Race against time: DHL supplies Beaujolais fans around the world

This year DHL will once again be transporting around two million bottles of the young red wine. The first leg of the journey is from the Beaujolais region to Lyon: 130 trucks transport a total of 2,000 tonnes of freight to DHL Global Forwarding's central hub at the Saint Exupéry Airport. Once there, the wine is loaded onto palettes and shipped via air cargo to destinations throughout the world. Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London are the central hubs for the worldwide distribution of this specialty wine. And DHL handles not only the transport, but also the necessary formalities such as customs forms and fees.

About half of the wine is shipped to the USA. Other major consumers include Japan (around 800,000 bottles) and Canada (around 165,000 bottles). In all, wine enthusiasts in over 150 countries - even in Bermuda, the Caribbean islands and the beaches of Polynesia - count on DHL to bring them their Beaujolais. In France, DHL Express sees to it that around 125,000 bottles - approximately 1,000 individual shipments - are delivered within 24 to 48 hours.

Along with the yearly transport of Beaujolais Nouveau, the shipment of Champagne makes up a significant portion of fall business for DHL Express in France. As early as October, DHL picks up the harvest at various Champagne producers and transports the grapes to the different presses and cellars. Later, DHL handles both the domestic and international shipment of the bottled Champagne, whose main consumers include Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and the USA. Customers range from hotel chains and wine wholesalers to restaurants and private individuals.