How to Import Wine from Chile
The wine production area in Chile spans from the Atacama to Araucania region, with vineyards scattered up and down the regions’ valleys. In 2022, Chilean wine production totaled 1.244 billion liters.
Importing Wine From Chile
Before you can stock your store shelves with amazing wine from Chile, you must be aware of the steps that you need to complete before purchasing the wine from your supplier and organizing transportation with us to the US. This includes applying for and receiving an importer's permit from Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
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There are four agencies involved in the importation of wine to the US. They are:
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Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
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Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
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State and Local Laws
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What does each agency handle?
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CBP handles the excise taxes and import duties for your shipments once they arrive at the port.
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FDA requires that a Prior Notice of Imported Foods must be filed before any alcoholic beverages are imported into the US.
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TTB issues the importer's permit and handles all other requirements for importing bottled alcoholic beverages into the US.
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You must also comply with your state's importation requirements for alcoholic beverages (California, for example, department of Alcoholic Beverage Control).
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You can read our more detailed wine import guide here.​
Shipping Wine From Chile
Once you're all set with the above government agencies, you can focus on the step in the importation process which is shipping your wine via maritime transportation in ocean containers.
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There are two routes you can take, and they each have their pros and cons. Keep in mind that the ideal shipping temperature for wine is 12-14 degrees Celsius, or 53 - 57 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 50% - 60% to avoid spoiling or altered taste.
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Dry Containers:
The first and least expensive option is shipping wine using dry containers. A dry container has no insulation and offers your cargo no protection from temperature fluctuations and humidity which could alter the taste of your wine or even spoil it, especially when shipping during summer months with high heat.
Certain suppliers might offer you the option of using insulated thermal liners inside the container to protect your wine from temperature fluctuations, but in our experience this method is only effective for short shipping transit times and there isn't reliable data proving its effectiveness.
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Refrigerated "Reefer" Containers:
A reefer container is an insulated shipping container with a refrigeration unit that is used to transport cargo that is temperature sensitive such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and beverages. The advantage of using reefer containers for your wine cargo is that it allows us to control the temperature and humidity while it's in transit to your door, no matter the distance, protecting your wine from temperature fluctuations that a dry container cannot.
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Reefer shipping rates are considerably much higher, usually 2.5 times the price of a dry container. In our experience, however, it is well worth the price, due to the protection it offers your wine from spoiling or accelerated aging. The last thing you need is for your precious Cabernet Sauvignon to arrive aged and spoiled after it's journey over the ocean.
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Popular Shipping Routes
Due to geography, shipping wine from Chile to West Coast ports is faster and less expensive than shipping to East Coast ports. Transit times from Chile to Los Angeles usually takes 30 days. Transit times to Gulf Coast ports such as Houston and Savannah must traverse the Panama Canal.​
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Valparaiso - Los Angeles
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Valparaiso- Savannah
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Valparaiso - Houston
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Valparaiso - Oakland
Our Work
40ft Reefer Container from France with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. | 40ft Reefer Container from Australia with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. |
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40ft Reefer Container from Spain with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. | 40ft Reefer Container from Chile with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. |
Chile Wine Facts
The wine production area in Chile spans from the Atacama to Araucania region, with vineyards scattered up and down the regions’ valleys. There are over twenty grape varieties grown in Chile, mostly a mixture of French and Spanish grape varieties. Some of the most popular (and our personal favorites) is Cabarnet Sauvignon from the Maipo Valley region. One of the most famous wines from this region is Casillero del Diablo.
Another popular grape variety that is almost exclusively only found in Chile is Carmenère.
This grape originated in Bordeaux, France, and made it's way to Chile in the 19th century. It is almost impossible to find Carménère wines in France today, as a phylloxera plague in 1867 nearly destroyed all the vineyards of Europe, afflicting the Carménère grapevines in particular such that for many years the grape was presumed extinct.
Ship Your Wine from Chile with Us​
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Port of Los Angeles Born
We're local to Southern California, and we have first hand knowledge, connections, and experience on how our local Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach operate that non-local or overseas freight forwarders do not have. We are able to leverage these advantages to deliver your containers on-time, safely, and reliably.
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Door to Door Services
Shipping a container from overseas to your door involves many moving parts, from the steamship line that transports your container over the ocean, to the custom agents and transportation companies that handle your cargo at the country of origin and country of destination. We aim to simplify this process by removing the need to work with multiple vendors, saving you time and money.
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Nationwide Service
If you're located outside of Southern California, we can still assist you with our Nationwide Service from all major US Ports such as Savannah, Houston, and New York. Learn More
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