Shipping Wine
 

Does anyone know if I can have wine shipped from Italy to the US? Has anyone done it?

I haven't shipped it, but I have brought a case back as part of my checked baggage. They have special styrofoam containers for this purpose. I've also carried on 6-8 bottles. ((b))

Hi S,

Wine in bottles s rather heavy and expensive to ship.

Some states don't permit shiping wine to private persons.

It's easier to bring it home with you.

((I))

Seen threads on this before. I would add that if you live in a state, such as Massachusetts, where you cannot ship wine to yourself, make friends with a distributor that will allow you to ship to them.

I would also add, find out if you have friends/family in a state that permits you to ship there.

For more info on wine shipping, check out www.freethegrapes.com

As a suggestion, there are so many great Italian wines that are already imported to the US, I would focus on bringing back special olive oil which is generally less available. Buy the wine in the US, ship or carry back the olive oil. BTW, as Ira said, it's expensive. I was there in May and shipped back 2 cases of olive oil and it was $195.

Shipping a case generally runs from $140-170, for air with a 7-10 day delivery. Shipping can be as low as $110. but that will be by boat with a 2-4 month delivery.

As mentioned you can get styrofoam containers designed for bottles that you can carry in your luggage or as carry on but as stated, very heavy. The same containers are used to ship bottles.

If you are buying bottles generally over $50 the shipping cost would be cheaper then buying in USA. Under $40 the exta costs usually don't add up.

If you are seeking wine that aren't available in the USA then cost may be irrelevant.

Also as stated, you need to check your states wine shipping laws. Only a handfull of states prohibit direct shipping.

I just received a case of Brunello wines this moring from my trip two weeks ago. Which I also carried a few in checked luggage.

Another consideration when shipping wine is heat. If you're going there this Summer and shipping wines in the heat of the Summer, you should probably not plan on keeping the wines that long as they will be sitting around in a hot cargo warehouse. Heat will ruin them.

There have been several threads on this. You can bring wine back with you. But to ship it back is an issue since then you are importing wine - and the laws on that vary state by state - you may need a license. Also - most shippers won't ship wine - for these reasons.

Suggest you search for the threads which have a lot of good info and references.