I can't find any info from other threads on how many bottles of wine we can bring back from Italy. Any good tips out there?

Thanks,

Tina

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

As many as can fit in your suitcase?

If your asking with regards to duty free, you're allowed 1 litre of alcohol duty free. After that, you could be asked to pay a tariff on any alcohol you bring back. That said, we've brought back as much as a case and didn't have to pay. I believe Dean once brought over 2 cases back and had to pay a nominal fee.

That said, you might want to check out this thread in our Frequently Asked Questions forum:

Italian Wines: Shipping, Buying, Tours, Tasting, Carrying Home

You can check as many as you think you can carry (within the airlines baggage restrictions). Generally you may only bring back two bottles of wine duty free. However, the duty is negligible to the point that they likely wouldn't even fill out the paperwork. This is NOT the case with alcohol (i.e. Grappa) or tobacco products where there is a hefty duty.

Jerry

Don't know if there are any good wine stores in Nashville but, I would bring back olive oil instead of wine. It's much harder to find really good olive oil in the US than good Italian wine.

Tina, back in April, my husband and I brought back nine bottles of wine and two bottles of olive oil from France. (Of course, back then, we had all this in our carry-on bags.)

We did declare our purchases on our customs form. One official told us it was supposed to be a max of eight bottles, but we were okay. Another official winked at us and said fine.

We've just bought styrofoam shippers to pack wine in our checked bags when we are back in France in a few weeks.

Kathy

I have never paid duty on wine I have taken back.I have brought 24 bottles back at least three times.I wasn't being evasive I just said I have some wine, and they didn't ask how much.When it was in a wine shipper box it was obvious I had more than a few bottles. RR

I think it's two bottles, but the real world is something more -- a lot more in my experience.

I always bring back wine in my suitcases -- as many as four in a bag, well wrapped.But I also always bring it in carry-on.

An anecdote to show you how much customs folks care: One time I was carrying in plain sight a wooden box of six bottles. It was from a winery so there was no hiding that it was wine. So on the way to get our bags, I thought I'd go ask the customs guy who wasn't busy at the moment how many bottles we could actually and legally bring in. I figured if he said, say, two, then I would shift the bottles into traveling companions' bags, and only have two myself. Well, he looked at me, looked down at my box that obviously had six or so bottles, and he said "we sure aren't worried about THAT many!"

So, the law might be two, but they're looking for importers, not wine geeks with a few extra bottles.

That's my two cents.

Also, I do think you can get good olive oil in the U.S. now. So bring back wine, but bring back only really special ones --those either with a personal story or those that you really can't get here.

Cheers

Thanks for all the tips everyone - We're on the prowl for styrofoam wine shippers, bubble wrap, duct tape and zip lock bags now...Oh, and wax paper for Jane in Greve

Since we can't carry it on anymore, we are bringing extra cases to house wine and truffle and olive oil for the trip back. Only 4 weeks to go!

Ciao,

Tina

Tina, I am also in Tennessee and grappling with the same problem. Tennessee has horrible laws and from what I've read you can only bring in a gallon of alcohol, if more than that it is a felony.

So, I've tried to check out the direct shipment method and am wondering if it is cost-prohibitive to do so (I'm guessing 'yes').

Many of the carriers refuse to deliver wine in TN if it is marked as wine. It seems as if a Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy is the best method.

In my brief research this morning, I can find a lot of articles regarding prohibition of shipping wine from other states to TN, but am not finding anything definitive about shipping it to yourself from an international destination, other than it's probably okay as long as you don't go over the 1-gallon limit. (Frustrating).

2lilmonkeys,

Yes, we are familiar with the nasty TN state laws...we considered onening a little place here like Le Cantina in Greve and discovered that "self-serve" kyosks for wine tasting was ILLEGAL of all things here in TN....

Some friends of ours use Fed Ex to have all their wine shipped to TN as they do not seem to look too close to the shipments and all vessels arrive securely. But shippig Fed Ex from Italy might only be worth it if you can't get the vintage you want

Ciao,
Tina

Tina wrote:

quote:

We're on the prowl for styrofoam wine shippers, bubble wrap, duct tape and zip lock bags now..

I don't recall where in Italy you are going, Tina, but you can certainly buy the styrofoam wine shippers and the bubble wrap in any shipping store (eg, UPS) in the larger towns.

It may be possible to find a UPS store but if you are relying on that you may be dissapointed.I thought I could find shippers on my last trip but no luck at least the places I went.

Wine shippers these from the LA wine company are stackable,I have used them in suitcases stacked together,they are the exact width of a large suitcase.To be sure I put foam in the remaining small divots.RR

As long as you can drink the prohibited excess even in front of customs... Sorry I couldn't resist.

Wine shippers these from the LA wine company are stackable,I have used them in suitcases stacked together,they are the exact width of a large suitcase.To be sure I put foam in the remaining small divots.RR[/QUOTE]

Robert, this is excellent! Thanks, we are going to purchase these and pass this info onto all of our friends

How many styrofoams fit in a medium size suitcase, 3-4?

Thanks,

Tina

quote:

Originally posted by Kim:
I believe Dean once brought over 2 cases back and had to pay a nominal fee.

4

A large or 62 inch suitcase holds 8 which means 18 bottles.I am Not sure the width of a medium suitcase.RR

Another sufferer of the draconian Tennessee alcohol laws here.

I have never had any problem bringing several bottles back with me on past trips. However, I generally go for grappa, amari, olive oil, and other things that will last me a bit longer than wine. Most recently in April I must have brought back at least a dozen bottles with some great grappa, Mirto, Mistra, and some other things that are either hard to come by here in TN or else very expensive. What I found interesting though is that they made me carry on all my bottles, even the ones I had originally securely packed and padded in my checked luggage.

Lugging around a dozen heavy bottles in a duffle bag was not fun, but I didn't get a second look at customs despite declaring all I had purchased (which included some duty free).

I finally got aound to trying to order some wine shippers from the Los Angeles site Robert recommended, only to be informed that they could not be shipped--for in-store pickup, I am informed.
Unshippable shippers, it seems.
Looking elsewhere, I found this site:
Another Wine Shipper that Ships
that does ship for around the same price.

This information may be a little dated but I dunno....

I was under the impression as of 2007 any liquids I try to bring on the plane will be confiscated.

But I guess what I need to do is bring one of these boxes that will hold wine safely because ups and other delivery people will refuse to ship them???????

You're right. You resurrected a thread from 9 months ago shortly after the ban went into affect. You can't bring liquids over 3 oz in the cabin with you but this refers to checked luggage (i.e., in the cargo hold) not what's going on the plane under your seat or in the overhead bin.

Liquids are not allowed as carry-on, they can can still go in checked bags.

However, a liquid purchased after security in a european airport can be carried, but you won't be allowed to carry it aboard a connecting flight in the US. In that case, you'd need to pack it in your checked bag at US customs before you hand the bag off to the airline for your domestic flight.

quote:

However, a liquid purchased after security in a european airport can be carried,

Don't rely on this. I bought a bottle of water in Milan last October. It was confiscated after (!) I entered the gate. If you want water on board, bring an empty bottle with you so they can fill it up (IMHO the little glasses they pass out on the plane are totally inadequate).
---Marlene

I understand I resurrected an old post, but you directed me to it for an answer to my question and Im learning new stuff from it.
I will be boarding my plane in palermo and transferring to another plane in Milan......
So from what im understanding, If I buy carry on wine in palermo, it will be confiscated in Milan.

sigh......... the world is pathetic.... lucky our freedom hasnt been effected in any way.

So back to my original question. Will I be able to ship a case of wine back home? or am I being indirectly told the only way to bring a case back is to declare it as luggage????

I have not flown on a plane since 1980 and have never left the United States so I am at bottom of the barrel in this knowledge.

quote:

am I being indirectly told the only way to bring a case back is to declare it as luggage????

Yes

quote:

If I buy carry on wine in palermo, it will be confiscated in Milan.

If not Milan, then when you change planes in the US unless you put it in your checked bag first (you have to get them at point of entry to go through Customs and then re-check them for your connecting flight within the states).