Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering, Shipping & Delivery

Q: I selected overnight shipping when I placed my order yesterday, but it hasn't arrived today. What happened?

A: The shipping method you select at checkout determines the transit time after your order has shipped. It does not determine when the order will leave our warehouse.

If you need your order shipped on a specific date or delivered by a particular date, please let us know. We'll do our best to coordinate the shipment accordingly.

Q: My order has already shipped. Can I change the delivery address?

A: No. Once an order has shipped, the delivery address cannot be changed. Shipments must be delivered to the original address provided at checkout. They cannot be redirected to another address or a drop box location.

If the original delivery address is no longer valid, the shipment will need to be returned to us and reshipped to the correct address. Additional shipping charges will apply for both the return and the new shipment.

Please double-check your shipping address before completing your order!

Q: Can you ship wine to a PO Box?

A: No. All wine shipments must be delivered to a physical street address. Federal and postal regulations prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from handling alcohol shipments.

Additionally, all shipments require an in-person signature from someone 21 years of age or older.

Q: Do I really need to be present to sign for my delivery?

A: Yes. All shipments require an in-person signature from someone at least 21 years of age. A valid, government-issued photo ID is required.

Carriers will not accept a signature release, a written note, or instructions to leave the package unattended. Unfortunately, we cannot authorize packages to be left at the front door.

Q: I selected "Please hold my order until more satisfactory weather is available" at checkout. What happens next?

A: Your order will be processed, and an order confirmation will be emailed to you for your records. Your credit card will be charged as usual.

If you requested a specific shipping date, we'll contact you as that date approaches to confirm that you're ready for shipment.

If you did not specify a date, we'll hold your order until weather conditions are suitable for shipping to your location. Once conditions improve, we'll email you to arrange a shipping date.

Our general weather guidelines:

• Winter: Overnight temperatures along the expected delivery route should generally remain above freezing (32°F).

• Summer: Daytime temperatures along the expected delivery route should generally remain below 80°F.

These are general guidelines, and actual shipping decisions may depend on the weather conditions along the entire delivery route.

Q: What does "Aabalat" mean?

A: Absolutely nothing!

When the company was being established, the internet hadn't even been dreamed up yet. Business directories were still printed on paper and sorted alphabetically, much like telephone books. The goal was to come up with a unique name that would appear near the top of those directories without resorting to something like "AAAA Wines."

And that's how Aabalat came to be!

Q: What does the shipping insurance on my order cover?

A: Shipping insurance covers physical loss of or damage to the package, including breakage during transit. It does not cover damage caused by extreme temperatures.

For example:

• Extreme heat: High temperatures can cause wine to expand, potentially pushing out the cork or causing the bottle to leak.

• Extreme cold: Freezing temperatures can cause wine to freeze, potentially breaking the bottle or pushing out the cork.

Neither of these situations is covered by shipping insurance. We strongly recommend holding shipments when weather conditions could put your wine at risk.

Q: Will you substitute another vintage if the one I ordered is out of stock?

A: Never. We do not substitute vintages without your approval.

If the vintage you ordered is unavailable, we'll contact you to discuss your options before proceeding with the order.

Q: Can you add ice packs to my shipment?

A: Yes! Ice packs are available for the following shipping box sizes:

• 2-bottle

• 4-bottle

• 6-bottle

• 8-bottle

• 12-bottle

Unfortunately, our 1-bottle and 3-bottle boxes do not have room for ice packs.

A few things to keep in mind:

Ice packs are not a guarantee against heat damage. Many types of ice packs last less than 24 hours, even when stored in relatively cool conditions.

For overnight shipments, and sometimes 2-day shipments, ice packs can make a difference. However, for ground shipments that spend 4–5 days in transit, they may provide little benefit since they are likely to melt during the first day.

If you're concerned about shipping temperatures, we recommend holding your order until conditions are suitable rather than relying on ice packs alone.

Q: How can I add a gift message or special instructions to my order?

A: Before proceeding to checkout, look for "Add Special Shipping Instructions / Gift Message" in the shopping cart window. You'll find it just above the subtotal and the terms and conditions checkbox.

If you don't see it, you may need to scroll down inside the cart window using the scrollbar on the right.

Enter your gift message or special instructions before checking the terms and conditions box and proceeding to checkout.