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Bringing wine from France into Switzerland

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Old Feb 19th, 2006 | 10:38 AM
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Bringing wine from France into Switzerland

I'll be traveling from the US and visiting France first. I plan to purchase some wine for use in Switzerland as well as to bring home. Am I limited in the amount I can bring into Switzerland? If so, what is the maximum amount?

TIA
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Old Feb 19th, 2006 | 10:43 AM
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You'll need do declare any amount over 2 liters per person.
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Old Feb 19th, 2006 | 10:44 AM
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Thanks logos. That will be more than enough.
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Old Feb 19th, 2006 | 10:54 AM
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swiss wine is fantastic and surprisingly inexpensive. very little of it is exported so its virtues are not widely known outside of switzerland.

forgive me if you already know this and you have specific tastes that are only met by french wine. however, if your tastes are not so specific, i would recommend drinking swiss wine whilst you are in switzerland and save your allowance for wine you plan to bring home.
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Old Feb 19th, 2006 | 11:40 AM
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If you have more than the limit on the Swiss border, they're going to charge you for the balance above your limit. But, the amount charged is pennies. Check with the authorities but each time I arrived at the border, I would tell the Swiss that I was carrying lots of wine. They put a small amount for charges and that's all was needed. Easy Peasy.

Blackduff
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Old Feb 19th, 2006 | 01:48 PM
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Your replys make it all very easy. We'll pick up French wine to take home and drink Swiss wine while in Switzerland. I probably can't carry the full amount I am entitled to in any case.
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Old Feb 19th, 2006 | 09:14 PM
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Sounds like you've got your question answered but I just had to chime in because some of my all time favorite white wines... are Swiss.

Drink it there, not much gets exported because the Swiss drink it all themselves (or so my local friends proudly tell me)!!
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 04:03 AM
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Does anybody at the Swiss border check to see how much wine you are bringing into the country? I can't imagine being searched, especially if you have a U.S. passport -- maybe if you have a Swiss passport.

Speaking of Swiss wine, do they have tasting rooms?
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 04:31 AM
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Yes, they do! My husband works for a wine distributor. They have a wine shop where you can taste for free any of their wines. They sell Swiss wines and international wines.

Schuler Weine, Seewen, Schwyz.

You can visit their restaurant and wine bar in Luzern. It's called La Bonne Cave and it's located near the Kappel's Bridge on the old town side.
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 05:07 AM
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This thread reminded me that a long time ago. a Swiss friend intrpduced me to a good white wine from Switzerland and I cannot recall the name. I am sure it was one of the most popular ones. Can anyone give me a few names..I am thinking that the name I am looking for is the varietal but not sure. I would like to seek it out here in NYC.
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 05:23 AM
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St. Saphorin, Epesses, Fechy, Aigle, Sylvaner, La Cote, Fendant, Dezalay, Ratsheeren Chablais:
Any strike a bell?
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 05:54 AM
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Swiss Wines noted in Palm. This trip sounds better and better. Sipping wine while riding a train through the georgeous scenery. Plastic wine goblet all packed.

Any other ideas.
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 06:42 AM
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Dezaley. Thanks, Schuler.
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 09:42 AM
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Schuler, why didn't you tell us earlier about your husband's job? I LOVE Swiss wine and use to bring some back home every time I am on vacation in Switzerland.

Dezaley ... yummy! But since I use to be in the Engadine often I have the red ones for the meals ... Pinot Noir from the Bündner Herrschaft, and the Triacca wines from Valtellina e.g. (ok, not exactly Swiss, but the vineyard's owners are Swiss and from the perspective 300 years ago it is still Swiss ;-) ).

Budman, there are caveaux in French Switzerland where you can taste the wine - along the shores of Lake Geneva, Lake Neuchatel for example. I *loved* the caveau in Lutry near Lausanne.
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 10:13 AM
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Ingo, I will be around Grindelwald (for a week), Weggis, Luzern, and Zurich.
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 12:17 PM
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Not really regions with vineyards
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 01:00 PM
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Hi Ingo,

I never cease to be amazed by you. You know so much about Switzerland.

As for my hubby, well, he's the IT manager of the company. But he's good at knowing whether a wine has "Zapfe" or not (bad wine.)
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Old Feb 20th, 2006 | 01:13 PM
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When you're in the Vaud/Waadtland region (others also), buy the white-wine glasses they use to sip whites throughout the afternoon, they're barely bigger than American shotglasses.

We bought a six-pack near the Chillon castle and saw them elsewhere, too. With a bit of luck a restaurant might sell them to you. They're awfully cute and also make for good vermouth glasses if you like a small half-and-half (red sweet mixed with white dry, add a lemon twist, no ice).

Happy sipping

WK
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