A case of grand cru. Months, years of work. A prestigious customer on the other side of the world. And then the phone call everyone dreads: the parcel is stuck in customs, the bottles are broken, the value is reduced to nothing.
Shipping wine and spirits is not like shipping a book or a piece of clothing. It's an obstacle course, a labyrinth of regulations, physical risks and insurance traps. Attempting without the right protection is not a risk, it's a guarantee of financial and reputational disaster.
Forget approximations. This guide is your shield. We'll dissect every constraint and bring you the only solutions that matter, so that every bottle you ship arrives at its destination in perfect condition, or its value fully protected.
The 3 Impregnable Walls of Wine & Spirits Shipping
Before talking about insurance, we need to understand the battlefield.
1. The Regulatory and Customs Wall
Alcohol is one of the most strictly controlled products in the world. Ignoring the law means exposing yourself to brutal penalties: confiscation, colossal fines and even prison sentences.
- Strict formalities: Each shipment must be accompanied by specific documents (movement documents such as the DDA - Document Simplifié d'Accompagnement, CN23 customs declarations, invoices, etc.).
- Quantity limits: Strict quotas apply to shipments between professionals and to private individuals.
- Duties and taxes : Excise duties, VAT... Traffic duties are a headache to master. Non-payment is considered smuggling
2. The Logistic Wall: Breakage, Temperature and Theft
Your bottles are fragile treasures. Transport is their greatest enemy.
- Risk of breakage: This is the most obvious and devastating risk. Poor packaging, a violent shock, and your shipment is destroyed.
- Thermal shock: Wine is a living product. Exposure to extreme temperatures (too hot or too cold) can irreversibly alter its taste, rendering it unmarketable. A stable temperature (between 10°C and 15°C) is crucial.
- Theft: Grands crus and rare spirits are prime targets for organized theft networks
3. The Wall of Classic Insurance: An Illusion of Protection
This is the most devious trap. Think you're insured by your carrier? You're wrong.
- Systematic exclusion: Read the fine print. Carriers' standard insurance policies almost systematically exclude alcoholic beverages from their cover. This is not the case with specialists such as Claisy.
- Derisory compensation ceilings: Even if, by some miracle, compensation is possible, it's based on international conventions (e.g. between €14/kg and €30/kg for national road haulage). Your €3,000 case of 12 bottles weighs 15kg? You'll receive between €210 and €450. This is hardly acceptable (see our file on the responsibilities of carriers).
The Only Viable Solution: Specialized Ad Valorem Insurance
Faced with these walls, there's only one way out: insurance designed specifically for wines and spirits. Ad Valorem" (according to value) insurance, which covers the true and total value of your merchandise.
Here's what insurance worthy of the name MUST cover:
- Breakage: This is the bare minimum. Insurance must cover 100% of the value of broken bottles.
- Loss and theft: Whether the parcel disappears entirely or a few bottles are stolen from inside, coverage must be comprehensive.
- Loss of Value (Stained Labels): This is the sign of a true specialist. A damaged, stained or peeled label can render a collectible bottle unmarketable. Good insurance, like that offered by Claisy, covers this depreciation.
How to choose your insurance shield?
- Avoid Generalists, Choose a Specialist: Turn to insurers or brokers who understand the challenges of wine. They'll be able to ask you the right questions and offer you the right cover, with no hidden exclusions - at Claisy we have a dedicated offer for wine transport, so get in touch with us.
- Demand "Ad Valorem" Coverage: Refuse any offer that is not based on the declared value of your bottles. Provide invoices or expert reports to prove this value.
- Check packaging requirements: Insurance will only work if you comply with strict packaging standards. Use approved, shock-resistant packaging designed specifically for transporting bottles (contact experts such as Viticolis, Dartess, Raja, etc.).
- Be transparent about transport: If your shipment requires temperature-controlled transport, discuss this with your insurer. If not, make sure your policy covers the most common and devastating risks, such as breakage and theft.
Synthesis
Shipping wine and spirits is a very high-risk operation, one that tolerates no amateurism. To make it safe, you need not only to master the regulatory and logistical constraints, but above all to take out specialized Ad Valorem insurance.
It's the only solution that protects the real value of your precious bottles from the hazards of transport, and gives you total peace of mind.