fellow wino's
 

My wife and I will be travelling to Tuscany etc. in September (from U.S). A friend suggested that the wines are so inexpensive and tasty that it is worth buying wines there and having them shipped back home. Any thoughts or input?

wonderful idea, just make sure that your State allows liquor (that would have been untaxed into the state). Delaware, for example, does not. I have had friends who have had to have it "shipped" to Wash DC and then my friends pick it up there.
Ummmm... I think I may have heard a rumor though, that the overseas shipments are labeled "glassware" not "wine" or "liquor" and therefore are sent to home addresses.
Does this make any sense?

What state do you live in? Doesn't really matter....I know a place in Florence that ships wine and does so in way that it is shipped into the US hassle free. I shipped about 10 bottles to the US. Anyway, if you are interested, let me know and I'll give you name of the shop in florence that does this.

A good friend of mine did have a couple of cases shipped last September, [and I'm planning to buy some this coming October]. However, I think the major issue was not necessarily the price differential, but rather getting good small production wines you wouldn't necessarily find here [also drinking them after you return home sort of prolongs the pleasure of the trip]. The cost of the shipping definitely works against any cost advantage, especially if you have any breakage or "temperature damage" caused in shipping [he didn't, but it's not unknown to happen].

We often bring wine home in our hand luggage, carefully wrapped in bubble wrap or soft clothing. Also, special carry-on luggage for wine is available at IWA (a wine accessory store):
http://www.iwawine.com/orstore/searc...=Wbal&op=1

We also have taken cardboard wine boxes (the kind with the styrofoam inserts). We take them empty and bring them home full! These come in 6 bottle or 12 bottle sizes. These can be checked as luggage without worry of any breakage.

I don't think I would go to the expense of shipping wine unless you are a major collector.

Amy--Can you please post the name of the shop and location in Florence that ships the wine? Thanks!

As a fellow wineaux, I carry mine in one of those roller carry-ons that people normally put some clothes & toiletries in -- like the ones the flight attendants use. They fit nicely in the overhead bin, and you can get 12-14 bubble-wrapped bottles in it.

The only problem, some airlines have weight restrictions on carry-on. Be careful.

As another alternative, most wine shops have those shipping wine boxes that you can safely pack and put in with your checked luggage. If you and your wife have one piece of checked luggage, then there's two cases of wine, plus 6 bottles each in carry-on. You should be able to do that. That's my plan.((b))

Budman,
And where do your clothes go????

See http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34422344

or

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34417641

or

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34479190

or

search "shipping wine" here on this forum.

Best wishes,

Rex

And where do your clothes go? ((a)) I get two pieces of checked luggage. One suitcase (large) for my clothes, and one box of wine. My wife gets the same. So, that's two suitcases and two cases of wine. Six bottles each for carry on -- total 3 cases of wine. The customs/duty on still wine is minimal. ((b))

It really depends on how much wine you really want to ship. You can fit a lot of wine in your luggage as somebody else stated. I have carried bottles of wine in both carry on and checked baggage. I think the most I did was 3 in carry on and 4 in checked luggage. 7 is quite a bit. When I shipped about 10 bottles, it cost about $100 and the wine was also $100. So $200 for 10 bottles of wine...I don't know if it is really worth it. If you can go to a place that sells the really cheap good wine (like where I buy my wine now for 1.75 euro a bottle), then maybe it is worth it. But the shop in florence that ships to the States is not that cheap and then to add shipping on to that. Anyway...it can be done if one wants. Here is the shop info:

Millesimi (Grandi Vini di Toscana)
Borgo Tegolaio, 33/R
50128 Florence
Tel: 055 26 54 675

The retail wine market here in Dallas is so competitive, it's not worth the effort.
That said, my son and daughter-in-law (they live in Lower Manhattan) have a flat in London so they buy high end Aussies (at about 1/3rd US) in the UK (on Brit salaries) and bring mostly great S Rhones back to the UK from FR.
Vote with your wallets and avoid being a "mule" imho.
M

I agree with Mike. The savings are often negated by the shipping costs. If there is a special one you want then carry it back.

One suggestion if you plan to visit wineries there....make reservations. Some were booked and only allowed tours. Your hotels can probably assist you. Also....try the house wines in restaurants. You will be amazed at how good there are and how inexpensive they are!

I understand you need a reservation to tour. Do you need one to taste?

I don't want to tour -- I want to taste. I'll be looking for the small mom & pop places.

I kinda agree that shipping wine back is not the way to go, considering the cost. I would plan to carry back some extraordinary small winery favorites. ((b))

I know we were turned away at one place for tasting too. We were able to taste at a few. If you read about any vineyards that you know you want to get into....check to see how they operate to be on the safe side. In my opinion....I never had any bad wine in Italy. In fact, I can honestly say I enjoyed every glass (well, maybe every "bottle"....we had a LOT of wine!!!)

Budman: Regarding reservations to taste. It's a mixed bag in my experience. Some places, usually large, are set up to do tastings similar to what we do in California--but not many. A lot more are much more informal with little or no charge but much higher expectation that you will buy. The very small producers will be much more likely to receive you with a call ahead and therein lies the rub. You pretty much have to commit to a schedule and liklihood of purchase.
Carrying wine on the plane is fine but you still have to protect it once you buy it i.e. not leaving it in the car and cooking it! It's always a challenge but I'm ready to take it again this October. Good hunting and Cin Cin!!
Paul

Budman,

over Easter, we did what you want to do: a whole day in Chianti just to taste and buy wine--no touring.

We made no reservations, and just showed up at vineyards researched ahead of time. We weren't turned away at any vineyard (5 in total) and tastings were free (although it was clear we were there to buy). Macanimals' description is highly accurate.

where do you plan to visit? If it's tuscany (in particular chianti), I can give you some excellent vineyards with good prices.

Re shipping, I don't see how it can cost-effective to ship home.... even the prices from Tuscany to Germany were too outrageous. The one plus to shipping wine to the US is that you can access vineyards that do not even supply the US.

Riffic, thanks. We'll be in the Chianti area. I appreciate any info you might have.

Right now, I am looking at two areas. The area around Montalcino for the Brunellos, and around Greve for the Super Tuscans. I was thinking of taking the drive on Rt 222.

I'm open to other areas -- never want to turn away a great wine. ((b))

I'll put in my two (three?) cents here, even if it is mentioned on the other threads I previously cited, above...

First, I agree that buying wine in Europe, and then leaving it for half a day (or much longer) in a hot car, before you bring it home, is a good way to end up unhappy with your purchase.

Second, while shipping seems quite cost-INeffective, bringing it home with you is a great way to acquire a dozen or two bottles; cost aside, (and I realize that this is subtle snob appeal), I love serving wines to friends that do NOT say &quot;Imported by XYZ brothers, of QRS, New Jersey&quot; - - I look for that on bottles of wine, and I love having wines that were imported by <i>me</i>.

and lastly, as I have said before - - give me a few hours in a good enoteca with a sympathetic proprietor, and a thousand different bottles of wine to choose from (preferably with a dozen open, for tasting by the glass when you walk in) - - over a day driving around to wineries any day. I like driving around in wine country for the intrinsic pleasures of the countryside; but for buying wine, I like having a knowledgeable local wine merchant steering me to one, two or three labels that I really like (and so what if I open, taste and purchase a few bottles along the way that don't end up as my favorites) - - and then bring home three, four or more bottles of any one individual label I find and like. I much prefer having bottles of wine that I can recall &quot;discovering&quot;, that I know what they will taste like, to plan for specific meals, and get to savor all over again.

I shop for wine when I travel to Europe, and lately it's not worth carrying any wine that can be purchased here in the US. In general, it's cheaper to buy it in the US due to the high euro exchange rate. However I still carry rare wines back in my own suitcases up to two cases just like Budman.

You can get a print out of a Tuscan wine price list from any major wine store in your area or the internet(eg.wine club, K &amp; L wine) before you leave. You'll be surprised how few are worth buying in Italy when you have the lists with you.

OK fellow winos,
Can you recommend wineries to visit for wine sampling and or tours in the Chianti area and also in south tuscany (Montepulciano and Montalcino) - I have been to Verrazzano in Chianti and plan on Barbi in Montalcino. Thanks!!

I recommend Il Paradiso di Frassina. Call ahead, Signora Diana will give you a tour and tasting of their &quot;Do&quot; (pronounced like the note, or like Homer Simpson) and &quot;Gea.&quot; Very good wines, nice location in the Montalcino area, music that fills the vineyard...wonderful atmosphere. Signora Diana is very nice and speaks English very well. I think the website is: www.alparadisodifrassina.it

I am planning on contacting her soon to see if she can ship wine to me - I love it, and we only have 2 bottles of each left.

We were in St. Emilion in May and found some wines we liked. Several stores in the village said they could ship 3 cases to any one address in the states with no problems. We bought three cases with friends we traveled with and had them sent to one person as we were going on to Paris and didn't want to have to carry the wine.

We knew that we would have to pick the wine up at the airport. What we did not know was that getting them through customs would be a nightmare. The state of Virginia decided that three cases could not be for personal comsumption and we had to get a broker, not easily or cheaply done. New anti-terrorism laws required a number issued by the FDA. The wine sat in a hot warehouse (we should probably drink it this week!) for 2 weeks while we solved the broker and FDA # problem.

It cost us $325 in ADDITION to the shipping to liberate our wine, $180 to the broker and $120 storage fee to the warehouse because it was not expeditiously cleared through customs.

The only good news was, in doing a web search, we still got it for less than we could buy it on line. I surely would try to carry it next time.

Thanks Momma Love,
Question - did you think that il paradiso di frassina would make a nice place to stay as a B&amp;B? Looking into this too -thnx!

WOW, as a new fodorite I am so impressed by your responses. What a warm and fuzzy feeling I have. Based on all of your input, I think I have decided to bring a case or 2 of my favorite brunellos/Super Tuscans home as checked baggage. I will most certainly report back after our trip (end of September).

Thanks all

jeffery, I just love it when a plan comes together. ((a))

We'll be in Tuscany mid to late September. That's my plan. What's your itinerary? Maybe we can meet for a glass or two of Brunello? ((b))

Another fodorite is born! Jeff, I've been raving about this board for months - I'm glad you finally listened! This is where I've gotten 90% of the info that I've emailed you - valuable info from real people!

Budman, my husband and I will be traveling with jeff &amp; kathy. We'll all be in Tuscany 9/11 - 9/18. we're staying outside of Montepulciano. Let us know if you'll be in the area the same timeframe. I've enjoyed reading your numerous comments!

Can anyone recommend a wine shop in Rome? Since that is our last stop on our trip, it might make sense to purchase there, so we don't have to lug it all over Italy. Or do you get better selections/prices directly from the wineries?

We arrive in Montepulciano the afternoon of the 18th of September. Rented an apartment in the town. I would love to get together for a glass of wine and hear about all your experiences over the past week. Maybe even give us a couple of pointers and lead us in the right direction.

Here's a thread that I started:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...en_name=Budman ((b))

Local wines are always cheaper where they are at home, so yes, it would be cheaper to buy them at a winery rather than in Rome.

Also, no wine shop in Rome is able to carry a good selection of all the local wines.

But Achilli, a wine shop just off the Piazza del Parlamento at Via dei Prefetti 15, is generally recognized as one of Rome's best.

Budman:

We unfortunately leave the Tuscany area the morning of the 18th. My sister Cindy had a good idea, but it does not seem like it's going to work out.

What wineries are you playing to visit in Tuscany? I am trying to get ideas. Thanks.

As a fellow wino myself, I do so appreciate all of the good information here. I will be in Rome, Siena and Florence in November for my honeymoon. It will be our first trip to Italy and I am so excited.....this thread has been so interesting, I just had to jump in!

Budman, looks like we'll just miss you in Rome also. We leave on the 25th!

Buccone is a phenomenal enoteca near Pzza del Popolo. Search here on this forum for address and other details.

Seems silly to say buy wines at the wineries instead of at an enoteca. A winery never has any wine but its own.

There is nothing worse than travelling around on trains and rental cars lugging alot of wine - that being said we limited ourselves to bringing home 2 bottles each in our carry-ons for our trip in May.

Something we did that may work for some is to get exact information on a wine you are interested in - including the winery name, address, phone number, wine label information - even a digital photo of the label - then when we return we go to our wine import store who themselves specialize in small producers and give them a list of wines we would like them to find for us - they were more than happy to do this and it makes it much easier when you are travelling all over Italy and don't have a central spot to buy wine and get it to the airport and home easily.

Also, during my research I found that it is illeagal to send wine from overseas to your self - it must go through a broker. You can bring in up to 2 cases for personal consumption - no more though, and it has to be with you for customs inspection upon return to the USA.

Check ahead of time with a good local wine merchant/importer and they may offer what we have!