The purchase of alcohol by persons under the age of 21 is prohibited by law. By placing an order with Cult Wines International, LLC, you represent that you are at least 21 years of age.

• Verification: We reserve the right to verify proof of age prior to shipment.

• Right to cancel: We reserve the right to cancel any order. If your billing and shipping addresses do not match, we may require additional proof of identity.

• Adult Signature Required: All wine deliveries require the signature of an adult (21+) upon arrival.

• PO Boxes: Wine cannot be shipped to PO Box addresses.

We typically process orders within 24 hours. To maintain the integrity of your wine, we utilize a strategic shipping schedule:

• Shipping Carrier: All wine is shipped via FedEx (Your choice of Ground, 2-Day Air, or Overnight – chosen at checkout).

• Weekend Precautions: To prevent wine from sitting in transit facilities over weekends, orders placed Wednesday through Friday are generally held until the following Monday.

• Florida & Expedited Orders: Local Florida orders and expedited shipments may ship on Thursdays at our discretion.

• Friday Shipments: Friday shipping is only available upon request and requires confirmation that Saturday delivery is supported at your address.

• Weather Holds: We reserve the right to delay shipments during extreme weather events (e.g., heat waves, blizzards, or hurricanes) to protect the product.

Security Sealing and Buyer Obligation. To guarantee the chain of custody, all wine shipments from Cult Wines International are securely sealed using specialized, tamper-resistant and tamper-evident security tape.

Mandatory Delivery Inspection. The buyer (or their authorized representative) is strictly required to physically inspect the condition of the exterior packaging and the security tape at the exact moment of delivery and prior to signing the carrier’s release.

• If the Security Tape Appears Compromised: If the tamper-resistant tape appears cut, torn, peeled, or otherwise altered or damaged, you must refuse the shipment. Instruct the carrier to note the package as “Refused Due to Damage/Tampering” and return it to the sender. Please contact Cult Wines International within twenty-four (24) hours of refusal to report the incident.

Transfer and Termination of Liability. Once a shipment is accepted and signed for—whether by the buyer, a family member, a corporate representative, or a property/building concierge—the chain of custody is deemed legally complete. Cult Wines International, LLC absolutely cannot assume liability, nor issue refunds or replacements, for any claims of missing, altered, damaged-in-transit, or tampered contents discovered after a package has been accepted from the carrier.

This section applies to the contents of a sealed package. If we shipped the wrong bottle or vintage, or the wine arrived in a condition materially different from its listing,  see our Return Policy below.

• State Restrictions: Due to current regulations, we cannot ship to:

  • ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA AND UTAH

• Cancellations: Orders placed for delivery to the states listed above will be canceled and refunded automatically.

All wines are not created equal. The age of the wine, alcohol content, tannin content and acidity profile all can contribute to the robustness of a wine during temperature fluctuations. As a general rule, younger wines can withstand a bit more abuse than older wines. Wines with higher alcohol, tannin and acidity are also more robust. However all wines can get damaged from improper temperature storage. When shipping, we use either Styrofoam wine shipping boxes or inflatable chamber shippers to mitigate temperature damage, as these packages have been proven to keep wine at a steady temperature for a longer period of time than cardboard or pulp shippers. However it is important to know the science and the actual temperatures and times that can create an issue. 

HEAT: Science shows that from 75-80° Fahrenheit, wine can withstand 2-3 days in transit, especially in appropriate packaging. At 80-85° Fahrenheit the time window drops to 12-24 hours. If temperatures are 85-90° Fahrenheit, the time window for shipping without cool packs is 5-8 hours before damage occurs, and only 1-2 hours if using a pulp or cardboard shipper. With cool packs and overnight shipping, the safety of the wine is much more protected. So please keep these times in mind when choosing your shipping method and time of the year to ship. 

COLD: Wine is not water, which is a good thing. The alcohol in wine allows it to withstand colder temperatures than 32° Fahrenheit. At 15% alcohol, wine will freeze at 20° Fahrenheit. For every 1% alcohol up or down, wine will freeze at that same interval. For instance, wine at 17% alcohol would freeze at 18° Fahrenheit. Wine at 13% alcohol will freeze at 22° Fahrenheit. When wine freezes, it expands and can push the cork (either partially or fully) out of the bottle. Low temperatures can also influence an increase of tartrate crystals to form inside the wine (wine diamonds). Again, the use of Styrofoam or inflatable chamber wine shippers insulates and mitigates the risk of wine freezing, but it can be a real problem during blizzards when all common carriers stop operating and wine sits in trucks and warehouses for days without movement. If we can see it coming, we will purposefully delay the shipment of wines during blizzards, but it’s important that you, as the Buyer, understand this risk and plan your shipment accordingly.

Moving Forward with Shipping in Summer Months:

Our Recommendation

Our standing recommendation is simple: Wine travels best in cool weather, and we would rather hold your order than send it during the summer. Weather holds are free for up to six months. When the weather cools, we will reach out and set a mutually agreeable shipping time.

However, if you need your wine sooner, we can ship at your request. Cool packs and expedited or overnight shipping options are available at checkout. These choices substantially reduce but do not eliminate the risk. That choice is yours to make, and we will arrange it gladly. Please understand that shipments released in the summer travel at the buyer’s risk.

Holds on Shipping during Summer Months or Freezing Temperatures:

Please understand that wine spoilage, leakage or cork pushing during transit due to heat or freezing is NOT our liability. This is because you have a choice as to when we ship.

If you have purchased wine but are worried about heat spoilage or freezing temperatures, simply let us put the order on hold, and we will ship when the weather is suitable.

We will hold shipment of your order when requested, and keep your wine stored in our cellars until the weather is suitable for wine shipment. To hold your order, simply select one of the “Weather Hold” options during checkout. When the weather cools, we will reach out and set a mutually agreeable shipping time. We will hold your wine free of charge for up to 6 months from purchase.  After 6 months, storage fees will apply. For more details, please read the “Storage Fees” section below.

International wine shipments are available for many countries. Wines will be sent with an expedited international shipping method and usually will only take 3-5 days for delivery. However, international shipments can be subject to customs or weather delays. Additionally, some countries require import taxes to be paid before customs will release the package. The Buyer is fully responsible for the cost of any taxes or duties imposed on the package. It is important for you, as the Buyer, to know if your country legally allows the importation of wine and how much it will cost for the import fees. Some countries have very expensive customs taxes. Canada, for instance, can charge up to 102% of the wine’s value as import taxes at the border. You must include an accurate email address and phone number with international orders so that the customs broker may contact you to collect import fees.

Please note that if you refuse to pay the import duties (or the Broker cannot contact you) and the wines are sent back to us, we will not refund the shipping costs of the wine. Additionally, if the wines have been held in improper climate conditions during the customs delay, and the wines are sent back, no refunds will be given.

Countries which we can send wine are as follows:

Asia: Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand & U.A.E.
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, England & United Kingdom, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, & The Netherlands.
Others: Bahamas, Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand.

However, it is important to mention that each country has its own set of rules. For example, Sweden allows only up to 1 liter of sparkling wine per shipment or 2 liters of still wine. So if you purchase more bottles than what is allowed per shipment, we may have to make multiple shipments in multiple boxes. In such a case, additional shipping charges will apply and will be charged to you before shipping.

If you would like to ship to a country not listed: Cult Wines International will NOT be held liable for seizure of the package in customs. Refunds will not be given. If the package is returned to us, any shipping costs or return shipping costs will be deducted from any refunds given to the buyer.

If you are International Buyer, once you have paid for this item you are agreeing to these terms. If you have not yet paid or the item has not yet shipped, and you wish to cancel the transaction, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Assumption of Transit Risk. Cult Wines International, LLC utilizes premier logistical networks and professional packaging materials to ensure your inventory is handled with care. However, because transit conditions are entirely beyond our control, Cult Wines International, LLC holds absolutely no liability for wine spoilage, cork failure, thermal damage, or leakage occurring in transit, regardless of the date of purchase, destination climate, or selected shipping method.

Understanding Thermal Expansion. Wine is highly sensitive to ambient temperature fluctuations. Exposure to heat during transit—particularly during summer months or when shipping to warmer microclimates—can cause the liquid within the bottle to undergo natural thermal expansion. This expansion can temporarily force liquid past the cork, resulting in minor weeping or slight leakage. Short-term exposure of this nature is a common logistical reality in the rare wine trade, typically does not impact the structural integrity or quality of the wine, and does not constitute a defect. Consequently, transit-related weeping, minor leakage, or cosmetic capsule/label disruption shall not entitle the buyer to a refund, return, or credit.

Complimentary Weather Holds. If you have finalized a purchase but are concerned about extreme seasonal temperatures (including summer heatwaves or winter freezing risks), we strongly advise utilizing our complimentary weather hold service. Upon your request, we will securely cellar your order in our climate-controlled facility at no additional charge for up to 6 months and defer shipment until weather conditions are mutually deemed safe.

Limitations of Shipping Insurance. Our packages come standard with third-party shipping insurance. However, please note that this third-party shipping insurance provides coverage strictly for total carrier loss, theft, or overt physical breakage (shattered glass) during transit. Shipping insurance does not cover transit-related weather damage, cork failure, oxidation, temperature exposure, or cosmetic degradation.

By electing to ship during unfavorable weather windows, the buyer explicitly assumes all climate-related risks.

Some buyers do not know how to drink older wines, and in turn end up having a bad experience for no reason other than lack of knowledge. If you purchase a bottle 20 year old or older, please check out these 7 tips for enjoyment:

1. Keep in mind that the lower the fill level is of the wine inside the bottle, the greater chance the wine has oxidized. This is not a rule but rather a calculated risk. A wine at base neck or greater has basically no risk of oxidization. A wine right at halfway mid-shoulder has a 35-40% chance of being oxidized. Below that, the risk keeps increasing further. Keep this in mind when purchasing. 

2. Older wines have natural sediment in them that accumulates with age. These are tannins which precipitate out of the wine over time. The color of the wine will slowly fade from purple to brick red or even orange as the tannins accumulate and lump together to form the sediment. This sediment can be bitter when consumed but is harmless to health. However, for the best drinking experience, it is a good idea to drink sediment-free wine. Allow all vintage wines to stand upright for several days and even sometimes a few weeks if the wine has very fine sediments (as in older Burgundy or Champagne). Once the wine is clear you can proceed to uncork and decant the wine. Keep in mind the final drinking place of the wine and keep the wine there until it settles. If you bring an old wine with you to a friend’s house or a restaurant with plans of drinking it that evening, you will disturb the sediments and make the wine impossible to properly decant.

3. Do not use a standard corkscrew as older wines have corks which will easily break during extraction. Purchase an ah-so or better yet a Durand. We have pulled out corks whole from 1945 bottles with a Durand. 

4. Properly decant the wine. Purchase a decanter if you don’t have one. We won’t go into too much detail about decanting. There are many great videos on YouTube which will show you how to properly decant vintage wine. However the idea of decanting is to gradually pour the wine into a different container while leaving (and without disturbing) the sediment in the original bottle. A small amount of wine will be left in the original bottle which is full of sediment and is typically discarded. The decanter can now be swirled, handed around and poured without risk of sediment issues.

5. Allow the wine to breathe. Older wines require less breathing time than younger wines, but still typically need about 25-30 minutes for best aromas and flavor. These wines have been cooped up in an enclosed container for many years and often can have a musty smell upon freshly opening. This will usually go away upon breathing. 

6. Do not expect old wines to taste like better versions of young wines. Older wines often taste completely different to their younger counterparts. They lose their fruity qualities and their secondary complexities increase. More earthy notes and minerality is to be expected. Most often the bouquet of wine improves over time, imparting a smooth, rich flavor without the bitterness of a younger wine. However its intensity decreases and the wine feels lighter and thinner in the mouth. To many people these qualities are highly desirable, however there are many people who prefer younger wines also. So simply don’t assume you’ll enjoy an old wine more than a younger one.

7. Not all wines get better with age. Bold, higher-end red wines, complex whites and dessert wines are the ones to benefit most greatly from age. Varietals which typically get better with age are as follows: 

Riesling: A good Riesling can improve, growing rounder in flavor, virtually forever. 

Cabernet Sauvignon: Bordeaux, California, and many other places produce Cabs with the bold richness needed to age well. However not all Cabs will develop delicious secondary and tertiary flavors. This is dependent on the structure, tannins, and richness of fruit needed to hold up to years of aging. Typically the higher-end Cabs are designed this way. Budget Cabs aren’t typically suitable for aging over 15-20 years. 

Chardonnay: This depends on acidity greatly. A rich, buttery Chardonnay won’t have the structure necessary to age well and will fall apart within 5-7 years. Higher acidity Chardonnays with rich mineral tastes can very well improve with aging. Namely higher-end French White Burgundies.

Sauternes: Some of the longest lived non-fortified wines in the world. The combination of sugar and alcohol give these wines an almost immortal lifespan and the complexities they can develop are endless.

Fortified wine: Similar to Sauternes but even higher in alcohol and an extremely low chance of oxidization. Port, Madeira and the like age wonderfully because their high quantities of sugar and alcohol act to slow down the aging process, meaning that they can open well after even hundreds of years. Typically you can open the bottle, pour a glass and go back to the bottle months later to have another sip with the wine being completely unharmed.

Pinot Noir: This is greatly variable depending on the level of Pinot. Budget Pinot tastes great and there’s no need to hang onto it longer than 5-7 years. However many experts hold that a well-aged Pinot is the holy grail of the wine world. High end French Burgundies like Romanee Conti are considered a travesty if opened too young as their flavors can evolve unlike anything else in the wine world.

Syrah: Most Syrahs age well, but only up to a limit–about 15 years. 

Merlot: Merlot is a very forgiving wine when it comes to age. Many bottles can taste great young, however they can still benefit from some time in the cellar. Higher end Merlot like Petrus is well known for aging gracefully and beautifully.

Zinfandel: Like Cabernet Sauvignon, many Zinfandels have the potential to age to greatness. 

Old Italian wines: Some varietals like Chianti do not benefit much from aging. Barolo is one of the world’s greatest age-worthy wines. Brunello and Super-Tuscans are also excellent wines for aging. Italian wines from the 50s and 60s age well because they were made by farmers with primitive equipment. Their wines ended up very high in tannins, making them perfect aging candidates.