You want to bring back a case of wine
Buying big? Here’s the perfect suitcase to haul all your new varietals home with you.
The VinGardeValise is the it luggage for wine enthusiasts who enjoy traversing the globe on the hunt for the next great vintage. On the outside it looks like any other hard-sided suitcase.
But upon opening the bag, users will find plenty of space for their clothing on one side along with removable foam inserts on the other that can protect multiple bottles of vino.
The VinGardeValise comes in 5-bottle, 8-bottle, and 12-bottle sizes. Additional inserts for magnums and spirits are available, along with a set of chiller sheets for keeping bottles cool up to 36 hours.
There are inserts for beer connoisseurs, too. And yes, and it makes me happy VinGardeValise comes in black, silver, and BURGUNDY.
What if you only want to bring home one or two bottles?
The challenge of packing wine in your checked luggage is making sure you don’t end up with 750 milliliters of Chianti on your clothes. Knock wood, this hasn’t yet happened to me.
When I’ve not planned in advance to bring wine home, wrapping one or two bottles up in something unimportant like a hoodie or t-shirts does the trick. I place the bottle inside a plastic shopping bag or the plastic laundry bag from my hotel, then nestle it into the middle of my suitcase, cushioning it as best as possible.
If you think you may be bringing back a bottle or two, it’s best to be prepared with a wine sleeve. They’re flat and weigh next to nothing, so there’s no reason not to pack one just in case. The best wine sleeves seal and are leak-proof.
I like the WineSkin. It’s essentially a leak-proof vinyl bag lined with bubble wrap that is contoured to fit a 750 mL bottle of wine. It has an adhesive seal and will keep your bottle safe and the rest of the contents of your suitcase dry just in case the bottle does break. WineSkins are sold in 2-packs ($7), 4-packs ($14) , 6-packs ($15), and 8-packs ($20).
Some things to remember about flying with wine:
- You can’t take alcohol in hand luggage, except for wine and spirits purchased in duty-free shops after passing through security.
Note: If you’re making a flight connection during which you’ll have to re-enter security, you may not be able to bring duty-free wine through with you when you’re re-screened. (This happens particularly if you’re flying to an international destination and then connecting onward.)
If you purchased the alcohol overseas and have a connecting flight in the United States, the alcohol is allowed in your carry-on bag if:
-The bottles are packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag by the retailer. Don’t try to sneak a swig! If the bag looks opened or messed with, it won’t be allowed to continue flying in your carry-on bag.
-Keep the receipt. You must show that the alcohol was purchased within the last 48 hours.
2. It’s okay to put Champagne in your checked luggage. It won’t explode; cargo holds on planes are pressurized.
3. You must be at least 21 years old to bring alcohol into the US, even if you’re bringing it as a gift.
4. There are limits on how much you can bring in. Per TSA rules:
-Alcoholic beverages that contain between 24%-70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters per person.
-Alcoholic beverages that contain less than 24% alcohol have no limit.
This is great news for wine lovers, as nearly all wine contains less than 24% alcohol, which means no TSA-regulated quantity limit.
5. Individual airline baggage weight limits still apply, but you can use your entire weight allotment for wine if you chose. (One bottle of wine weighs approximately three pounds.) Most airlines treat cardboard boxes just as they would a suitcase. Make sure the carton doesn’t exceed the suitcase weight limit (typically 50 lbs. for most airlines) and clearly displays your name, phone, and flight info on the outside. Marking the box “fragile” probably won’t result in special handling; most airline baggage handlers say they rarely notice those stickers.
Some airlines will let you check a case of wine for free, like Alaska Airlines’ Wine Flies Free program. Alaska Mileage Plan members can check one case containing up to 12 bottles for free when departing from 29 airports in the Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California wine regions. So be sure to ask about any airline loyalty perks either before you fly or once you arrive at the airline check-in counter.
Twist’s Take: The VinGardeValise and WineSkin mean never worrying about traveling with wine again.
