Express courier
FedEx, DHL, UPS. Ideal for 1 to 24 bottles, competition samples, client gifts.
6 bottles Bordeaux → New York in 3 days, ~€190
Wine shipping · France → worldwide
International wine shipping, from France.
30-second quote, in-house customs (RDE-licensed), ATP temperature-controlled carriers, and negotiated rates by road, sea and air. For wineries, négociants, merchants and private clients.
- RDELicensed customs broker
- ATPTemperature-controlled carriers
- 30 sQuote turnaround
- 220+Destinations served
Wine shipping is not regular freight
Shipping wine internationally combines three constraints that few forwarders handle in-house: customs (DAE, GAMMA2, EMCS, excise duties), conservation (temperature, vibration, light) and fragility (breakage, leaks, damaged labels). Trusting wine to a generalist forwarder routinely ends in client refunds, bottles refused on arrival, or shipments stuck in customs for missing DAE paperwork.
Vastorg is a freight forwarder specialised in wine and spirits. We operate as a licensed customs broker (RDE), we work exclusively with ATP-certified carriers for thermally sensitive flows, and our packaging is ISTA 6 certified (the wine-specific drop-test standard). The result: under 0.5 % average breakage, clean customs, and live tracking on Vastorg Atlas.
Whether you're shipping 6 sample bottles to a New York importer, 4 pallets to a Tokyo distributor or a full container to Hong Kong, you get an all-inclusive quote in 30 seconds — duties, transport and insurance included.
Which transport mode for your wine?
The right choice depends on destination, volume, deadline and budget. Here are the four modes we operate, with their typical use cases.
Road (EU & UK)
ATP carrier network across Europe. Full pallets or groupage. Best for recurring EU flows.
1 pallet Bordeaux → Berlin in 48 h, ~€280
Sea (Asia & Americas)
20' or 40' container, LCL groupage or FCL. For larger volumes to long-haul markets.
1 × 20' container Bordeaux → Hong Kong in 32 d, ~€3,400
Air cargo
For urgent shipments, high-value crus and markets without regular ocean service.
200 kg Bordeaux → Singapore in 5 d, ~€1,850
How wine shipping works with Vastorg
Four steps, from quote to delivery. Everything centralised in your Vastorg Atlas dashboard.
- 01
30-second quote
Enter origin, destination, bottle count or weight/volume. Our pricing engine instantly returns an all-inclusive price (transport + customs + insurance) across the relevant modes.
- 02
Document preparation
We auto-generate the DAE (GAMMA2) where required, the commercial invoice, packing list and EX-A export declaration for non-EU destinations. Everything signed and compliant, delivered as PDFs.
- 03
Pickup and transport
The carrier collects from your estate or warehouse within 24-48 hours. You track every step in real time — pickup, customs, transit, delivery — on Atlas and via email notifications.
- 04
Customs and delivery
Our in-house RDE team handles export customs and coordinates import clearance with local partners. Door-to-door delivery with digital proof of delivery (POD).
Indicative wine shipping rates
A reference grid for the most common shipments out of France. Real rates depend on exact pickup address, volumetric weight, fuel surcharges and declared value. Get a firm quote in 30 seconds.
| Route | Mode | Volume | Price | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France → Germany | Road | 1 pallet (300 kg) | from €240 | 48-72 h |
| France → United Kingdom | Road + ferry | 1 pallet (300 kg) | from €320 | 3-5 days |
| France → United States | Express courier | 6 bottles (8 kg) | from €185 | 3-5 days |
| France → United States | Air cargo | 1 pallet (300 kg) | from €1,450 | 5-8 days |
| France → United States | Sea LCL | 1 pallet (300 kg) | from €380 | 25-35 days |
| France → Hong Kong | Sea FCL 20' | Full container | from €3,400 | 30-40 days |
| France → Japan | Sea LCL | 1 pallet (300 kg) | from €520 | 35-45 days |
| France → Singapore | Air cargo | 200 kg | from €1,850 | 5-7 days |
Rates exclude destination-country excise duties and VAT, updated monthly. Ad valorem insurance is available from 0.4% of declared cargo value.
Customs and excise: what to know before shipping
Wine is an excise good — subject to a specific EU fiscal regime on top of standard customs duties. Every cross-border movement must be tracked by customs and tax authorities. Here are the three documents and systems you'll encounter.
DAE (Electronic Administrative Document) via GAMMA2
Mandatory for any wine movement under duty suspension within the EU and for non-EU exports. Issued from the French customs system GAMMA2. The DAE generates an ARC (Administrative Reference Code) that must physically accompany the goods. Without a valid DAE, your shipment is blocked. Vastorg files DAEs in-house thanks to its RDE status.
EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System)
EU-wide system tracking duty-suspended movements in real time. Each DAE is monitored until clearance (delivery confirmed by recipient or exit from the EU territory). An unclosed EMCS movement freezes your guarantees and can trigger a tax assessment. We handle every clearance.
EX-A (export declaration outside the EU)
XML filed via the French DGDDI's DELT@-X system for any goods leaving the EU customs territory. Generates an MRN (Movement Reference Number) that must be transmitted to the carrier. Exporting without an EX-A exposes you to customs hold and penalties. Included in every export shipment.
Destination-country excise duties
Variable rates: €0/hl in Germany and Italy, €3.77/hl in France, ~€115/hl in Denmark, ~€295/hl in Sweden. Outside the EU, duties depend on the applicable Free Trade Agreement (USMCA, JEFTA, etc.). Our quote can include an estimate of destination duties on request.
Why ATP temperature-controlled transport?
Wine is a living product that responds badly to temperature swings. Sustained exposure above 25 °C degrades aromas; freezing below -4 °C can pop corks and leak. A standard sea trip France-to-Asia routinely takes a container from 5 °C in the lower hold to 45 °C on a sun-side equator deck — that's thermal death for your cuvée.
Vastorg only works with ATP-certified carriers (Agreement on the international carriage of Perishable foodstuffs) for thermally sensitive flows: Southern Europe in summer, equatorial crossings, Middle East and tropical Asia destinations. Concretely:
- •Trucks and containers maintained between 12 and 14 °C end-to-end
- •Continuous-reading thermal probes with deviation alerts
- •Reefer containers for sensitive long-haul ocean lanes
- •Temperature-controlled buffer warehousing on transhipment
Top destinations from France
Vastorg ships wine to over 220 countries. Here are the most active markets and their customs specifics.
United States
Importer of record required (TTB licensed). FDA Prior Notice. State-level restrictions (dry counties, three-tier system). DSP required for the merchant.
3-8 days
United Kingdom
Post-Brexit: UK importer required (UK EORI). Excise duty since August 2023 calculated on ABV (£2.67/bottle for 11.5-14.9% ABV).
3-5 days
Hong Kong
0% excise duty on wine since 2008. Preferred entry hub for mainland China. No VAT. Ultra-premium market.
30-40 days by sea
Japan
JEFTA agreement: 0% tariff since 2019. Mandatory Japanese-language labelling (Food Labelling Act). Licensed importer required.
5 d air / 35-45 d sea
Switzerland
Outside the EU: EX-A required. Swiss duty calculated per litre. Premium market with strong demand on grand cru Bordeaux and Burgundies.
2-4 days
Singapore
GST 9%. Excise duty SGD 88/litre of pure alcohol. SE Asia redistribution hub. Highly efficient Changi airport.
5-7 days by air
AOC, vintage, AOP: why the detail matters
For shipping, your wine's origin isn't a marketing detail — it's customs data. The appellation (AOC/AOP/IGP), vintage, ABV and exact HS code (2204.10 for sparkling, 2204.21 for bottles ≤ 2 L, 2204.22 for 2-10 L containers) determine the destination tariff regime, your compliance labelling, and any sanitary authorisations.
Our quote form captures these details upfront so customs documents come out right the first time. An HS or ABV error means a delay at best, a seizure at worst. Our HS classification algorithms are validated above 95% accuracy on codes 2204 and 2208.
Wine shipping FAQ
How much does it cost to ship wine to the United States?
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For a 6-bottle sample (~8 kg), expect from €185 by express courier, delivered in 3 to 5 days. For a full pallet (300 kg), from €1,450 by air in 5 to 8 days, or from €380 by sea LCL in 25 to 35 days. These rates include transport, export DAE/EX-A customs and base insurance. US excise duties and state taxes are added based on the destination state.
What temperature should wine be transported at?
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Optimum is between 12 and 14 °C, with tolerance up to 18 °C for short periods. Exposure above 25 °C or below 0 °C degrades aromas or risks cork failure. For sensitive flows (Mediterranean summer, equatorial crossing, Middle East), Vastorg systematically uses ATP-certified carriers with continuous thermal probes.
What is a DAE and why do I need one?
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The DAE (Electronic Administrative Document) is a mandatory customs document for any wine movement under duty suspension, both within the EU and for export. It's issued from the French customs system GAMMA2 and produces an ARC that must accompany the goods. Without a valid DAE, your shipment is held at the border. Vastorg, as a licensed customs broker (RDE), files DAEs in-house for every shipment.
How long does it take to ship wine to Asia?
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Transit times vary by mode. By air cargo, 5 to 7 days to Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo. By sea LCL (groupage), 30 to 45 days from Le Havre or Marseille depending on destination. By FCL (full container), 30 to 40 days to China and Hong Kong. Air is preferred for urgent or low-volume shipments; sea remains more economical for structural volumes.
How should wine be packaged for international shipping?
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For unit shipments, we recommend ISTA 6 certified cartons — the wine-specific standard tested for the shocks, vibrations and drops of typical courier transport. For pallets, rigorous shrink-wrapping, cardboard layer dividers and 4-point strapping are essential. Vastorg supplies ISTA 6 packaging on request, or audits your existing packaging.
Do I need a licence to export wine from France?
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To export wine, you need at minimum an EORI number and either approved warehousekeeper status or registered consignor status with French customs to issue DAEs. On arrival, it's the importer (not the shipper) who must hold the local licence (TTB Importer in the US, registered importer in the UK, etc.). Vastorg guides you to the right legal setup for your target market.
Does Vastorg provide cargo insurance?
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Yes. Every shipment includes base insurance covering transport-related damage (breakage, loss, water damage). For high-value shipments (grand crus, competition samples, large B2B shipments), we offer ad valorem insurance via Loadsure from 0.4% of declared value, covering the full commercial value including margin.
Can I export wine as a private individual?
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Yes, within limits. Most destinations allow small personal-use shipments (typically 6 to 12 bottles), with excise duties and taxes paid on arrival by the recipient. Above that, or for commercial shipments, professional operator status becomes necessary. Vastorg works with estates, négociants, merchants and private clients (gifts, cellar inheritances, international relocations).
Quote in 30 seconds, ship next week.
Enter origin, destination and bottle count. You get an all-inclusive price, transport and customs included.