Bringing Wine Home...How?
 

I am reading different ways that people are flying home with wine. I'm confused, BA has a 13 lb. limit on carry ons. In 1997 we brought Lemoncello, wine and tiles on board and there was no problem, but sounds like the rules have changed. I don't want to get to the airport and find we can't bring the wine. What are your experiences?

Hi SallyJo,

13 lb is about 6 bottles of wine.

I have brought a dozen or more bottles of wine on several occasions, and I have never put it in my carry-on. I carry a large canvas duffel - - big enough to put my whole rollaboard inside it. I try to get the kind of corrugated wine sleeves that you will find at a wine boutique, when I purchase the wine. A rollaboard works nicely as a case; holds a dozen bottles easily. Stuff clothes in the nooks and crannies.

Then put the rollaboard inside the large duffel bag and put the rest of your clothes around the rollaboard (inside the duffel) - - like the "white" around its "yolk" (the rollaboard, in this case).

You'll have no problems carrying this nor checking it (ideally, stay under 20 kg, all total inside this duffel).

Best wishes,

Rex

Rex,
What is a rollaboard? And did you check the duffle in and the wine made it safely? We did buy an expandable duffle for the trip already.

I'm glad someone else does not know what a rolla board is, did you bring the corigated wine sleeves or buy them in Europe?
Thanks in advance
Fluff

I always take sheets of bubble wrap cut to size for a bottle of wine in my luggage. Doesn't take up much room and you can then wrap bottles of wine, olive oil, etc. I then split up a case of wine between my carry on and my wife's carry on. Works quite well.

We rolled up a duffle in our luggage on the way over. On the way back, we wrapped 6 bottles wine in our t shirts undies,etc and filled the duffle tightly so nothing moved around. We checked the duffle and everything arrived safely.

A rollaboard is a common name for the kind of "check-in legal" size of 22 inch suitcase with an extension handle and wheels on the bottom - - first popularized by flight attendants 10 or 15 years ago.

It is the largest size suitcase I recommend for OUTbound overseas travel.

And yes, I have used this approach many times, with a never a broken bottle.

I have obtained those corrugated sleeves IN Europe at wine stores (an "enoteca" in Italy, a boutique de vin in France, for example).

Bubble wrap is also fairly easy to find at any good paper store, or mailboxes etc(many locations across Europe). If you are worried about language, just carry a small piece with you.

Thanks Rex, makes sense once you explain it. What is the advantage of putting the rollaboard inside a duffle bag. Why not just pad the rollaboard and put the wine inside?

My particular rollaboard is just about as wide as a bottle is tall, so they are hel nice and secure from knocking around against each other, but not terribly padded (I think of worst case scenarios - - a vehicle actually runs over my bag). Besides, my clothes need to go somewhere, and I would rather carry one larger duffel than wheel my rollaboard AND carry the duffel half full.

I have also successfully used my big canvas duffel as an "emergency" rooftop-carrier, when there seemed to be too tight a squeeze for all the luggage (six adults in a minivan).

Too useful to leave home without.

When we are in Italy in fall and plan on bringing home wine, olive oil and balsemic vinegar, we are going to wrap as suggested (bubble wrap or padded cold storage bags), but we are then going to seal that in a plastic trash bag, duct-taped at top. So if there is spillage/breakage, we hope it stays confined to bag vs. our clothing! :)

PS Not sure how we're going to carry the duct tape. My b-in-law just told me that he always wraps a piece of duct tape around his shaving can, so if he needs some, he has it. TSA got very touchy with him about that. :) I guess it kind of did look suspicious! hahaha :)

To bring back my olive oil, b. vinegar, pesto, wine, etc., I pack those foam-like bags that you can get at Bed Bath and Beyond,Linens'n'Things, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or Homegoods. You can buy them in single or double bags that fit wine bottles or ones that are for holding like six cans of soda pop. These work very well for pesto and b. vinegar which are smaller bottles. Like another poster stated--be sure to pack some plastic trash bags or the like to put them in in case of breakage. In my checked bag I throw in a roll of strapping tape too.

Actually, a bottle of wine weighs 3 lbs.

No need to buy or carry special packing. You have laundry.

I put a sock over each bottle, then wrap it in a piece of laundry like an undershirt, put it in a plastic bag to keep it all together and put the bottles in the checked luggage. They don't clink, they don't break, and I don't have to lift them over my head into the carry-on compartment.

Just be sure that it's a wine you can't get at home for less.

My question is - is there any restricition on where the wine is pruchased? In other words can you purchase wine outside the airport and bring it on your carry-on (as others outlined) or does it have to be purchased after you get through security at one of those duty-free shops?

One problem is this thread started before the liquid ban.
It is my understanding that if I purchase wine/liquor at the duty free store inside security, I may carry it on a direct flight. (Wine purchased outside the airport must be checked)
However, if I am changing planes I am going to have to take that carry-on through the security checkpoint of a different airport, and will have it confiscated.
Correct?

Correct. If you are traveling to the States, you will have to go thru customs and immigration with your luggage. You need to pack your liquids in your luggage before you recheck it for your next flight. ((b))

Yorkshire,

Well that would be my understanding. Anytime you go through security (at least in the US, though I'd expect elsewhere), you're dealing with liquid restrictions. So probably be best to check it. I'd expect the wine available after security might be limited in selection and probably overpriced, but I'm just guessing.

Coming back to States from Kyoto, we weren't even allowed to buy sake within the secure area and then bring it onto the plane in carry on. This might just be Japan, but things like this sometimes change on an hourly basis.
Also we have noticed that there are no real deals overseas and buying in the US is often cheaper. We have been coming home from CDG within last six months, and their prices were definitely higher per bottle than in the US. Euro very expensive I think.

If, by chance, you're flying 'home' to Australia, the limit is three bottle of wine tax-free. Any number over three and you have to pay tax on the lot!