Cost of shipping wine to the USA

Bob H. · Post by **Bob H.** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:46 am

Has anyone on the forum ever shipped a case of 12 bottles of wine to the USA? If so, to where, and at what cost the shipping? I have been around (even here) for some time now, having registered in Nov 2004 so I hope I am not viewed as an interloper. One of my favorite white wines (sorry Bigots) in the whole world is the Ch. Tahbilk marsanne. I have this wine going back to 1995, but the problems the Purbricks have had with USA importers, my vertical is broken. This has cause me to wonder what it would cost me to simply contact Alister and have him ship to me directly. Of course I would research the legality of doing this before asking him to do it.

Also, if any on the forum is friendly with the Purbrick family and would wish to forward this post to them, I am ok with that, and in fact I believe they would get a bit of fun out of it. TIA for any replies.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:41 am

I'm thinking a lot.... to get a case from NZ to Australia works out around $100 or so. That may be including the standard tourist tax they put on everything though!

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:02 am

... and a case to the UK is a LOT more, for what it's worth.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:20 am

Hi Bob,

Good to see you over on this side of the pond again.

I need a new red shirt, the old one is just about worn out so when are you coming over?

I have it on good authority that it costs about A$300 a case to airfreight a case from Australia to the US (door to door including charges and taxes.)

Bob H. · Post by **Bob H.** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:45 am

TORB wrote:Hi Bob,

Good to see you over on this side of the pond again.

I need a new red shirt, the old one is just about worn out so when are you coming over?

I have it on good authority that it costs about A$300 a case to airfreight a case from Australia to the US (door to door including charges and taxes.)

WOW, I never even considered that it would be that expensive. Might have to talk to Alister about including some older vintages in his next shipment to his US importer. I never got any 2001, (didn't make it here) nor the 2003, 2004, or 2005, likewise didn't make it to the States. Importer problems. :-(

Sorry about your red shirt.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:36 pm

They don't make them like they used to... only 8 years usage!

The strategy of getting Tabilk to send it with a bulk shipment is by far and away the best method.

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:41 pm

Hi Bob,
Going through Purbricks would be your best option-it's really hard to send cases and 'samples' of wine over since 9/11 as the American autorities think it could be a terrorist threat. I cant even get 2 x 750 ml bottles to get reviewed unless I go through a licensed importer. The red tape is incredible. With the economies of scale, if you can get the vintages you want shipped in a container, you will be better off financially...

Best of luck with it,

btw, great choice of Marsanne!!

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:58 pm

Even if you are travelling, with excess baggage now running about A$10/kg here - it is an expensive exercise to bring it home with you.... and of course you can't take a bottle in your hand luggage.....

ACG · Post by **ACG** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:15 pm

Have a look at gavs rates:
http://www.auswine.com.au/page.asp?PageID=41651

Mahmoud Ali · Post by **Mahmoud Ali** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:27 pm

Bob H,

My sympathies are with you; I can't get Tahbilk in Edmonton, at least not since about 1993/94--it was a couple of bottles of 1987 Tahbilk Cabernet.

If the air shipment doesn't work you may consider taking a handful of bottles in your check-in luggage. The most effective way is to wrap clothing around the bottles and make sure there is additional clothing between them and the sides of the luggage.

Traveling to Canada and the US you are allowed two pieces of luggage and they can weigh 20 to 30 kg each, more than enough for 6-8 bottles. Not a lot but enough to maintain your vertical.

For the record, the most I've ever carried was on a flight from London to Edmonton. Between my partner and I we had 17 full bottles and 5 half bottles tucked in our luggage and carry-on. Of course back then there were no restrictions on liquids in the carry-on. Plus the duty in Albera was relatively low.

Anyway, good luck............Mahmoud.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:43 pm

Mahmoud Ali wrote:If the air shipment doesn't work you may consider taking a handful of bottles in your check-in luggage. The most effective way is to wrap clothing around the bottles and make sure there is additional clothing between them and the sides of the luggage.

You should be able to pick up some 2 or 3-bottle polystyrene wine packs cheaply or even for free. They don't have as much excess size compared to the single bottle packs and I've used them on quite a number of occasions in checked soft-case luggage taking wine to Thailand and other places. One of the local wine shops usually has a few to spare.

KMP · Post by **KMP** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:25 am

In Dec 2006 we had a case (12 bottles) shipped from New Zealand to California which, if my memory is correct, cost $250NZD - door to door. There is a company in NZ that will do this, even mixing wines from different wineries. I don't know if something similar is available in Australia but its a relative bargain considering the cost and/or availability of some wines in the USA, and the exchange rate. However we also brought back with us another 15 bottles (12 in a case and the rest in checked luggage) without any problem.

Mike