A case of grand cru, a vintage cognac, a vintage champagne, an exceptional whisky... Months, years of work. A prestigious customer on the other side of the world. And then the phone call everyone dreads: the parcel is not received, the bottles are broken, the value is reduced to nothing.
Why Standard Insurance Isn't Enough for Wine
Ship wine and spirits with ChronopostDHL, UPS, FedEx, ... may seem complex, but with the right preparation and insurance, it can be done safely. Unlike shipping books or clothing, this requires careful attention to regulations and physical risks. Fortunately, with the right practices and insurance, you can avoid the pitfalls and ensure a smooth delivery of your spirits.
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. You've entrusted the logistics(La Ruche Logistique, Invinova, ...) to an expert, but what about transport: it's your bottles' greatest enemy!
- Risk of breakage: This is the most obvious and devastating risk. One wrong package, one violent shock, and your shipment of tequila, rum or cognac is wiped out.
- Thermal shock: Wine and champagne are living products. 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 might regret it.
- Systematic exclusion: Read the small lines. Carriers' standard insurance policies almost systematically exclude alcoholic beverages from their cover. This is not the case with specialists such as Claisy.
- Derisory compensationLimits : Even if, by some miracle, compensation is possible, it is based on international conventions (e.g. between €14/kg and €30/kg for national road transport). 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 a proper ad valorem insurance policy MUST cover:
- Breakage: This is the bare minimum when sending bottles. 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 total.
- Loss of Value (Stained Labels): This is the sign of a true specialist. A damaged label on Romanée-Conti, Chateau Margaux or Cheval Blanc, stained or peeled off, can render a collector's bottle unmarketable. Good insurance, such as 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 the Packaging Conditions: 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.) - and find out more about La Poste's advice for shipping champagnes, wines and spirits here.
- Be Transparent about Transport: If your shipment requires temperature-controlled transport, discuss it with your insurer or directly with us 😉. If not, make sure your policy covers the most common and devastating risks, such as breakage and theft.
Summary
Shipping wine and spirits is a very high-risk operation that tolerates no amateurism: your logistician may have the best expertise, but once delivered to the Carrier, your bottles are a parcel like any other. To ensure their safety, you need not only to master 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.