Shipping Policy

Shipping Policy

-Terms & Conditions-

By placing an order, you represent to us you are at least 21 years old and the person to whom you are directing delivery is at least 21 years old.

-Shipping Guidelines-

If you need your wine delivered on a specific date, please notify our Shipping Coordinator at 503-687-3603 or by emailing shipping@sotervineyards.com. With advance notice, we are happy to change your ship date to ensure delivery.

With all packages containing alcohol, an adult signature from someone 21 or older is required at the time of delivery. We recommend shipping to a business address or a FedEx/UPS location to ensure easy delivery. We are unable to ship to P.O. boxes.

You will be emailed tracking information once the carrier scans your package. These details will be sent to the email you provided in the shipping address field. Check to be sure that it didn’t get sent to your spam or junk in-boxes. Please check directly with the carrier for the most accurate delivery estimate so you can ensure someone is present to sign for your wine.

The carrier will make three delivery attempts before returning the package to us. If you know you will not be able to sign at the time of delivery, or if you receive a notice the package missed a delivery attempt, please reach out directly to the carrier service or shipping@sotervineyards.com. You may be able to:

·      Arrange to pick the package up at a local facility. Please note, carriers will only hold packages for 5 business days.

·      Have the package sent to an alternate address (must be within the same state as the original delivery address). Please note, changing the delivery address will incur an additional $21 expense.

If your wine is not successfully delivered and is returned to us, we will contact you to arrange re-shipment. Please note that if your wine is returned to us, you will be charged the shipping cost required to re-send the package.

Our primary carrier is FedEx. We can ship via UPS upon customer request.

To best manage your deliveries, we strongly recommend you sign up for FedEx Delivery Manager or UPS My Choice, depending on your selected carrier. You can request more services to simplify delivery, such as vacation holds or appointment delivery through these programs, which only the recipient can select.

- Winegrowers Case Club Members Shipping Benefits -

Soter Vineyards covers Ground and Vinum55 shipping expenses for Winegrowers Case Club Members on three annual allocations and additional purchases shipped with your club allocations. To utilize your shipping benefit, orders must be sent on the same date as your next club allocation. For Winegrowers Case Club Members shipping allocations via Air, you receive 30% off the cost of shipping. Please note that while additional shipping benefits will not be applied to orders placed online, we are happy to assist you in placing your order to utilize your shipping benefits. Call us at (503) 662-5600 or email us directly at hospitality@sotervineyards.com for personal assistance!

-When Placing an Online Order-

Please enter and select your shipping address and proceed to “Shipping Options” - based on the shipping state entered please see the notes at the top of the checkout page (in orange above “Delivery/Pickup Information”) for details regarding any shipping recommendations due to the weather as well as the currently scheduled shipping date for your selected shipping method.

All orders are checked for shipping details and compliance with state regulations before they are shipped. Should we need more information to complete your order, we will reach out to the contact information provided in the billing field. 

Please note: Ground delivery typically takes 1 – 7 business days, depending on your state’s proximity to Oregon. For a delivery date estimate, or to ensure delivery by a specific date, please contact shipping@sotervineyards.com.

-Return Policy-

We guarantee our products and we will replace or refund you for wine that is damaged or flawed. Please contact shipping@sotervineyards.com and we will happily assist you. We ask that local customers return the unfinished portion of the original bottle to the tasting room for replacement or refund.

We are unable to honor our guarantee for any wine shipped against our recommendations or that is not received successfully on the first delivery attempt. If you have any questions about our guarantee, please contact the Shipping Coordinator at 503-687-3603 or by emailing shipping@sotervineyards.com

If you receive a package that has been visibly damaged in transit, please contact us as soon as possible to arrange for an exchange or refund. Please provide photos of the damaged packaging and bottles, these may be needed to secure a claim with the carrier. When possible, please keep the products in the original packaging until instructed otherwise. We will advise you on how to arrange for the package to be returned to us (if applicable) and plan for a replacement shipment or refund as preferred.

-Weather Restrictions-

We do not ship wine via Ground in extreme temperatures, either hot or cold. Customers may elect to ship their wine via Express Air, Cold Chain (offered May – October only), or to have the order held until weather permits safe Ground shipping. While we cannot guarantee the weather will not change, we will make every effort to ensure that your package is not subjected to weather extremes. If you feel you have received a damaged bottle, please contact us immediately.  

Please contact the Shipping Coordinator at 503-687-3603 or by emailing shipping@sotervineyards.com should you have questions regarding the status of your shipment.

o   Winter Shipping

When temperatures across the country are near or below freezing, we evaluate safe shipping methods depending on local departing temperatures, time and temperature in transit, and arrival temperatures.

For most states we do not ship via Ground during the winter to avoid compromising the quality of the wine in any way. We will often recommend shipping via Express Air methods depending on your state; please ask for pricing if you are interested in these options. If you prefer to ship via Ground, we will hold your shipment until the safer temperatures (typically mid-March to early April) allow for safe transit. We will be in touch approximately one week before shipping to confirm you will be available to receive delivery. Should weather necessitate, we will be in touch to communicate any changes to your ship date.

o   Summer Shipping

When temperatures across the country are above 75 degrees, we evaluate safe shipping methods depending on local departing temperatures, time and temperature in transit, and arrival temperatures.

During the summer we are unable to ship via Ground to most states to ensure that the quality of your wine is not compromised by high temperatures experienced in transit or while out for delivery. Depending on your state, we may recommend Express Air or Cold Chain shipping methods to protect your wine. Please ask for pricing if you are interested in these options. Alternatively, we can always hold your order until the cooler temperatures of Fall (October or November) when it is safe to resume shipping via Ground. If you select this option, we will be in touch approximately one week before shipping to confirm you will be available to receive delivery. Should weather necessitate, we will be in touch to communicate any changes to your ship date.

For many states, we exclusively recommend shipping services which guarantee delivery by noon, to avoid high late afternoon temperatures while the package is out for delivery. While Cold Chain, 2-day AM Air, and Priority Overnight Air are available to most locations and guarantee delivery by noon, delivery to extended service areas is not guaranteed until 5pm. We do not consider these options safe when shipping to extended service areas in particularly hot states, and therefore do not recommend them. Instead, we would offer to hold the wine to ship via Ground when weather permits.  

- FedEx Cold Chain Shipping (offered May – October)

FedEx Cold Chain utilizes both refrigerated trucks and Overnight shipping methods to protect the quality of your wine from high temperatures.

This shipping method costs more than Ground shipping but typically costs less than Express Air methods.

Delivery takes approximately 1 week from the scheduled pick-up date. FedEx Cold Chain operates on a specific schedule, and we will communicate your expected pick-up and delivery date (for online orders, please see the detailed notes at the top of the checkout page).

Cold Chain is not available to Hawaii. We do not recommend shipping via Cold Chain to Arizona during the summer months.

Please note, the delivery vehicle is not temperature controlled. Therefore, deliver by noon, and a successful first delivery attempt are very important to ensure the quality of your wine.  

-Vinum55-

Only available to select regions of AZ & TX.  Please reach out to us directly to confirm Vinum55 shipping is available to your area.

·       AZ: Phoenix Metro area & Tucson.

·      TX: Austin, Dallas, Houston, & San Antonio - please note addresses outside of the city center may not be available for delivery.

Vinum55 is our preferred carrier for AZ & TX unless your shipping address is outside the delivery area, or you have requested shipping via another method.

·       Vinum55 is temperature-controlled, which is ideal in periods of extreme weather (both hot and cold). The pick-up, transit, and delivery vehicles, as well as all storage facilities are temperature controlled – 55 degrees the whole way. There is no risk to the wine with missed deliveries.

·       Orders are consolidated for pick-up at our winery (expected pick-up on a monthly basis, volume permitting) and packages are held at Vinum55's temperature-controlled facilities until volumes for efficient delivery runs have been met (maximum of 30 days). While delivery timelines are longer than traditional carriers, Vinum55 offers a safe way to ship to AZ & TX where conditions are not safe to ship via Ground services for over half the year.

·      As Vinum55 specializes in wine shipping, which requires someone over 21 to be present to receive, they are happy to arrange a different location, date, or time to ensure delivery. You can also arrange for pick-up at one of their three locations in AZ (Phoenix, Chandler, and Scottsdale) or their location in TX (Allen).

·      Vinum55 handles tracking and customer communications and customer communications directly. Please expect tracking notifications from their system – Detrack. We are happy to communicate with them on your behalf if you have any questions regarding a package in transit or need to make delivery changes.

·       Contact information:

o   Phone: 833-455-9463

o   Email: DTC@vinum55.com or Concierge@vinum55.com

-Gift Shipping-

We cannot ship wine as a surprise gift, as packages containing alcohol require the signature of someone over 21 at the time of delivery. When gifting wine, we ask that you communicate with the recipient so they can expect a package from Soter Vineyards that needs a signature. We also ask that you provide an email address for the recipient, so they can receive tracking information and best prepare for a successful delivery.

All information related to payment will only be sent to the contact in the billing field. Additionally, costs are not listed on our packing slips. 

Tracking information from the carrier will only be sent to the contact in the shipping field. This information should be for the recipient of the package. We can manually include the billing contact at request.

We will happily include a personalized gift note if you pass your desired message on to us!

Please reach out if you are interested in gift packaging by contacting shipping@sotervineyard.com. Gift packaging includes a printed Soter box and a handwritten card with your provided message and is $15/package. Gift packaging is offered seasonally, and is available by request throughout the year (subject to availability).

-Shipping Limitations-

We do not hold licenses to ship to: 

·      Alaska

·      Arkansas

·      Delaware

·      Indiana

·      Kentucky

·      Louisiana

·      Mississippi

·      North Dakota

·      South Dakota

·      Utah

·      West Virginia

-       In addition to the above states, we are unable to accept off-site (wine club, online, email, or phone) orders shipping to Rhode Island.

If you live in one of the above states, please contact us and we can provide you with the name of our distributor in your state to contact regarding local carriers of our wines.

-       Orders shipping to Alabama must ship to an “Alcoholic Beverage Control” (ABC) store; we cannot ship wine to personal addresses. Please provide the address for your local ABC store in the shipping field or reach out to shipping@sotervineyards.com for help selecting an ABC location near you.

-       For orders shipping to Florida:

• There are two counties where direct shipping is prohibited – Lafayette & Liberty.

• We recommend shipping via Express Air year-round or FedEx Cold Chain (offered May – October). Should you wish to ship via Ground, our replacement/return policy is voided.

-       For orders shipping to Hawaii, only Express Air shipping (2-day or Overnight Air) is available.

-       For orders shipping to Maine, restrictions prevent the shipment of 375ml (split) bottles.

-       For orders shipping to Michigan, a copy of your government-issued photo ID is needed to complete your order as these states have strict age verification requirements. For on-site orders, a copy can be made in our Tasting Room. For off-site orders, please email a copy to shipping@sotervineyards.com. If you prefer, you may send this information via secure fax at 503-662-5606.

-       For orders shipping to New Hampshire, direct shipping is prohibited to Ellsworth.

-       For orders shipping to Vermont, there are four cities where direct shipping is prohibited – Baltimore, Athens, Holland, and Maidstone.

If you are looking for our wine internationally, please contact us and we will provide the name of our distributor in your country, should we have one.

Many states place limitations on the amount of wine we can ship to consumers. If your order exceeds the volume limit imposed by your state, we will reach out to you to discuss your options.

-       Arizona: Volume limit of 12 cases per individual per year. 

-       Connecticut: Volume limit of 5 gallons (approximately 2 - 9 liter cases) per individual every 62 days.

-       DC: Volume limit of 1 case per individual per calendar month.

-       Georgia: Off-site volume limit of 12 cases per household AND per individual per calendar year. On-site volume limit of 5 cases per household AND per individual per calendar year.

-       Hawaii: Volume limit of 6 cases per household per calendar year.

-       Idaho: Volume limit of 24 cases per individual per calendar year. 

-       Illinois: Volume limit of 12 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       Kansas: Off-site volume limit of 12 cases per household AND per individual per calendar year.

-       Maine: Volume limit of 12 cases per household per calendar year.

-       Maryland: Volume limit of 18 cases per household per calendar year.

-       Massachusetts: Volume limit of 12 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       Minnesota: Volume limit of 2 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       Missouri: Volume limit of 2 cases per individual per calendar month.

-       Montana: Volume limit of 18 cases per individual per 365 days.

-       Nebraska: Volume limit of 108 liters (12 - 9 liter cases) per individual per calendar year.

-       Nevada: Volume limit of 12 cases per individual per fiscal year (begins July 1st).

-       New Hampshire: Volume limit of 12 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       New Jersey: Volume limit of 12 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       New Mexico: Volume limit of 2 cases per individual per calendar month.

-       New York: Volume limit of 5 cases per individual per calendar month & 36 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       North Carolina: Off-site volume limit of 2 cases per individual per calendar month. On-site volume limit of 5 cases per individual per calendar day.

-       Ohio: Volume limit of 24 cases per household per calendar year.

-       Oklahoma: Volume limit of 6 (9 liter) cases per individual per calendar year.

-       Oregon: Volume limit of 5 cases per individual per calendar month.

-       Pennsylvania: Volume limit of 36 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       South Carolina: Volume limit of 24 bottles per individual per calendar month.

-       Tennessee: Volume limit of 9 liters (1 - 9 liter case) per individual per calendar month and 27 liters (3 – 9 liter cases) per individual per calendar year.

-       Texas: Volume limit of 9 gallons (approximately 3.5 - 9 liter cases) per individual per calendar month and 36 gallons (approximately 15 – 9 liter cases) per calendar year.

-       Vermont: Volume limit of 12 cases per individual per calendar year.

-       Virginia: Volume limit of 2 cases per individual per calendar month.

-       Wisconsin: Volume limit of 108 liters (12 - 9 liter cases) per individual per calendar year.

-       Wyoming: Volume limit of 108 liters (12 - 9 liter cases) per household per fiscal year (begins July 1st).