How to get wine home from Germany??

Kent,
Thanks for the tip. I did read the other post, but decided to post again because that post asked about shipping/mailing wine home, which as I have found is very difficult and expensive. Thus I was wondering if anyone had any experience flying it home?? Someone told me that the cork may get "sucked in" because of the pressure differences. Anyone??

What are the chances? We would have white wine, so I am not so worried about stains, more of just a mess!!

Just returned from Europe a few weeks ago. We checked-in our backpacks with 5 bottles of wine in them. We wrapped the bottles up in our clothes and some leftover plastic shopping bags and put them towards the center of the luggage. My son said that wine bottles are thick enough that they won't break--but, you never know. I've heard that some people bring bubble wrap for their bottles; however, we never have that much room in our packs. They arrived fine. Now I wish I would have brought more home. Haven't opened them yet so I don't know about the cork issue--I guess I should try them--soon!

Hi Jason,
As Denise just posted, we do the same thing. We put the bottles in plastic bags, wrap them in clothes and put toward the center of our bags. So far, the last 4 trips, so good.

Paul

Just so you know, btw, technically you're only allowed 2 bottles of wine per person duty free. The chance they'll make you pay duty is low, but I would go ahead and declare it to be safe.

Have to agree with Denise. There was another post elsewhere asking a similar question as you. I've done the exact same thing as Denise and luckily never had anything break on me. Also, never had trouble uncorking anything once home.

Just some info I dug up about the limits of alcohol you can bring back - there is NO federal limit. The amount you can bring back legally is determined by your port of entry back into the US. Some ports (like Chicago) defer the limits to the final destination (for me Wisconsin). The most common is that you are allowed 4 liters or 5 750ml bottles of wine. Check before you go - although I have never had a problem with customs before (just haven't tried in a few years). Illinois has a great law - you can apply for an exception if you fill out a form stating what you are bringing back before you go. A copy of it goes to the State and you are just required to claim it on your annual taxes!!

Jason - I flew from Sicily to England with 6 regular-sized bottles of wine in a 26" rolling suitcase - checked. My husband bought a styrofoam shipper at the winery that held 6 bottles, and it was wrapped in that heavy-duty SaranWrap stuff. With clothes packed around it there was no problem. Came in just under the 20 kg weight limit (a European restriction). If you take along another cheap duffle-type bag to pack dirty clothes in, you could probably do it with your checked baggage allowance back to the US. Good luck. Go Packers!
(I'm a MKE native)

A few years ago I decided that I would use wine as a "memento" of every place I visited. I made a wine suitcase to bring my wine home. I took a 22 x 14 x 7.5 inch wheeled suitcase, purchased foam at a local fabric store, cut it to fit the suitcase with an electric knife and it now holds 9 bottles of wine. I check it and have never had any problems. Nothing has every broken and I dont even claim the wine. I usually take it empty, or with travel info I will be discarding during the trip. I made a second suitcase for my sister and we brought back 20 bottles from France last year. I hope this is helpful. We also bring bottles home in our regular checked luggage and havent had any breakage yet.