Can I order from DirectCave now?
The catalogue can be viewed, but online sales are not yet open: we are finalizing the administrative procedures related to the remote sale of alcoholic beverages. In the meantime, the wines presented here are available at Les Gouttes de Dieu wine shops, where the team can provide information and prepare your selection.
Do you have to be 18 to buy?
Yes, and this is a legal requirement, not a formality. Article L. 3342-1 of the Public Health Code prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of eighteen. By confirming an order, the customer certifies that they are of legal age; proof of age may be required, and the carrier is authorized to ask for identification upon delivery and refuse to hand over the order to a minor.
Can I pick up my order at the wine shop?
Yes, and it is free. Pick-up takes place at 13 boulevard des Batignolles, 75008 Paris, by calling 09 56 31 56 32. Identification and order confirmation are required at pick-up. This is the solution we recommend for old vintages and bottles from the wine library, which do not tolerate handling well.
How are the wines stored before shipping?
In a temperature-controlled warehouse in Île-de-France, under the same conditions as the wines intended for the restaurants we supply. More than 1,200 references are kept in permanent stock there, with over 200,000 bottles available. This is what allows us to offer old vintages with genuine traceability of their storage.
Can the vintage received differ from the one displayed?
This can happen, and our general terms and conditions specify this. Wine is a living product: the vintage, labelling, or alcohol content may vary from one batch to another. These variations do not constitute a lack of conformity. If the vintage of a requested reference has changed, please let us know before ordering; we will check the available batch.
Can I return a bottle?
Yes, within fourteen days, provided it is intact. The right of withdrawal applies for fourteen days from receipt, without having to provide a reason. However, an opened or unsealed bottle, whose cork, capsule, or label has been altered, can no longer be sold: it cannot therefore be eligible for a refund. Products must be returned sealed, complete, and properly packaged.
How do I return an item?
First, contact customer service by email at contact@directcave.fr or by phone at 01 85 56 84 50, specifying the order number, the references, and the reason. A return number will be provided to you: it must be clearly visible on the package. A package returned without this number cannot be processed within the usual timeframes, as its origin must first be established.
What should I do if a bottle arrives broken?
Check the package in front of the carrier and write precise reservations on the delivery note—simply writing "damaged package" without details has no legal value. Report the breakage to us quickly, with photographs of the package and the bottles. This information is essential for us to compensate you and to pursue a claim against the carrier.
What if the wine is corked or oxidized?
Keep the bottle and its cork, and send us photographs. The cork is the item that allows us to establish the origin of the defect, and it determines whether we can pursue a claim with the producer. Report it without delay. However, any deterioration due to unsuitable storage conditions after delivery cannot be attributed to us: wine is sensitive to heat and light.
How should I store my bottles at home?
What matters is stability more than the temperature itself. Keep them between 10 and 16°C at all times, away from light, with humidity around 70% and without vibrations. A cellar at a stable 15°C is better than a cellar at 12°C that rises to 20°C in summer. We detail the storage times by region in this article.
Can I ask for advice before buying?
Yes, in fact, that is what we are here for. The team answers from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 01 85 56 84 50, or by email at contact@directcave.fr. Describe your meal, your budget, and the number of guests: this is how the restaurateurs we supply work. Guidelines by type of dish can also be found in our article on food and wine pairings.
Who should I contact in the event of a dispute?
First, contact customer service, which handles most situations. If the disagreement persists, a consumer mediator can be contacted free of charge: the Centre de la Médiation de la Consommation de Conciliateurs de Justice, CM2C, 49 rue de Ponthieu, 75008 Paris—contact@cm2c.net—01 89 47 00 14—https://www.cm2c.net. This can only be done after having first made a complaint with us.