Are you curious about starting an eCommerce business, especially with wine? Are you wondering, “can I sell alcohol online?” yes, you can, and there’s never been a better time than now.
Online wine sales are on the rise, with e-commerce sales channels accounting for 55% of overall industry growth. For customers who enjoy a glass of wine while relaxing, buying wine online is the way to go.
Whether you’re using an eCommerce website builder, an online marketplace, a physical location with storage features, or a combination of the above to sell wine, it’s important to be clear about the shipping options process. From shipping for a business to sending a bottle of wine with love to a friend in need, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn more about shipping wine by mail.
how to pack wine for shipment
Unlike t-shirts, electronics, and even other types of food, wine storage and serving temperature must be considered when shipping. individual sizes of wine bottles are heavy, fragile and temperature sensitive, so they must be handled properly to avoid impact of the bottle on the wine. the last thing you want is for your wine to arrive at its destination and have gone bad flavor-wise in the bottle.
Be sure to also check out our wine storage guide, whether for your own establishment, to advise clients, or both. For now, check out these tips on how to package wine for shipping and handling.
- measure your box
It sounds obvious, but getting the right box size for your wine shipment is a must. If you haven’t yet standardized box sizes for your business, first learn how to measure a box for shipping. It’s especially important for shipping wine, as you want the bottles to be in the correct size box to prevent bumps and bottle breakage.
You may need different box sizes, new packaging materials, an updated pick and pack process, or all of the above. write down the sizes you need for common order quantities and wine bottle sizes. once your box sizes are standardized, you can move on.
- use firm interior partitions
Interior partitions are essential when it comes to shipping more than one bottle of wine. molded fiber dividers are useful due to their light weight.
Firm foam dividers are also great because they fill up empty space in the box and make boxes easier to stack. the right choice for you will depend on how many bottles you ship at once and what your shipping process looks like.
Browse materials and find out what’s within your budget. There is no right or wrong approach here, other than making sure the bottles don’t hit each other mid-shipment or fall into the crate.
- keep bubble wrap as optional
When packaging wine, bubble wrap should be considered optional. That may sound strange, since shipping glass requires a lot of care, and bubble wrap seems like the obvious answer. however, it has its drawbacks. here are some reasons why you might reconsider using it:
- Takes up a lot of space. It’s no surprise that bubble wrap takes up a lot of space, especially when it’s already wrapped around another item. if used in excess, bubble wrap can reduce the number of units shipped per case, lowering profit per sale.
- not the best cushioning material for wine. Objects of a different nature, such as ceramics or handmade jewelry, benefit more from bubble wrap than wine. Due to its cylindrical shape, a wine bottle can easily slip out of the bubble wrap or simply not stay put. it’s best to keep the size of the boxes under control and only use firm partitions to keep the wine bottles spaced out.
If you must use bubble wrap for any reason, wrap the bottles and place them lengthwise in a box. This gives the bottles maximum security and stability, a crucial part of learning how to pack wine for shipment. however, if you can avoid it, dividers are the best option for wine bottles.
- test your box by tilting it
once you can close the box, lift it up and tip it to the side. Do you hear or feel the bottles move inside the box? If so, your current eCommerce packaging or design won’t cut it. if it moves at a slight incline, any bump during the shipping trip is likely to cause a breakage.
You should be able to tilt the box from side to side without unwanted movement. although the delivery men do not handle the products carelessly; care is part of their route planning, they still need to be able to quickly move boxes in and out of trucks. Making sure your wine shipments can handle a couple of bumps in the road equals peace of mind for you and your buyers.
Running an online or hybrid beverage business means you’ll be shipping packages frequently. instead of figuring it all out yourself, take advantage of bluecart ecommerce and the tools we offer.
bluecart’s shipping capabilities aggregate the buying power of our customers to negotiate the best possible rates from over 60 shipping companies. calculate costs, print labels or a packing slip with a thermal printer, create an RMA number to track returns, and more. book a demo now to see what bluecart can do for you.
how to send a bottle of wine
selling wine is one thing; successful delivery is another. It’s no secret that wine needs to be well packaged to arrive safely, but there’s more to it than a neat box.
E-commerce wine sellers must comply with state laws and regulations for each location they ship to, comply with shipping company regulations, and more. Shipping wine requires all the work of selling wine in a bar or restaurant, with the added work of shipping wine across state or national borders. Here’s what to keep in mind when learning how to ship a bottle of wine.
- check your license
As a wine business online, at a minimum, you need an eCommerce business license and a shipping license. the first shows that you are a legal business. the latter shows that you have permission to ship alcoholic beverages to customers outside of a wine retail environment. this is not the same as the standard practice of obtaining a liquor license, but it is similar in nature.
- double check required documentation
Alcohol is a highly regulated product, and that comes with essential business paperwork. verify that you have completed the necessary documents, such as your e-commerce business license, shipping license, dealer license, and/or manufacturer license.
Shipping licenses are especially important as they dictate which states you can ship to as a spirits business. You can obtain a shipping license from the state in which you plan to do business by contacting your tax office and completing the application. A shipping license incurs a fee and, under state law, must be renewed every two years.
- complete any prior approval process
Major e-commerce shipping companies like fedex and ups require wine sellers to get pre-approval before they can ship wine. These requirements exist to protect businesses and their customers from legal problems. It also helps shipping companies track who is shipping spirits and to whom.
you can find the fedex alcohol shipment request on their alcohol requirements page. click on “the authorization process for us”. shipments” and follow the steps indicated there.
on the ups website, go to their “shipping wine with ups” page and book an alcohol shipping consultation with a member of staff. prior approvals with other companies and government institutions follow a similar scheme.
- use best packaging practices
If not properly sealed in a box, wine bottles are at risk of breaking, breaking and leaking. While these events are unlikely, it’s always best to pack wine to prevent each one.
You can use Styrofoam, molded fiber inserts, or any firm, supportive material that doesn’t take up a lot of space. cardboard alone is not enough because it can easily bend or tear, and plastic or paper sheets are not enough padding.
You can also check the websites of e-commerce shipping companies for their recommendations on how to ship a bottle of wine. As companies that have shipped billions of packages each year, they know what works and what doesn’t. Using proven materials and shipping strategies will save you a lot of time and money.
- offer optional add-ons to your customers
Shipping products like alcohol can make even the most unsuspecting customers a little hesitant. Instead of taking risks, add options like product insurance, expedited shipping, flat-rate shipping, and overnight shipping to your eCommerce store.
This gives customers who want more peace of mind the opportunity to add it. It also increases your reputation as a seller, because it communicates that you want products to arrive in excellent condition, no matter the size of the order.
how to ship wine via usps
usps does not ship alcoholic beverages, either domestically or internationally. however, USPS’s freedom to ship alcohol may change in the future.
us state representatives. uu. They introduced a bill in May 2021 called the USPS Shipping Fairness Act that would allow the government postal service to ship alcohol. Reps say the only reason the USPS isn’t doing it now is because of a prohibition-era law that still stands.
in november 2021 the bill was referred to the subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security and so far there has been no update in 2022. time will tell whether or not this passes the house of representatives and the Senate. Until such laws and regulations change, e-commerce business owners must use private companies to deliver their beverages.
how to send bottles of wine via fedex
if you’ve decided on fedex as your liquor shipping service, it’s a great option. There are a few principles to keep in mind when learning the practices of shipping bottles of wine with FedEx.
have a look below:
- complete the pre-approval process. fedex requires companies that ship alcohol to be approved in their system. you can accomplish this by going to their alcohol requirements page and completing the steps listed there.
- use pre-molded fiber trays or Styrofoam containers. fedex is pretty picky about the materials that work for shipping bottles of wine, and for good reason. Styrofoam and fiberboard trays or inserts are lightweight, yet durable and firm. Find a reliable supplier for this type of packaging to have a constant supply.
- avoid packing peanuts, crumpled paper, and air cushions. fedex includes these on its list of materials that don’t work well for shipping heavy and fragile items like wine bottles. Unless there are firm, relatively lightweight packaging materials inside, your bottles are at risk of shifting and breaking. Even if you’re using FedEx Ground, you can never be too careful about the security of your shipping method.
- print your label with a shipping label printer. thermal label printers are the easiest and most quick way to print hundreds of labels per day. They are also inexpensive and do not require ink cartridges.
- Double seal your box and place the label on top. Making sure your beverages reach customers safely is key, so all your boxes should be be double sealed. two or three bottles of wine can weigh around 10 pounds; without a safe box, even these can break. remember to put your tag on top so drivers know which way is up.
How much does it cost to ship a bottle of wine?
Shipping a bottle of wine weighing three pounds or less costs between $8 and $16 in most scenarios. this information is particularly useful if you are more likely to ship individual bottles of wine at a time.
The heavier the package and the longer the distance, the more it will cost to ship. You can mitigate those expenses by looking into bulk shipping rates and having dedicated pick-and-pack shifts.
how to send wine to a friend
Wine makes a great gift, in part due to the number of wine names and varieties available. If you want to learn how you can send wine to a friend, it’s easier than you think. Depending on where you live, it will require different procedures, but your friend will appreciate the effort behind that bottle of wine.
Check out these tips on how to do it:
- check the laws of your state and your friend’s if they are beyond the limits of your state. Alcohol shipments are carefully regulated, whether you’re shipping within the same state or across state lines. Check the alcohol shipping laws on your state’s business or tax website to make sure you’re complying with all laws. You should also research eCommerce sales tax.
- select a transport company. since you can’t use usps, it all boils down to fedex or ups. both offer competitive ground shipping rates and can ship fragile items like bottles of wine. use a fedex shipping calculator to get an estimate of costs. Most likely, the cost quote will heavily influence your shipping method.
- If possible, ship in late spring or early fall. Temperatures during these seasons are milder, which helps prevent wine oxidation. your wine won’t freeze or burst open, ensuring your friend will be very happy when it arrives!
- package wine safely and effectively. is essential to use the proper packaging materials. when sending wine to a friend. Whether you just need a molded fiber tray or a box that fits two or more bottles, get enough for your shipment. check that the box seals well, that there are no old labels (labeling or branding can create shipping problems due to the possibility of unauthorized content), and that the box flaps are double-taped.
Frequently asked questions about shipping wine
Successfully shipping wine requires some knowledge of the industry, putting your customers first, and making the right decisions with the packaging itself. there are many rules and regulations, and there is always more to learn.
If you really want to start or grow your online wine business, it helps to have answers to common questions. check out our ideas for the following questions.
can you mail wine?
yes, you can send wine by mail. As long as you are an authorized manufacturer or distributor and the bottles are properly packaged, you will have met the basic requirements.
Shipping services require those shipping wine to provide proof of business license and shipping license. Companies like FedEx and UPS require those shipping alcohol to complete an approval process before shipping spirits by parcel.
can i ship wine via usps?
USPS does not currently ship alcoholic beverages of any kind. This is largely due to a Prohibition-era law that prevented the manufacture, sale, and delivery of alcohol, including serving Postcard. Until the aforementioned law changes, alcohol shipments can only be made through non-government companies.
can you ship wine via fedex?
yes, you can ship wine through fedex as long as you are a pre-approved wine seller. fedex has an alcohol shipping application that business entities must complete before shipping packages. Once your request is approved, FedEx applies your account information to your shipments so you can ship packages quickly and easily. If you’re wondering how you can ship bottles of wine via fedex or how to ship alcohol via fedex, be sure to read the specifications on their website.
if you’re planning to start a business, wine right?
Getting wine from your warehouse to customers on time is a must for all wine business owners. Customers love a business that meets their shipping expectations, especially for food and beverage.
With the right packaging, legal documentation, and a focus on quality, you can become an unstoppable e-commerce wine machine. Check out this wine shipping guide any time you need to refresh yourself on the basics. You can also come back to the bluecart blog whenever you’re looking for more information on shipping regulations, alcohol sales and everything else.