transporting wine internationally

[tim1210]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone had any experience transporting wine on checked luggage for international flights? Obviously they will be well padded/protected when packed - any other problems anyone has encountered?

We're visiting a poor bugger in Brasil who's been away from aussie plonk for too long and I'm looking at packing a few nice bottles for him.

Thanks!!!

tim

[George Krashos]

No dramas I am aware of taking them out, if they are well packed. Possible issue bringing bottles back if some over-zealous customs officer decides to slug you with WET tax.

-- George Krashos

[PDG]

Yep, no problems. I've probably transported wine the last 15-20 flights I've been on, some 2 or 3 stops from the other side of the world and am yet to have one break.

I ordered some wine online once and the wine came in, hmmmm how do I describe it, these little air filled plastic sleeping bags?, that surround the wine and have a lid, so I normally use those. In lieu of them, I just wrap it well, in a shirt or pair of trousers and surround it with other things so it's in the middle of the bag.

Good luck!

[PDG]

Just to provide some clarity on the previously mentioned "wine sleeping bag", see attached. haha

[Polymer]

As long as you pack them with some padding you'll be fine....Thankfully I've not yet had an issue.

My main concern is more of it leaking than anything else....

I try to use a Wine Check when I can (although I've considered changing this to something a bit easier to tote around) and Wine Mummy bags for when I put it in my suitcase...even with that I then put it in a space bag with a t-shirt or something around it for extra padding...

[Mivvy]

I've also moved onto using the Wine Mummy with a t-shirt etc wrapped around. I had been using a sturdy wine carry bag but it would take up too much space. No issues as yet.

[Chuck]

I stuff checked in luggage with as much as possible both international and domestic using simple bubble wrap and have had no problems. However many years ago using an inferior product a bottle of port broke and the wife was not impressed when it stained much of her clothes.

Carl

[tim1210]

Thanks for the tips everyone! Bubble wrapped, padded in clothes and ready to fly!

[sjw_11]

Agree with all the above... if you have the "air filled sleeping bags" (love the description!) they will be the best, but they do take up a lot of room. I usually just wrap in a t-shirt and make sure to pack sensibly with good padding around the bottles and haven't had a problem.

If you have screw cap wines, one other trick is to wrap the capsule in cling-wrap. I do the same when I want to bring jars that might come open. If by chance the seal were to break, this should be enough to contain it so it doesn't drip onto all your clothes...

Packing bottles for travel is the one time I prefer cork to screw caps!

[wifekidsmortgage]

I stuff checked in luggage with as much as possible both international and domestic using simple bubble wrap and have had no problems. However many years ago using an inferior product a bottle of port broke and the wife was not impressed when it stained much of her clothes.

Carl

That's just outrageous Carl, she obviously didn't consider how devastated you where that the bottle broke in the first place?

[JamieBahrain]

I have been flying jet aircraft most of my adult life and transport hundreds of bottles of wine in personal luggage every year. I have lost two bottles due laziness and complacency in packing.


When you pack wine on an aircraft you need to prepare for a number of scenarios which may or may not eventuate. You must assume your bag will be dropped or thrown from about 8ft onto the tarmac and you must also prepare for massive thermal changes from well below freezing to summer temperatures where you can fry an egg on the tarmac. Pressurisation issues are more complex and debatable.

Some random tips. Check in as late as possible in summer and do ask for a "Fragile" sticker as it does help. Late check-in reduces the tarmac exposure where it's most likely to be at it's longest. When you arrive, your tarmac exposure a minimum and well packed wines won't have an issue.

With packing insulate, insulate and insulate ! I pack 12 bottles into a conventional suitcase and always travel with a second case in a styrofoam wine box purpose built. What I do is wrap the styrofoam box heavily inn bubble wrap ( 3 times min ) in it's length and breadth- I've noted bottles that have punctured the styro so they do get a bashing !

With the wines in suitcases I like OWC as a collector. I bubble wrap the OWC about three times and once or twice I've unwrapped the bubblewrap from my expensive Bordeaux and the wooden box has fallen apart. Unbelievable! But the wine is fine.

A conventional suitcase will get two times six packs. Again, bubblewrap as well. You do not need to tape it all up. And then use your clothes as further padding/ insulation- socks and jocks down the sides work great!

Another trick for the regular wine mule. Prepare your suitcase. Most have access to the metal framing. Have a look. Bubblewrap weighs nothing so my family's suitcase have a lot of bubblewrap internally tactically placed for bonus padding.


Yeah all a bit much I know and most won't go to this extent. Cellartracker says I have a thousand + bottles of foreign wine- all transported this way without breakage. I lost a few outbound of Australia. So when everyone is looking at you like your murdered wife is in your suitcase as there's a bloodtrail of claret following you around arrivals, please revisit this post and pack properly .

[Chuck]

I stuff checked in luggage with as much as possible both international and domestic using simple bubble wrap and have had no problems. However many years ago using an inferior product a bottle of port broke and the wife was not impressed when it stained much of her clothes.

Carl[/quotemineviously didn't consider how devastated you where that the bottle broke in the first place?

No she didn't but I got over it before she did hers. Her loss was far greater than mine. I am continually reminded of that.....

Carl