Advice: Wine to the UK

K

Ken Schramm

Ken Schramm
We are visiting some of my wife's relatives in Scotland in a few weeks, and I am curious if there is a best means of getting them some samples. Should I ship them ahead or carry them with us on our flight? Flying Detroit to NY to Edinburgh. Less than a case. Thanks.
 
Ken, personally, I think I would prefer to have the box checked with me on my flight rather than shipped separately. This would give more control over the handling and timing.

. . . . Pete
 
International shipping of wines is fraught with difficulty unless you've got an importer's license. I'd opt for the bring it as checked luggage option, especially since that means that I've got empty luggage space for wine to bring back with me on the return trip.

Mark Lipton
 
If you are bringing a case or less, you should absolutely check them. Even if you have to pay for an extra checked bag, it will be much cheaper than any method of international shipping, not to mention considerably less grief.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
If you are bringing a case or less, you should absolutely check them. Even if you have to pay for an extra checked bag, it will be much cheaper than any method of international shipping, not to mention considerably less grief.
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Completely agree. I've done this many times and would recommend the styrofoam shippers (6 or 12 btl) over the new eco cardboard shippers owing to the way baggage is handled. But I've never had a broken bottle.
 
i agree with the last two posts.

feb of '16 i schlepped a case from seattle to london on british air, and since it was my second piece of checked luggage it was free.
 
originally posted by robert ames:
i agree with the last two posts.

feb of '16 i schlepped a case from seattle to london on british air, and since it was my second piece of checked luggage it was free.
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Yup. When I do that my second piece of checked luggage is a collapsible hand truck (you'll likely be glad to have it as you can walk quite a distance at Heathrow); I use a carry-on for clothes and such as I really don't want them to lose that or deliver it a day or two late.
 
I traveled to London with a six bottle styro as checked luggage. To ship/FedEx/DHL, you are subjecting the wine to the possibility of bad storage en route, breakage, as well as UK Customs issues. Traveling with the wine as your luggage means that you have more control. You should, however, make sure that your airline allows wine as checked luggage.
 
originally posted by Asher:
I traveled to London with a six bottle styro as checked luggage. To ship/FedEx/DHL, you are subjecting the wine to the possibility of bad storage en route, breakage, as well as UK Customs issues. Traveling with the wine as your luggage means that you have more control. You should, however, make sure that your airline allows wine as checked luggage.
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Are there airlines that don't? I've never run into one to my knowledge.

Mark Lipton
 
Thanks, everyone. I'll check it, and the U-line styro shippers are my standard choice, so it sounds like it should work out fine. The frightening thing is that I am flying the friendly skies of United.
 
There are limitations on how much wine can be brought into an EU country from a non-EU country, something dismal like 3 bottles per adult, so, while enforcement is spotty, best to look into that to avoid surprises.
 
i took a case of wine to london feb 2016 and i don't recall there being any paperwork/forms where it could have been reported even if i had wanted to.
 
originally posted by robert ames:
i took a case of wine to london feb 2016 and i don't recall there being any paperwork/forms where it could have been reported even if i had wanted to.
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Europe/UK and many other countries do not have a customs form. They usually have red and green exits you can chose yourself to get through customs. If they catch you going through green being over the limit they will certainly collect duty, potentially plus penalties, depending on the mood of the day.
 
Yes. I don't know if it's a EU-wide policy or country by country, but the Portugal allowance is pitiful. Again, not likely that something will happen if one is discreet, but claiming ignorance is not the most comfortable thing to do if "caught".
 
Quick google search:

When entering the UK from a non-EU country, you must make a declaration to customs if:

You exceed your allowances, which includes up to 1 litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes and a maximum of £390 worth of perfume and souvenirs.
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
Just one bleedin' litreQuick google search:

When entering the UK from a non-EU country, you must make a declaration to customs if:

You exceed your allowances, which includes up to 1 litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes and a maximum of £390 worth of perfume and souvenirs.
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But is wine considered "spirits?" Usually, alcoholic spirits are distilled.

Mark Lipton
 
As I understand it, Professor Resveratrol is correct: that limit is for pure alcohol. So, approximately two bottles of liquor or six bottles of wine.
 
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