Babyboomertraveler

Hi,

I just got back from touring wineries in New Zealand and couldn't resist bringing back a dozen bottles of that country's very fine wine.

I always carry the followig materials:

A roll of bubble wrap, several sheets of tissue paper, a roll of clear cling wrap, Glad Snaplock or Ziplock plastic bags, and the shock absorbent material used between china plates or to keep carpets from slipping. (These materials weigh very little and work great for getting your bottles home safely.)

First wrap each bottle tightly with cling wrap (in case of breakage, the glass will stay together).

Then wrap a protective binding of bubble wrap or the non-slip carpet rubber around each bottle.

Then seal each bottle in a Ziplock or Snaplock bag that is large enough to completely encase the bottle. Roll the excess bag around the bottle and wrap in tissue. Each bottle now has an adequate layer of shock absorption.

Now for your suitcase -- be sure to take along a suitcase that has some form of hard walls, not a duffel bag type.

Use your clothing to pad out the bottles. If in doubt (and I take no chances) I seal my clothing, in Snaplock bags, too. Just in case there is some breakage. Be sure to pack your suitcase tightly to keep the bottles from shifting when they are being tossed onto airport conveyor belts.

By the way, jot down the names of the wines and their volumes as you pack. Keep this paper handy for when you go through customs.

It will also come in handy for when you must make a claim because a security baggage handler at the
San Francisco airport has helped him or herself to one of your expensive bottles of wine.
This just happened to me, but because I have my notes and descriptions, I knew exactly what had been taken. The dirty rats!

Remember, too, the strict baggage weight allowance -- that $20 bottle of wine may not be worth a $60 overweight charge.

And don't even try to bring any wine in your hand luggage -- you'll be leaving it behind in the security clearance area.

Sheree

See more of my travel tips at http://blog.picajet.com

Perigrinator

As a frequent traveler to the West Coast, I bring back wine all the time - after many trips with the methods described above - i.e., suitcase, bubble wrap, etc., I finally bought a six pack egg crate wine shipper box and pack six bottles in that. The box then goes in a hard side nylon suitcase and I check it on the plane. Some airlines are nasty about taking it - United opened the suitcase when I told them it was wine and wanted to ensure it was packed correctly. JetBlue is always accomodating. Believe me, the $20 investment in the box was worth it - I have used it over and over again the past year!

longboatkey

Just enjoy the wine while there. All the fliting around packing, wrapping, securing, declaring, etc. isn't really worth it. Go back more often for longer stays!!!!

Scootoir

We brought home 3 bottles on Air France in Sept. from a shop in Amboise. The shop owner boxed them and we put the box in our large soft-side suitcase surrounded by our dirty laundry. All three bottles made it home safely.

wanderlust5

All of these are great suggestions. I always pack bubble wrap when traveling to Europe or anywhere for delicates. I own the BYOB bottles as well. But the one thing I do that isn't mentioned is this: Go to a store that sells "Lock & Lock" containers (like Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and such) and buy the larger one that is long enough to accomodate 2 or 3 bottles of wine. (most likely 2 at best). Wrap your wine in bubble and/or the neoprene then place in side the lock and locks and snap the lid on. This gives a hard shell outer layer and will protect the bottle much better.

I used this method when I moved from Seattle to Atlanta as well, packing delicate dusties (what I call knick knacks) in plastic containers once they were wrapped in bubble wrap. It was brilliant and I didn't lose one item in the move.

travelgourmet

I disagree with the suggestions about surrounding with clothes, etc. This is fine if you are bringing back a bottle or two, but just isn't practical for anything more. Since you are planning to bring back wine, then you should really plan to bring back wine and do it properly.

I've seen the wine suitcases and personally think they are kind of expensive for what you get. And remember that the interiors on some are just styrofoam and will degrade pretty quickly. I suggest just improvising your own. Buy a good collapsible luggage cart and bring it with you. Then, just buy wine shipping boxes as needed - I usually have good luck just buying them from the wineries themselves. Pack up the boxes, write your name on the outside (bring a Sharpie) and I check them as luggage. A full case will come in just under the typical 50 lb weight limit.

I have used the above method multiple times and is about the only one I would completely trust - there is a reason that wineries use these same boxes for shipping.

As noted by others, it is not worth buying anything that is widely available. Stick with the smaller producers or limited production wines.

Enjoy.

wanderlust5

Forgot to add that like others that have posted, we always declare our extra wine and have never been charged a duty as it literally is only about 25 cents per bottle and the customs agent never wants to deal with a few bucks. We have brought 9 bottles back, I think that was the most. The time we bought two cases at a vineyard in Italy, we had it shipped back to us and we did pay the duty automatically.

wliwl

Twice I have been at the luggage carousel when out came suitcases soaked in wine.

laartista

I always pack at least one pair of boots, usually more actually. So I put the bottle in a plastic bag then a knee high sock and then in a boot packed in between clothes. Never had a breakage problem.

LuvBelize

Be careful about putting wine in boxes and checking them as checked luggage as well as packing them in your suitcase. If one bottle happens to break and seep through the box or luggage, they will delay your flight, put on those radio active suits and hold everything up until they discover that it's just wine. Then they will confiscate the rest of your wine! Good luck!

esm

laartista, I'm going to try your method.

frequentflier

I always travel with bubble wrap, because it seems that everything I want to bring back to the States is breakable. I watched a merchant wrap a layer of paper around the bottle first, then tape on bubble wrap. I've used this method for years with great success. Sometime a slip a sock over the item for extra cushion, because we have soft-sided luggage.

laartista

esm- yeah I brought back 1/2 dozen bottles of wine and liquor from a festival in Budapest and my friend did as well we both used that methos and it worked well. The boot acts like a tight sheath around the bottle, plus keeps your boots from getting all smushed.

esm

laartista, it seems I need to go shopping for another pair of boots now that I have a good cause!

laartista

LOL. a girl NEVER needs a reason for new boots

elizabethwholey

Cut a large, empty plastic mineral water bottle in half and set aside. Save the cap! Wrap the wine bottle in bubble wrap and put it inside the water bottle. Secure the two halves of the water bottle with wide plastic tape and replace the water bottle cap. I have transported wine, olive oil, tartuffata, and vinegar for years in this well-insulated container with narry a spill.

trafaelwyr

This past September I came back from Zurich with 4 bottles of wine. I'd gone to The Container store before I left for Switzerland and bought these wine bottle holders that hold 2 bottles each. When I packed to come back to the states, I did use my footie socks (2 on each bottle)to help with cushioning. All 4 bottles made it back ok! But this was my first time doing it, so maybe I got lucky.

cherrybomb

>>I've seen the wine suitcases and personally think they are kind of expensive for what you get. And remember that the interiors on some are just styrofoam and will degrade pretty quickly. <<

$100-150 for proper wine luggage is hardly a large expense for those who buy wines to cellar that are unavailable in the US. It also is much cheaper than having a bottle break ruining one's clothing and belongings.

And no, they are not lined in styrofoam. At least my pieces are not.

Giovanna

On our last visit to Spain we went to Jerez de la Frontera and toured a Sherry bodega. We managed to get three bottles of Sherry and two glasses home without incident. We just wrapped them in clothing and spaced them in a wheeled, rather sturdy duffle bag we bought in Spain, because we ran out of room for all our purchases there. Thankfully nothing broke (not even the fragile stemmed glasses). Perhaps Bacchus was watching over us!

vikinggirl18

I always travel with a few packages of "swimmies" little kids use in the pool. They take up virtually no space when flat, but are the perfect size to fit around a wine bottle. I put it around the bottle first,then inflate it. Than I wrap it in a plastic bag and snuggle it in the dirty clothes. I brought back 6 bottles from New zealand this way in November with no problem.