
We think this is on the riskier side of the spectrum as it relies on your packing abilities and how the airlines handle luggage (be sure to get a fragile sticker when checking your bag).
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We were fortunate enough to have higher status on United, allowing for 70lb bags for free and preferred handling, and ours checked in at just about 59 lb- meaning we could've likely fit an extra bottle or two in for good measure although were struggling for room. There is an additional downside to this in that the max weight for checked luggage varies by airline and your status. We took precautions to pack the bottles with a layer of clothes on all sides, in between the bottles themselves, and made sure to have a nice, tight packing all around to avoid any movement in the suitcase. We used these in our large suitcase and ended up fitting nine bottles just fine. The bags are one-time use and have a double adhesive seal to protect your bottles in the event of a break, and an eight pack runs roughly $20- increasing your average bottle price by just ~$2.50 each. Wine Skins are an interesting product as they are bubble wrap lined bags that are designed in the shape of 750 ml wine bottles. The next cheapest option is also on the riskier side of the spectrum. I think the latter is a bit lower if you package your bottles correctly if only because boxes with fragile stickers get handled much nicer than luggage (no handles to grab and toss like handlers often do with suitcases). Second, there is the risk of shipping it as a checked box on a plane. First, there is the difficulty in finding a box in Napa/Sonoma to begin with.

I put this on the riskier end of the spectrum for two reasons. At first, we were worried about placing our bottles in the box (champagne bottles, no less), but everything turned out quite fine. What is nice about these shipping cases is you can put them on the plane as a piece of checked luggage, so pending your baggage allowances you may be able to check this box at no additional charge.

We were given a box by a friendly vineyard who had an extra one laying around with room for six bottles (us buying three bottles from them certainly made it easier to get one, too), but they also are available online for about $25-$35 depending on bottle count for those who want to purchase one in advance to take with you ( here and here). Some shipping stores may have them available, but most are moving towards promoting dedicated wine suitcases which we'll talk more about below (we saw those all over the place in both Napa and Sonoma). The problem with wine shippers is that they can be quite difficult to find. They're rather easy to use and are quite effective at protecting your precious liquid cargo when on the go. Wine Shippers are essentially boxes with contoured inserts (either styrofoam or cardboard) that lock wine bottles into place to minimize movement during shipping. This assessment is based on our experience only. But, as with all things with moving bottles of wine, there are some risks and costs involved.Īs such, the following is organized from cheapest / most risky to most expensive / least risky as you proceed down. As information for this is rather limited, we thought it would be helpful to publish a detailed guide for wine shipping options for your visit!īased on our experiences, there are five popular ways to ship wine from Sonoma and Napa wineries in order to enjoy some delicious bottles at home.
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Naturally, this led us to purchase many bottles (15 to be precise) and a need to figure out how to get them safely to our home on the east coast. This website is intended for those of legal drinking age in your jurisdiction.ĭuring our trip to California, we made it our mission to visit a number of wineries in Sonoma and Napa Valley.

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