Questions and answers

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You can contact us by email at . You’ll get your answer within one working day - in exceptional cases, it may take just a few hours longer. We can also offer a customer chat at the following service times: Monday – Friday: 12 noon – 6:00 p.m.

Delinat methods

Who are Delinat?
Delinat is a Swiss family business, which was founded 40 years ago with the aim of establishing organic viticulture throughout Europe. In a pioneering achievement, Delinat founder Karl Schefer set the very first standards for organic viticulture in 1983. Today, they are the most demanding in Europe and are the only ones to predefine a rich biodiversity in the vineyard and precisely define measures and methods that systematically promote a stable ecosystem.
What does the Delinat Organic Guarantee mean?

The Delinat Organic Guarantee ensures that the strict Delinat organic standards are met. The Delinat standards go far beyond the general requirements of organic farming and other organic standards (EU, Demeter, Bio Suisse), combining methods of regenerative agriculture, permaculture and the circular economy. Goal: Machine and human intervention as well as the use of pesticides (as well as those permitted in organic viticulture) are reduced to a minimum.

The Delinat Organic Guarantee has received the highest rating - «highly recommended» - from WWF Switzerland amongst others, which makes it the top-rated organic label.

Why is biodiversity at Delinat wines so important?
Viticulture is monoculture and unfortunately, organic viticulture is not exempt from it either. Biodiversity in the vineyard results in healthy, active soil, yielding rich and aromatic grapes with a top quality terroir. Delinat winemakers press the best grapes to produce delicious wine with character. A stable ecosystem in the vineyard also involves less effort and fewer costs. Delinat wines therefore stand out for having the best price/pleasure ratio.
What does «1, 2 or 3 snails» mean in the context of wines?

Delinat standards for the cultivation and development of organic wine go far beyond legal organic requirements and those of any other organic label. They are based on a model with three quality levels - marked with one, two or three vineyard snails. This means: The more snails are displayed, the higher requirements have been met. The lowest level already goes far beyond standard organic standards.

On the detailed product page under «Delinat level», you can see in detail what requirements a wine or winery have met.

How do Delinat check that their standards are being upheld?
Since 1998, Delinat has been working with the independent control and certification company bio.inspecta. Every year, in conjunction with national organizations, bio.inspecta checks that the standards are being upheld. Thus, Delinat itself no longer has any influence on the certification of a winery or a wine.
What is the difference between Delinat and EU organic labels?
The Delinat standards go much further in every area (copper and sulfur use, ecological compensation areas, number of biodiversity hotspots, etc.) than any other organic label. The avoidance of synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilizer is practically the only thing EU organic labels have in common with Delinat. We have listed the key differences here.
Which areas are regulated in the Delinat standards?
The focus of the over 120 standards points is on viticulture. Delinat standards are the only ones to describe biodiversity in detail and stipulate specific measures. Furthermore, they also regulate the processing and cellar work, and stipulate minimum social standards. They also oblige winegrowers to produce at least part of their energy consumption themselves from renewable energy.

Offer

From which countries does Delinat offer wine?

The Delinat range on offer comprises fine organic wines from the best wine regions in Europe, including wines from Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Greece and Switzerland. On offer are many organic wine classics, including Conterocca, Vinya Laia, Château Coulon or El Molino.

Delinat does not just put emphasis on ecology and sustainability in the vineyard but also on the transport. Principle: Short distances by road, long distances by rail. Wherever possible and doable, we rely on the train.

Why does Delinat not offer overseas wine?

One study has shown that the import of wine from overseas needs, at best, at least 2-3x more energy (crude oil) than European wine. The close partnership between winegrowers and Delinat also requires regular visits. For wineries overseas, it would mean Delinat wine consultants and buyers having to travel regularly by plane. As a matter of principle, however, Delinat abstains from business air travel.

Europe also supplies a great variety of wine; practically any type of wine can be sourced from neighboring European countries.

Are Delinat wines more expensive than conventional ones?
Generally speaking, controlled, organic wine is no more expensive nor is it any cheaper than comparable quality wine from conventional cultivation. However, organic viticulture requires a greater manual effort to maintain the vines. The yield limit also results in higher quality grapes; however, this also applies to quality wines from conventional cultivation.
Can you taste the difference between a Delinat wine and a conventional one?

Many comparison tastings show that the vast majority of organic wines are at least on a par with conventional wines in terms of taste. What’s more: We are convinced that the high biodiversity of the Delinat vineyards also has a positive effect on the quality of the wine. Which is proven by the well over 300 medals and other awards Delinat wines have won over the past years in different national and international wine competitions. When it comes to the price to pleasure ratio, Delinat wines have also performed above average in comparison tastings.

And after you’ve enjoyed a glass of Delinat wine, there is also another difference to conventional wine: Namely a clear conscience that you have done something good for nature.

Why can’t I find any sparkling wine and spirits?
Trading in sparkling wine and spirits within the EU is more complicated in terms of tax than trading in still wines. We have therefore refrained from offering these products for the time being. However, we are always expanding our product range.
Are all Delinat wines certified organic?
Yes, Delinat only sells certified organic products. Furthermore, all wines are also certified with the Delinat organic label. Delinat standards go far beyond any established organic standards (see Delinat standards).
What is vegan wine?
Different additives are used to make wine. Vegan wines are wines that are made without the use of animal products. Gelatin, casein and egg whites are used for refining and clarification, for instance. These additives are not permitted according to Delinat standards.
Which Delinat wines are vegan?
Since the 2017 vintage, all Delinat-certified wines are vegan.
What are robust grape varieties?
Fungus-resistant varieties (colloquially known as PIWI, abbreviated from the German word “pilzwiderstandsfähig") are created by crossing established European varieties (Merlot, Cabernet, etc.) with overseas varieties, which are highly disease resistant. These new varieties are robust against a variety of fungal diseases, including powdery mildew, downy mildew and gray mold in particular, which means the use of pesticides can be dispensed with. For many years now, Delinat has been promoting the development and cultivation of robust grape varieties. More information can be found in this video blog www.weinbau-der-zukunft.com (in German, with subtitles).

Wine pleasure

How do I store the wine?
Ideally, wine should be stored between 10°C and 12°C. Air humidity should be between 30% and 50%. A cellar is thus the best place to store wine. This applies especially to wines you intend to store over a longer period of time. If you want to enjoy your fine wine any time soon, the rule of thumb is simple: as cool and dark as possible.
What is the shelf life of a bottle of wine?
It varies a lot: Many wines should be drunk young, but others remain a special treat to drink after several years of storage. We specify the maximum storage period for every wine.
What is the optimum temperature for enjoying the wine?
Rule of thumb: White wine and rosé at 8°C to 10°C, red wine at 16°C bis 18° C. However, the recommended serving temperature can vary and so we always specify it for each wine.
Which wine should I drink on which occasion?
You’re allowed to drink whatever you enjoy! Drink a light white wine or a sparkling wine as an appetizer, a more substantial wine with food, and a sweet wine for dessert. An elegant rosé is a good choice on a mild summer’s evening and a heavier red wine is warming on a long winter’s evening in front of the fire. But there are exceptions that prove the rule. So try them out!
Which meals work with which wine?
For a long time, the rule was: white wine with fish, red wine with meat. And that rule still applies today, but we can broaden it out a little. To give you some inspiration, we give food recommendations with every wine.

Customer account

What are the advantages of registering with Delinat?
If you register as a user, your data will be saved for your next orders, making the ordering process much easier for you. You have access to your recent orders and bills in “My Account”, you can also save your favorite wines in a watch list and submit product reviews.
Can I also create a customer account later on?
Yes, you can register whenever you want. Click on the «Log in» icon and then on Create customer account
I have forgotten my access details. Where can I find them?
Click on the «Log in» icon and then on Forgot password. You will then get a confirmation email with a link. Use this link to set a new password. If you no longer know the email address you registered with, write to our customer service team:

Order

How secure is my order?
Delinat may be a new supplier in . We have been active in Switzerland, Germany and Austria for 40 years now and have already inspired tens of thousands of happy customers with our fine wine. Our shop also meets the quality standards of Trusted Shops, so your purchase is secured.
Is there a minimum order volume?
No.
How can I specify a new delivery address (e.g. holiday cottage or hotel)?
In the last section of the ordering process, click on the pencil icon next to “Delivery address”. This will take you to a view where you can select from the addresses already saved in your customer account. Alternatively, you can enter a new address for your order here. Please note that wines can currently only be delivered to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands
Can I save a default address?
If you would like to save your address as a default for future orders, go to «My Account» and click on Personal data -> Address book. This is where you can add new addresses and set addresses already saved by clicking on the adjacent information: «Use as default billing address» or «Use as default delivery address»
Can I also gift some wine via Delinat?
Yes. If you want to send some wine directly to a recipient, simply enter a new delivery address (see How can I specify a new delivery address?) If desired, you can also enter a greeting text for the gift.
How can I redeem a voucher?
In the last step of the ordering process, we display the invoice amount at the top of the page. Click on the “Redeem voucher” button directly underneath. Enter the voucher code into the relevant field. Also enter the amount and expiry date, if included on your voucher. After clicking on “Redeem now”, the voucher amount is taken directly from the order total.

Delivery & dispatch

How quick will my delivery be?
The wine will usually be with you within to days. Your parcel will be sent from Germany. Once dispatched, you will receive an email with the tracking number.
What are the shipping costs and what is the minimum spend for free delivery?
Shipping costs are Euro 0.00. We deliver free of charge when the value of goods is Euro 0 or over.
How secure is it to ship wine bottles?
We send the wine in stable, purpose-built cardboard boxes. It is really very rare for a bottle to get broken.
What happens if a bottle does get broken?
Should a bottle actually get broken, we will of course replace it or credit you for the value of the defective bottle. Just send an email to: .
Where is my parcel?
When we dispatch your wine from our warehouse, we will send you an email with the shipment tracking number. It can also be found in «My account» under the menu item Orders → Open. If you click on Orders, then «Track delivery», you will automatically be forwarded to the respective transport company’s shipment tracking system. If your shipment is made up of more than just one parcel, it may be that the parcels get separated along the shipment route and arrive with you on different days.
Which shipment provider will deliver my parcel?
We send our wine parcels with DHL.
Can I get my parcel delivered to a «packstation» or service point?
Of course. Simply select the relevant option in the ordering process.

Payment & billing

What payment method options are there in the online shop?
You can currently pay by .
How do I get the invoice for my order?
We send the invoice by email immediately upon delivery. You can also download it as a PDF in your personal «My account» section under Orders → Invoice
What are the bank account details for Delinat?
Recipient:
Delinat GmbH, 79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen
IBAN: DE93 6601 0075 0611 6117 53
SWIFT / BIC: PBNKDEFF
Finanzinstitut: Postbank Karlsruhe, 76127 Karlsruhe
I have a credit note. How can I deduct it?
If you are paying by invoice, you simply subtract the corresponding amount. If you have already paid the invoice, you will credited the amount on your next order. With Direct Debit, your voucher will be automatically deducted.

Complaints

What happens if a wine is corked?
Delinat wines only use high quality corks, which means “cork taint” is rare. Should it actually happen, contact our customer service team and we will credit the bottle or send you a new one straight away. An email to will suffice.
Can I send a wine back?
You may send any wine back within the recommended storage period without stating your reasons for doing so. Write to us at .

Recycling of wine cardboard boxes

How can I give the valuable wine cardboard boxes back?
We currently only take back wine cardboard boxes in Germany and Switzerland. Thank you for your understanding.

Questions? We're happy to help.