I have a son that wants me to bring him a bottle of local wine from every country I travel. Is there a better way that purchasing it at a wine cellar and carrying it the rest of the journey? I did this in Italy thinking I could get it shipped home and they did not speak English. Should I just purchase it at the airport as I leave? Do you think the selection would be good? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Do a search here to learn the hassles of shipping wine back to the states. <BR>You're right that the wine selection at the airport probably won't be ideal. Then again, it sounds as though your son's interest isn't so much in the wine as in the fact that it came from X country, so maybe it doesn't matter. I'm not sure you can fulfill the geographic requirements of this exercise at an airport. I didn't check, but I don't remember seeing anything other than Italian wine at Malpensa or French wine at CDG. <BR>Wouldn't your son rather have something nice and portable such as a dish towel from every country? Or a chocolate bar? Or a washcloth?

Your son probably doesn't realize the weight of those bottles; ok so if you're going to be in France and Belgium only, that's two bottles (you can buy 1/2 litre bottles of many wines) so do the kid a favor (you buy 1/2 litre bottle your last day in France, and a 1/2 litre of Belgian wine the last day of your trip). If you're doing the Grand Tour, by the 10th day you will have 6 bottles of wine and be seriously considering removing said son from your will (if not from the face of the earth). <BR>Shipping wine home is sheer torture and not worth it for a couple of bottles; many states don't even allow 'importation' unless you have a license. <BR>Think something more packable, as marthapython ("Message for you, sir") suggests, the washcloth, or an ugly hair doodad or fanny pack.

That's a really awful thing to ask of you. You don't need to drag bottles of wine around Europe! I recommend you visit the Mosel Valley of Germany. Beautiful, soft white wines are produced there. There are vintners there who know how to ship wine to the United States and you could get a case of something that tastes good, rather than a REALLY HEAVY collection of souveniers that vary in quality. On second thought, you might ask him if cardboard beer coasters would please him just as much!

How about bringing him the corks from every bottle you have drunk in Europe? Much lighter.

Unless, like the Loons, the corks from your consumed wine weigh more than a Buick. <BR> <BR>Now here's a poser for you furrinners: have Mailboxes Etc. invaded your cities? If they (or somewhat the same ilk) have, then a bottle or two could be wrapped and sent via mail along the way....

When I was in France, they suggested that I take it to UPS and ship it home. I ended up just buying a 1/2 liter of Champagne and shoved it in my backpack