DAX

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 & L wine) before you leave. You'll be surprised how few are worth buying in Italy when you have the lists with you.

vinorosso

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!!

Mamma_Love

I recommend Il Paradiso di Frassina. Call ahead, Signora Diana will give you a tour and tasting of their "Do" (pronounced like the note, or like Homer Simpson) and "Gea." 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.

Judy

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.

vinorosso

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

jeffery

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

Budman

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

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?

turnercindy

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 & 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!

turnercindy

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?

Budman

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

Eloise

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.

jeffery

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.

vinorosso

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

Snowflake814

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!

turnercindy

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

rex

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.

montyw

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!