Shipping Wine Tips

Filed in archive Wine News on August 15, 2006

I found these tips on line for shipping wine. Due to the new air line restrictions on liquids, which may be around for awhile perhaps even forever, I thought they were worth considering.

Ways to Transport Wines:

At the vineyard: Ask for Styrofoam-insulated wine boxes, which typically hold six or 12 bottles. In light of the new flight restrictions, some vineyards are offering these boxes gratis while others charge anywhere from $5 to $10 apiece.

Ship it: Vineyards typically will ship cases of wine via express-mailing services like FedEx or UPS. Be warned: postage can range from about $17 a case for in-state addresses to more than $100 for out-of-state locations.

If you can't find a box: Wine sellers don't recommend that you carry your wine inside your suitcase, but if you can't locate a box, wine experts say to wrap your bottles in clothes and two layers of plastic bags to prevent any spillover.

Unfortunately, I think this is something most wine lovers are going to have to take into consideration now when traveling. Thinking ahead can save you some money and frustration.