Travel with Wine

The only way is via checked luggage. You can buy carrying cases for wine, sometimes from the dealer. Basically some type of styrofoam block or sleeves. We have always just packed a few bottles in dirty clothes in our luggage coming home. Always had good luck until this year when one bottle was broken. Make going through US customs interesting. Have seen a recent advertising for padded, plastic sleeve, that seals, we might consider for the future

The padded plastic sleeves work well because they are sealed. The padding is minimal so you still need to be careful. Personally, whenever I've tried to bring wine home it's never been as good. I've become a big believer in terroire. I just drink it and enjoy it in situ and don't try anymore to recreate the "wonderful bottle we had in that little restaurant overlooking the town." I to influenced by context to be a wine buyer.

While it's not the same as 'bringing it home yourself', do ask the winery/shop owner if they have a distributor in the USA. Then, you can order it once you return home! (and your clothing and souvenir watercolor prints aren't stained)

". I've become a big believer in terroire. " The concept of terroir has nothing to do with drinking it at the place, but rather how the geography affects the taste of the wine. That said, I do believe that the setting you're drinking it in can certainly make a wine seem more magical than it might back home! Leslie - the best thing to do is tell the people you're buying it from that you're taking it home. People who have experience handling bottles will know how to wrap it up best and will give you the best advice.

I've often wrapped bottles of liquid ~ homemade schnapps and the like ~ in a bit of packaging, then buried it within the clothing. I've never had a problem. Honestly, though, I wouldn't bring home wine from Europe these days. There are so many importers, and such a vast availability of great wines right here, there's just no reason. The wine buyer at my food co-op does a bike tour in different regions of Europe each year ~ just returned from Portugal & Northern Spain ~ and I trust him to develop the relationships with vintners and bring the good wine to my doorstep, so the speak. Btw, Sarah said in response to Andrew: "The concept of terroir has nothing to do with drinking it at the place, but rather how the geography affects the taste of the wine. That said, I do believe that the setting you're drinking it in can certainly make a wine seem more magical than it might back home!" I think Andrew, too, was merely alluding to that magical sense of place that one hopes to capture and bring home. : )

Leslie This is the 4th trip this year and I always pack in the bottom zip part of the suitcases good bubble wrap. Have brought home now a total of 10 bottles in this and putting it amongst the "dirty clothes" and have had no problems. I enjoy the wine in the setting of the countries and want to enjoy some with friends and family when we get home that is why we bring some back with us. Whatever you decide enjoy.

Lots of good advice. I used to bring a lot more back when you could bring it in carry-ons. Now I usually pack a few bottles (7 on a recent trip to France, but usually less) into checked bags amidst clothes. But I generally just try to drink as much as possible while there and just enjoy it. And I do agree about the taste being affected by the whole experience. I don;t know how many times I've had a wine in France by a river, or overlooking a village, and thinking it was the best wine I've ever had, then bringing a bottle home and wondering what I was thinking.

We use the bubble wrap sleeves we buy in our California wineries. When we were in St Emilion last year the wine shop owner was very interested in locating some for his store. I tested out various plastic containers size-wise that would fit 3-4 bubble wrapped sleeves and bought two. They go over in our soft-side luggage filled with things we will use up on the trip and come back with special wines from small producers. We then place the container in strong plastic bags and bury them inside the dirty clothes. We have done this successfully several trips now. We drink alot when we're there and take pictures of the bottles for nice memories. You may also enjoy bringing back some Pastis. Herbs de Provence make a very nice gift for friends and relatives and are much easier to bring home. Lavender also is great but don't get it near any food items as the smell is overwhelming.

Before we go we buy bubble film bottle wrap wine skins available at various places and liquor stores, for a few dollars, ...easy to pack and weigh almost nothing....put them in the bottom of our suitcases and they are perfect for transporting wine home. Last visit
we transported wine from Slovenia ( we stayed at a vineyard and took part in the grape harvest) through Austria, London and then home. One problem... we are only allowed to bring home 1500mls of wine, and we really would like to bring home alot more!!! Of course as we try to travel light the wine added to the weight and we had to check our bags on the way home. Check on the internet but if we can get the here I am sure you can easily find them!!!We are returning to Europe (Germany mainly, in 2013) and the wine skins are on my list to take with us!

Hi Leslie, We always bring a few bottles home with us from our trips. Sometimes they are cases that we ship (probably not worth the expense from Provence. But, Burgundy? Loire? Bordeaux? That's up to you.) I've brought plenty of bottles back from provence in my luggage, though, always wrapped in our clothes, and never had a problem.
As for the experience once home? Sure, it's not as good as when you're on a veranda in Lacoste overlooking the Luberon, but what is, really? Everytime that we open a bottle of wine that we bring back from Europe, we make it a special night. The menu is prepared specifically for that bottle, and the memory of the trip is then integrated into the meal. We can reminisce as we savor the bottle, and it's always one of our better meals. It's all perspective, I guess. I say bring some home, and make it a night for each bottle. I don't think that you'll regret it.

I just wanted to specify since terroir is a specific wine term (used in both France and the US to a lesser degree). Sorry, it was the former wine retailer in me coming out. :) One thing I'd keep in mind too is that wine is affected by too much movement/vibration and by storage temperature, especially if it's too hot. So while I think it's great fun to bring bottles home, I wouldn't do it with expensive bottles. If your wine is sitting in checked luggage during August on the tarmac...well that's not something you want to do with a $100 bottle. Or really anything over $20. I'd drink the "splurge" bottles while in Europe (buying from a retailer and drinking at a picnic to avoid overpaying by the bottle in restaurants) for the best value, and bring home cheaper wines of unique varietals and types you can't get in the US, just for fun and for friends to sample.

I made a wine suit case using cushion foam (purchased at fabric store) and cutting it with electric knife. Had top layer, with 5 bottles and bottom layer with 4. Suit case held 9 bottles and never had any issues with breakage. Recently we realized we prefer enjoying the wine while in France, rather than dragging it back to the US. Good luck though!

We too have found success with bubble wrap. I place all our clothes in the vacuum space save bags shock would help should there ever be breakage. We've brought back about 40 bottles of wine over the last five years and so far - all good!!! I have to disagree with the wines available here. Although there are some good French wines it is nothing like you find over there. Plus, the price is fabulous! We found many places throughout Provence that shipped to the US. However, that makes the wines less of a bargain but it all depends on how much you love it. Sadly, all of our favorite wines are not available in the states. It's our souvenirs and we enjoy opening them at home and reminiscing about our trip where we discovered the wine. If you are interested in an incredible private wine tour we have a great recommendation that I can message you.
~Amanda

Do what you please about bringing wine back to this country. If you do choose to bring some back, though, consider and look into the following: (1) potential for breakage; (2) storage conditions on plane; (3) weight and bulk of wine (both in terms of your convenience and what the airline may allow; (4) tax that the U.S. may impose on arrival. I hope you have a wonderful visit; eat and drink well.

All of Joseph's cautions should be taken into consideration, except for the tax part. The import duty on wine entering the US is so miniscule that it's usually not even worth the time for Customs to bother with it. I always declare what I bring, and back when you could carry wine on the plane, I've brought back as many as 9 bottles (any more is just too heavy), and Customs had no interest in the duty.