The wine industry is as big as ever and is expected to keep growing. The industry is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 4.7% over the next five years, with an estimated valuation of over $385 billion. This expected growth obviously hinges on the reliability of the product – the wine itself – and places tremendous pressure on the shipping process. The Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe regions are rapidly expanding their wine markets, which means more shipments will travel globally. If wine goes bad when being shipped, it’s useless to the consumer. Temperature control is vital to protect shipments of wine.
Take Precautions Ahead Of Time
When wine is exposed to extreme temperatures, it undergoes chemical reactions that alter its taste and consistency. Regrettably, brand owners aren’t paying as much attention to the shipping process as they should. Managing Director of the Wine and Spirits Shippers Association, Alison Leavitt, said, “Brand owners are not always as concerned as they should be about how their wine is being transported. Unfortunately, that changes when they hear about a problem or if their brand suffers.” It’s important for wine suppliers to be revolutionary, not reactionary.
It’s also important to account for unplanned delays. As shipments travel globally, they are subject to customs inspections – and potentially lengthy ones at that, considering wine is an alcohol. Additionally, weather can delay shipments and create unnecessary headaches if the shipment is not temperature-controlled. For example, Port Houston was recently shut down because of Hurricane Harvey, forcing ocean carriers to divert their cargo and take longer routes to alternative ports. Other cargo was stranded in port, stuck on trailers and railcars unable to be delivered. If proper precautions had been taken to ensure a temperature-controlled shipment, these delays would not be a big concern to the supplier. The supplier would have no need to worry about the shipment expiring, potentially costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ensure Wine Arrives As Anticipated
As shipments travel overseas, whether by air or by sea, they are exposed to extreme temperatures. During a trip across the ocean, shipments in a dry container can routinely range from 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. SureTemp Thermal Pallet Covers are a valuable addition to your existing fleet and can minimize temperature excursions that arise during a lengthy shipping process. They are perfect for shipments of wine, as they are ideal when only a few pallets need temperature protection.
Leavitt previously stated that “the lower-end and mid-range wines rarely use any type of temperature-control equipment…” There’s no need for this to be the case. Pallet covers are a worthwhile, reasonably-priced investment that can be used by all wine producers, not just high-end ones.
