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What's a good way to safely check bottles of wine?

What's a good way to safely check bottles of wine?

Old Jan 24th, 2008, 12:45 PM
  #41  
 
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On this last trip I bought one bottle and put it in a small cardboard box (not even padded - just something that would help prevent clinking). I just stuffed it in with all my other souvenirs (I bought a "dedicated" suitcase just for souvenirs) and it was fine.
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Old Jan 24th, 2008, 01:49 PM
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"$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."

I agree on this point, but I just disagree that wine luggage is the way to achieve it. I pay maybe $10 for a wine shipper and often get it for free. This seems like a better investment for me than a fixed-quantity shipper.
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Old Jan 25th, 2008, 04:37 AM
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Jennifer, Make sure you do a little research on this one. When my husband and I went to a distillery in Scotland they would not ship their products to the US or Canada. Why? Because they very often get 'lost' in the shipment and then people ask for a credit on their credit card when it does not arrive. You don't get what you want, the merchant is out their product and their money, and someone somewhere is enjoying free whiskey. We ended up buying two bottles and just packing it carefully in our luggge in between the clothes. It arrived just fine. Also the person who suggested carrying it on with you won't work necessarily. I don't know where you live, but if it is the states they still do not allow you to take liquids on. I would hate to see that great wine confiscated at the gate! I liked the idea of packing the bottles in a cardboard tube. Perhaps you could find a few of those before you leave and put them in your suitcase. You could always fill them with underwear or other things that won't really matter if they are wrinkled. I know how valuable space is when packing. At any rate at last effort you still may find merchants who will ship it to your home - but just remember the risk. Have a great trip!
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Old Jan 25th, 2008, 02:07 PM
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Pack a neoprine wine holder, some bubble wrap and some two-gallon zipper bags in your luggage when you leave home. Bubble wrap takes up some space, but that just ensures that you pack lightly. Wrap the bottles, use the zipper bags for the worst case of broken bottles and put the bottles in the center of your checked bag. This has worked well for me.
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Old Jan 25th, 2008, 03:57 PM
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If it's just a few bottles, put them in a plastic bag, and roll them in your dirty clothes in your suitcase/checked-luggage.
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Old Jan 26th, 2008, 12:55 PM
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Thanks everyone! Surely, I can make it home with a few bottles of good wine with all of your suggestions. Jennifer
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 10:52 AM
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Like most contributers, I pack mine in with the dirty laundry. I do place the bottle in a sealed plastic bag (just in case of breakage), but so far, no broken bottles. And lots of tasty memories.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2008, 10:24 AM
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Yesterday I was going through a pile of stuff that had accumulated next to my computer and found a printout I had done last summer about this subject.

"There's only one way to transport wine--WineSkin." This was in an article on SmarterTravel.com. Apparently it's a double seal. A 5 pack costs $9.95 + S&H. Here's the website: http://ftscontent.com/retail.html
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Old Feb 3rd, 2008, 12:05 PM
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I bought the "wine skins"--they are not meant to be reusable but they do work well and you could rig to reuse as an alternative to carrying bubble wrap as they pack flat and take up less space. The seal needs to be cut to open which renders them un-re-useable on their own in plain luggage but a fine buffer for packing in wine luggage or such.
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Old Feb 3rd, 2008, 12:07 PM
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mark
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Old Feb 3rd, 2008, 01:05 PM
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Those wine skins look like a great way to bring our wine back home. I wonder if I could find those in any retail or liquor store? Thanks for the tip! Jennifer
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Old Feb 3rd, 2008, 02:41 PM
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i bought online, it was 2 weeks to arrive. I have not seen in a store, then again I buy everything online and have delivered including my booze. My wine shop did not sell them. A google search prior to ordering found a shop in Napa that sold them but shipping was astronomical and they charged nearly double what the manufacturer charges.
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