Taking the family on a trip to wine country for summer vacation? Or are you a passionate wine lover who likes to share some of your personal collection when you travel abroad? It’s always a challenge when flying to decide how to get your wine there or back again. You may opt for a high priced shipping service, changing your purchase habits, or avoid wine entirely. That’s no fun!
Wines can become damaged by heat, or “cooked” in the hot summer months – why trust it to an unknown shipper? Corks will often push and cause leakage leaving too much headspace in the bottle which speeds up ageing and oxidation. Ultimately, the aromatics and flavor profile will be affected in a negative way making your wine undrinkable.
Currently, airports do not allow wine bottles in carry-on luggage. The Wine Check is a safe, convenient, and economical way to ship up to one case (12 bottles) of wine to and from where ever you travel, in an FAA-approved package that is easy to carry, available in black or red. Your wine is enclosed inside a secure padded case that is lightweight with attached wheels and strap that can roll behind you. When packed with 12 bottles, it stays under the 50 lb. airline weight limit for luggage and is collapsible and reusable, so you can store it again for later.
The wine shipper box that is included is the same type of package used by wine shipping services, so you know your wine will be protected. This allows you to take the wine check collapsed without the shipper and stored in your suitcase. You can easily use a box from the winery or any packaging store for your return trip. The baggage fee most airlines charge these days is often much less than the cost of shipping a case to your home from the winery or using a shipping service. In some areas, a wine case can be checked for free, such as from the Sonoma County Wine Country’s Charles M. Schulz airport Wine Flies Free program.
Always check the regulations of the location you are traveling to, for example Utah and Alabama have strict regulations regarding imported alcohol of any volume.
If you do not need an entire case of wine, bring a few WineSkin Bottle Travel Bags on the trip, which can be used in your main suitcase for leak-proof transport, with double seals and an adhesive top. For top protection, the VinGarde Valise Wine Luggage has a hard outer casing with concealed steel support pieces and high-strength corner bumpers. Its FAA and TSA airline approved design includes a built-in lock, multiple pockets, a telescoping handle, and 360 degree wheels for agile handling.