Frequently asked questions

How do I access my account and check the status of my order?

To check the current status log in and click the order number at the bottom. If you never created an account use the password recovery option to create and access your account. Your orders are associated with your email address so use the email address your order confirmation was sent to.

Cape Ardor will send you email updates from orders@cape-ardor.com as the status of your order progresses.

It looks like my shipment is not moving. Where is it?

We use a two-stage system to get you your wine. Your tracking number is for the second stage and won’t activate until they’re about to make your delivery. As a result, please check your tracking number frequently.

The first stage your shipment is transported via a private temp controlled wine carrier all the way to your regional depot. From there it’s handed off to a local carrier for drop-off, such as UPS. It may take 3-10 days from the time your wine leaves our headquarters and you receive your tracking number. It may take a few days after that before you can see your package moving.

Temperature controlled vehicles opens up more options for us to ship wine through weather extremes. It’s only on a regular delivery truck for regional drop-offs, which is often just a day. For summer months we can have ice packs put in at the depot to help protect it on the final leg.

If you need overnight shipping, white glove service where it’s temperature controlled all the way to your door, or have any other special requests, please contact us.

Why is it preferred to deliver to a business address?

Most carriers deliver to businesses in the morning and residential addresses in the afternoon. Delivering in the morning minimizes any effects from the weather. The other main benefit is there’s usually someone available to sign for it, so you don’t have to worry about missing a delivery.

Can I change the wines in my order?

The best way to amend your order is to contact us through our contact page.

How can I update my shipping address?

The best way to change the address of your order is by contacting us with your order number, full name and address correction. We will change the “ship-to” address and send you an updated order confirmation via email.

I was recently in overseas and placed an order at a winery but have not received an order confirmation or update.

If a representative at the winery placed the order for you, they may have entered the wrong information. If the email address isn’t copied correctly, we’ll try to call. If neither are correct, we’re unable to contact you. The other reason you might not hear from us is if the order confirmation landed in your spam folder. Please save orders@cape-ardor.com in your address book to receive all notifications from us. If you’re still unable to find your order details, please contact us.

I have a credit card charge from Cape Ardor but do not have any other information.

If you have received a charge from Cape Ardor, it means you placed an order at one of our partner wineries. You may not have received an order confirmation due to a spelling error in your email address. Please contact us if you have questions with any charges.

I want to send a personal wine gift to all my friends or clients. Can you do that?

Yes! Cape Ardor will work with you to find the right wine for your occasion, and oversee any special packing needs such as gift cards or business collateral. Contact us with the details of your request.

Will Cape Ardor allow me to purchase wines you don’t currently have in stock?

Yes, we allow you to pre-order wines we’re stocking for the first time, and backorder wines we’ve run out of stock on. This allows you to be the first in line when new stock arrives. Please note this will delay your entire order until all wines are in-house, unless you opt to split your order into multiple shipments, as noted below. Wine product pages list expected in-stock dates.

Is there an additional cost to ship my wines that are in-stock if one or more items are not immediately available?

If you want to split your order into multiple shipments, standard shipping rates apply to each shipment. To do so, please contact us.

Why is my shipment delayed?

Cape Ardor prides itself in making hard to find, boutique international wines available to you. Your wine travels well over ten thousand miles before it reaches you. The journey itself can take around two months, and we can experience further delays with US customs, port strikes, weather at sea, and a variety of other factors. The lead times for procuring our wines can be several months, which is challenging to plan our inventory levels for. We’re ever improving our forecasting to ensure we have the wine you ordered ready-to-ship.

To check the current status of your order and and expected availability, log in to your account and click on the order number at the bottom. You will receive email notifications as soon as your order ships.

How can temperature extremes affect wine?

45°F to 65°F is the ideal range for wine, with 55°F often cited as the ideal target temperature.

From this Wine Spectator article “I wish there was a formula to tell you the exact tipping point where a wine is good one moment and cooked the next, but it’s not that simple. For starters, each wine is different—for example, an older wine is typically much more fragile than a younger one. Corks are each unique and can react to similar conditions differently. There are also the factors of how well insulated the bottles are, how hot or cold they were, to begin with, barometric pressure, and whether or not there was also exposure to UV rays or vibration.”

Please see this Wine Spectator article on how extreme cold can affect your wine. Here’s an excerpt.

“Extreme cold is not nearly as bad for wine as extreme heat. Cold slows down the aging process. And even if your wine is fluctuating from the ideal 55° F temperatures down to as low as the mid-30s, as long as the fluctuation is happening gradually, it’s not that bad.

The concern about cold temperatures and wine is that if the bottle gets really cold for an extended period, the liquid inside will expand as it freezes, and it could put pressure on the cork or even crack the bottle. Wine freezes at around 15° to 20° F.”

Will My Wine Be Shipped In The Cold Winter And Warm Summer Months?

Cape Ardor goes to great lengths to ensure your wine arrives in optimal condition and communicates with you if there’s any concern. If you reside in an area of extreme weather temperature (or delivery routes through an area of extreme temperature), we will bill you for your order, and hold it in our temperature-controlled warehouse free of charge. You will receive an email stating that we are holding it for you until temperatures are more favorable to ship. If you would like us to release your wine, you can submit a weather release form here. Cape Ardor is not responsible for any damages that may occur.

Shipping in the Summer Using Temperature Control and Ice Packs

Shipping during heat or cold spells is at your own risk. We strongly advise you to take advantage of our free storage during the months of extreme temperatures.
Most shipments outside of California are serviced by a private Napa Valley-based carrier that uses temperature-controlled vehicles to transport your wine from our warehouse facility to a depot near you. Once it arrives at this depot it is handed off to a local carrier for delivery, often UPS. AT this depot you have the option to put ice packs in your order to protect it from the heat on the final leg of its journey (which is not temperature controlled). These ice packs will usually only last 24 hours (it is imperative that you do not miss the first delivery attempt). You can select to purchase ice packs on our weather release form above or contact us. Extra fees apply. It’s always preferred to use a commercial shipping address, especially during weather extremes. Businesses receive their shipments in the morning, and first delivery attempts are usually successful.

Reminder: Ice packs do not fully eliminate the risk of heat damage.

Shipments to Arizona: We arrange door-to-door air-conditioned delivery for Arizona.

Shipping costs seems a bit higher than I was expecting, why is that?

All wine is stored in our warehouse in California. Our shipping service provider assesses standard shipping rates based on your delivery address from our warehouse.

What happens if I miss my shipment?

Orders returned by the carrier for any reason will be held for 30 days. This gives you the chance to have your order redirected or reshipped. Additional shipping charges will apply. After 30 days your order will be processed as a return and will incur a 50% restocking fee. We will note your account with a store credit, less the shipping costs (both original and return).*

Reasons for returns may include but are not limited to:

• Incorrect / insufficient address or contact info.
• An adult of at least 21 years was not available to sign for and receive the delivery.
• Recipient was not available when deliveries were attempted.
• Recipient failed to pick-up at a carrier-designated facility following attempts to deliver.
• Refusal by the recipient to receive the package.

* Store credit is valid for 1 year from the return date.

What are Cape Ardor’s office hours?

We’re available Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm Pacific Time, and closed on weekends and National Holidays. Call us any time to place an order, get wine recommendations, or if have questions with your order.

What Proposition 65 warnings should I be aware of when purchasing your products?

Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine, and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol. Some products can expose you to chemicals including Bisphenol A (BPA), which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

I have a question that’s not covered here.

Please contact us here and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.