When I drive up the central coast of California, I tour the wineries. I
usually walk away from each winery with at least one bottle (I feel
obligated, particularly if the tasting is free) and sometimes as much as
a case.

What do people do when touring wineries in Europe? How do you bring the
stuff back? CAN you bring the stuff back? Or is the shipping and duty
prohibitive?

TIA
Jon

JonK wrote:
> When I drive up the central coast of California, I tour the wineries. I
> usually walk away from each winery with at least one bottle (I feel
> obligated, particularly if the tasting is free) and sometimes as much as
> a case.
>
> What do people do when touring wineries in Europe? How do you bring the
> stuff back? CAN you bring the stuff back? Or is the shipping and duty
> prohibitive?

The last time I visited Europe, I returned with 15 bottles of wine, much
to my wife's consternation (though she doesn't seem disinclined to drink
my ill-gotten gains now). In my 5-10 trips, I've never been charged
duty, despite always declaring all. The biggest problem is simply
carrying the damn stuff, though if you bring a styrofoam shipper as
checked luggage, you can avoid even that problem ;-)

Mark Lipton

In article >, says
....
>
>JonK wrote:
>> When I drive up the central coast of California, I tour the wineries. I
>> usually walk away from each winery with at least one bottle (I feel
>> obligated, particularly if the tasting is free) and sometimes as much as
>> a case.
>>
>> What do people do when touring wineries in Europe? How do you bring the
>> stuff back? CAN you bring the stuff back? Or is the shipping and duty
>> prohibitive?
>
>The last time I visited Europe, I returned with 15 bottles of wine, much
>to my wife's consternation (though she doesn't seem disinclined to drink
>my ill-gotten gains now). In my 5-10 trips, I've never been charged
>duty, despite always declaring all. The biggest problem is simply
>carrying the damn stuff, though if you bring a styrofoam shipper as
>checked luggage, you can avoid even that problem ;-)
>
>Mark Lipton

Mark,

Question: have you checked wine as luggage recently? I used to do just what
you describe with two styro-shippers, some filament tape, and heavy straps.
I'd even put extra tape in the case, should a baggage person *need* to check
out the contents. This was always within US, usually from CA to CO, or AZ. I
haven't done this since ~ '01. When in Europe/UK, I'm usually only taking back
a few btls of Port, so it hasn't been a big deal. I'm just curious as to how
things work now, especially with flights originating in Europe, bound for US.

Curious,
Hunt

I am in Europe every fall and always bring back wines. If it is a 12 bottle
case I put it in a Styrofoam container and ship it as hold baggage. I always
declare when returning to the US, but have never had to pay any duty. When I
only have fewer bottles I put them in my hold baggage wrapped in towels or
shirts that did not have time to get laundered. I have also put up to four
bottles in my carry on bag. I also declare these wines. I have never in the
years I have traveled had a bottle break or have I ever paid duties on the
wine I brought in.


"Hunt" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says
> ...
>>
>>JonK wrote:
>>> When I drive up the central coast of California, I tour the wineries. I
>>> usually walk away from each winery with at least one bottle (I feel
>>> obligated, particularly if the tasting is free) and sometimes as much as
>>> a case.
>>>
>>> What do people do when touring wineries in Europe? How do you bring the
>>> stuff back? CAN you bring the stuff back? Or is the shipping and duty
>>> prohibitive?
>>
>>The last time I visited Europe, I returned with 15 bottles of wine, much
>>to my wife's consternation (though she doesn't seem disinclined to drink
>>my ill-gotten gains now). In my 5-10 trips, I've never been charged
>>duty, despite always declaring all. The biggest problem is simply
>>carrying the damn stuff, though if you bring a styrofoam shipper as
>>checked luggage, you can avoid even that problem ;-)
>>
>>Mark Lipton
>
> Mark,
>
> Question: have you checked wine as luggage recently? I used to do just
> what
> you describe with two styro-shippers, some filament tape, and heavy
> straps.
> I'd even put extra tape in the case, should a baggage person *need* to
> check
> out the contents. This was always within US, usually from CA to CO, or AZ.
> I
> haven't done this since ~ '01. When in Europe/UK, I'm usually only taking
> back
> a few btls of Port, so it hasn't been a big deal. I'm just curious as to
> how
> things work now, especially with flights originating in Europe, bound for
> US.
>
> Curious,
> Hunt
>

In article >, says...
>
>I am in Europe every fall and always bring back wines. If it is a 12 bottle
>case I put it in a Styrofoam container and ship it as hold baggage. I always
>declare when returning to the US, but have never had to pay any duty. When I
>only have fewer bottles I put them in my hold baggage wrapped in towels or
>shirts that did not have time to get laundered. I have also put up to four
>bottles in my carry on bag. I also declare these wines. I have never in the
>years I have traveled had a bottle break or have I ever paid duties on the
>wine I brought in.
>
>
>"Hunt" > wrote in message
...
[SNIP]

Thanks for the input. While I used to do about the same, when traveling
domestically, I have not, as of late, brought anything back via airlines, and
have never gotten more than a few btls of Port when trans-Atlantic.

Hunt