Filed in archive Wine Shops by Carol Bancroft on July 6, 2007

Travelling abroad is always exciting, especially for wine lovers. You can buy wines in other countries that are not sold in your own (and most people say that wines from Italy, for example, taste so much better in Italy than the same wines that are imported here). However, travellers are faced with the task of transporting their legal limit of wines back home (after all, there are carry-on regulations) if they do buy them while on vacation. This can be tricky, but USA Today offers some tips on travelling with wine:

You can also check wine as luggage, as long as it's within airline weight and size restrictions, National Geographic Traveler says.

But how do you pack it to make sure you don't end up with broken bottles and soaked luggage?

"Persnickety oenophiles pack their wine in fancy insulated wine suitcases," the magazine stated. "Others swear by the roll-it-up-in-dirty-laundry-and-cross-your-fingers method. Experts say foam shippers work just as well and are widely available and inexpensive."

What about international flights? U.S. Customs permits travelers over the age of 21 to bring alcohol into the country, but anything beyond one liter is subject to a duty of about 3%, according to the magazine. However, "the states have final say." So check with the alcohol control board of the state you're entering to see what the local rules are.

And although you might be eager to crack open that bottle of Bordeaux you bought on your trip to France, avoid "Bottle Shock" and let the wine sit for a few days, or even a week or two before you enjoy it.

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Vinturi Helps Wines to Breathe Faster, Taste Better! - 03 October 2007
Wine Drinkers Enjoy an Upgrade on US Airways - 24 January 2008

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Permalink: Travelling with Wine

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Vote for Travelling with Wine:

Currently 10.00/10
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Rating: 10.00 out of 1 vote(s) cast.

Response from: Albern (02/18/08 11:14pm)

I travel for business, and occasionally carry a bottle of good wine I've found home with me. I often travel on United, which has the following luggage policy: "Alcohol (wine and liquor) in checked baggage must be securely packaged in a leak-proof bag with adequate professional packaging designed to fit the proportions of the bottle to prevent breakage."

I have checked bottles without obeying this, surrounding them with clothing for padding --- it's only a matter of time until some luggage handler is too rough with my bag and then it’s all over. Recently I came upon a web site that specializes in wine bags and wine totes. I got a couple of their NEOTotes made of that spongy neoprene stuff. Great product for traveling and most of all it’s nice enough for the casual wine tasting when you get back.

Check them out at: http://www.winebags.com
or email them at wines@winebags.com.