How to get wine from NZ to Oz, help please

[Colin Rule]

I have 2-3 cases storage in NZ including some Dry River that I can't wait to get my hands on. Am going there next week and will be visiting Waiheke Is. and Martinborough, so may well end up with a bit more than I can carry. I once came back with 21 bottles in my hand luggage but the weight and the stress nearly killed me. I would appreciate any alternative suggestions. Thanks. Colin

[Gerard Connors]

I went to NZ last year and bought about 18 wines. One dozen were from the same place. I brought the 6 others home in my hand luggage - I had the dozen sent to me by "Marlborough Wine Company". They'll freight wine for any wine company back to Australia or elsewhere. They pay all the tax and duties too - the total cost is $120NZ for freight and taxes - the wine shows up at your door, already gone through customs approved.

Very good system, don't know if they'd do it for you if the wine has already been bought elsewhere, but you could try. It's a pity it costs $120, but considering that includes Austrlian duties, you're porbably going to have to pay that money anyway - I don't think you'd be able to smuggle it in through the airport. Rachel got done for having just over the duty free limit, and another friend who just got back from NZ got done with two dozen - had to pay full duty on all of them.
Ged

[michaelw]

Due to the fact that vast quantities of NZ wines Ex winery are not being shipped regularly to punters like you and I, it is often not worth the effort by the winery to instigate such procedures.

However, Stonyridge have reached critical mass here in Oz and from this vintage (due Nov 2003) they are offering wine to Oz in two ways:

1) you pay the same NZ price as NZ residents and sort out the shipping on your own or
2) you pay a bit more but it is shipped to Sydney with all duties paid. From there it is up to the individual to get it to there address or pick it up.

I'm taking option 2 as it involved a whole lot less mucking about. It's a first for me so Ill let you know how it turns out later in the year.

[Colin Rule]

Thanks guys. I guess $120 a case is ok on premium wines & take a punt with the cheaper wines. I will ask around while I am there; if I find a cheaper way will post it on return. Cheers. Colin