47 Heat-Damaged Wine: Signs, Causes, and How to Protect Your Bottles

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Episode Summary

It's getting hot out there—and it only takes a few hours of high heat to seriously damage a bottle of wine. In this episode, Joanne explains what heat damage actually does to wine, how you can spot it, and what you can do to protect your bottles at every stage—from delivery trucks to the trunk of your car.

She shares real-world examples from the wine shop (including those dreaded summer deliveries), explains why most wineries won't ship wine in summer, and offers smart tips for protecting your bottles—including her golden rule: treat wine like you would a side of salmon.

Whether you're a wine student, a collector, or just picking up a few bottles for dinner, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Topics Covered

• What heat damage does to wine (flavor, structure, and cork integrity)

• How quickly heat damage can happen (hint: hours, not days)

• What to look for when receiving wine shipments or shopping retail

• Why wineries pause shipping in summer

• How to safely transport wine in a hot car

• Tips for storage, delivery tracking, and protecting your wine year-round