practices to maintain the quality of your wines from vineyard to table.
Before the Journey
Before your next shipment gets underway, you need to file a Licence to Export, Continuing Approval Application, and Shipping Application with the Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA) if your consignment has a total volume exceeding 100 litres.
The Licence to Export and Continuing Approval Application, respectively, contain details on the producing winery and the vintage/content composition of the product. The Shipping Application details the entire shipment and the attached products, plus the final destination, and must be cleared through the AGWA and the Australian Customs Service no later than ten days before the expected departure date.
Long Haul
Transport methods and storage conditions inevitably affect the quality of wine. Marsh points out that many export/import firms tend to ignore the fact that fluctuations in temperature and humidity accelerate ageing and oxidation. The same is true when retailers shut down the climate control systems at wine storage areas. Fluorescent lighting also causes changes in the wines’ chemical composition, Marsh further adds.
Solution
Clearly, optimal conditions must be met to preserve wine quality. Fortunately, top Melbourne transport companies such as State Transport provide superior third-party logistics (3PL) handling of consignments of bottled wine by storing bottles in cartons with partition frames. Boxes are subsequently palletised and shrink-wrapped. If you require controlled storage conditions closer to the harbour, you can get in touch with a 3PL warehouse, especially if you need to prepare your consignment for container shipping.
Shipping a large stock of bottled wine is a complicated undertaking. Yet with a transport company like State Transport, your precious cargo is in safe hands.
(Source: Careful with That Wine Bottle, The Wandering Palate)
