Shipping Information

All persons purchasing and accepting shipments of wine must be at least the age of 21, provide identification, and sign for their deliveries at the time of receipt.

  

Shipping Within the San Francisco Bay Area
In most cases our customers will find the best method for local delivery will be by UPS ground.  EWR can personally deliver purchases in their original containers to locations within the Bay Area at a discounted rate.  However, there is a 3 case minimum for personal deliveries.  Pick-ups are also welcome but strictly by appointment only.

Shipping Within California
UPS or FedEx will make shipments to California residents unless instructed otherwise by the customer.

Shipping Outside of California
Shipping is available to most states within the USA, however due to individual state law, customers located outside of California should contact us to ensure our ability to ship to your state.  In some places it’s illegal to accept shipments of wine.  In such situations we recommend that the customer provide us with an alternative address that accepts shipments of wine.

Insurance Requirements
EWR requires customers to pay insurance on every shipment of wine completed by a carrier other then us. Insurance duties are $1.00 per every $100 of the total value of the shipment. 

In The Event of a Damaged Shipment
EWR will refund insured purchases only for the breakage of wine while in transit.  EWR and our carriers will not refund shipments for any other types of damages, such as, the defacing of labels, the failure or damage to corks and capsules, spoilage, and all other forms of damage. If you receive wine that has been broken during shipping, do not contact your carrier, they will not issue refunds, please contact EWR directly within 24 hours of receiving the parcel.  
 
Preserving the Integrity of Your Wine During Shipment
It’s important to understand that wine is perishable and very sensitive to temperature.  This should be taken into consideration especially while wine is in transit.  Therefore, we strongly recommend that our customers select overnight shipping for their purchases.
EWR does not recommend shipping wine during times of extreme temperatures.  In some cases even during overnight shipping wine can spoil from such exposure.  Under these circumstances, EWR can hold purchases up to a period of six months until the customer feels it’s safe to complete shipment.  Purchased wine held for over 6 months initially due to weather conditions, thereafter will accrue storage charges of specified predetermined monthly rate thereafter.

 

Please contact us prior to placing an order if you have any questions regarding our shipping policies.        

 

      

NEWS

Sauternes…

On the left bank of the Garrone, and just to the south of the great estates of Chateau Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion (also known for their great white wines), lie the five villages in Graves that make the exquisite sweet white wines known collectively as Sauternes. They include Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues, and Bommes.

This region is located near a small cold water spring called the Cérons, which meets the warmer waters of the Garrone to create the misty conditions, that help breed the “noble rot” that separates these wines from those of the rest of the world. It’s a fungus that ruptures the grape skins in the late summer, predisposing the grapes to desiccation. Thus, the wines are viscous or honey-like, often with hints of apricots and pineapples. These delicious wines are also high in alcohol and acid, allowing them to age almost indefinitely. Sauternes are primarily made with the Semillon grape, along with small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.
 
It is difficult to make Sauternes. The rot must be of just the right level, and only the most affected grapes can be picked, thus the yield for the wine from Sauternes is reduced substantially. Considered the most prestigious Chateau, Chateau D’Yquem, actually harvests one berry at a time, and only after they have reached ultimate perfection. While most Bordeaux vineyards claim to produce one bottle per vine, Chateau D’Yquem is reputed to produce one glass per vine, and perhaps even less in a dry year.

French Sauternes will always be considered one of the great treasures of the earth and understandably expensive.  Chateau D’Yquem, considered the First “Great Growth” (from the Bordeaux Classification of 1855), is the benchmark for French Sauternes, and is frequently offered at the pre-release price of $200-300 per bottle.
 
Other producers, however, have become increasingly competitive both in quality and price. Within the 1885 Classification, there are a significant number of First Growths (Premiers Crus), which are also notable and prized, but trade at one quarter the price of Chateau D’Yquem. These include Chateau Climens, Rieussec (owned by Chateau Lafite Rothschilds), Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Gilette and several others. The leading production at Chateau Gilette or the “Gilette Crème de Tete,” is particularly unusual in that it is kept “en reserve” for roughly 20 years prior to its release. 

Lastly, there are a large number of Sauternes that are from the “petite” Chateau or surrounding regions, for example Mascaron par Ginestet, which can fit any man’s budget and always provide a memorable experience.

Cin-Cin!!!