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Hi, This is my first Wine Asylum post, so be gentle!!!!!I'm traveling to Germany in Sept. and my wife's family owns a highly regarded winery in Duttweiler, Falz. They produce GREAT white wines, but the production is small and they do not sell to distributors or exporters. If you want Bergdolt wines, you buy them directly form there wine cellar or you don't buy them at all!
So, I would like to bring back a fairly large quantity at the end of our visit, but the airlines don't seem to support my desires. How can I get a case or two home from Germany? If I ship them, what will it cost in duties, etc. Is this feasible?
TIA for any assistance. I know you can buy lots of great wines at home, but it is family.............
Enjoy,
Follow Ups:
I have a friend that is in the military and was stationed in Germany. It took a long time, but he got a large quantity of wine back to US (and probably a lot of money). I think it was 3000 bottles.Email me if you want to get in touch with him.
I have shipped 50 cases of wine from Italy to my home in Seattle over the last three years. It has cost me about 1.50 per bottle total including the duty of about .25 cents per bottle. Its cheap and easy if you ship quantity (4 or more cases). I live in Washington State, so your mileage may differ. I have carried a case of wine on the plane home from Europe a few times. All you have to do is pay a little duty per bottle...its not much. And sometimes the Customs guy doesnt care and lets you go without paying the duty. We bought 1997 Brunellos at about 1/3 the cost of buying them here....if you could even find them here.
i just travelled to portugal this year and wanted to bring back some wine. i stuffed several in my suitcase and hand carried a half-case in a cardboard box with handles, like a 'sixpack for wine'... i was somewhat unclear what would happen at customs, and prepared for the worst (ie, triage the wines, keep the best of the bottles, chug the next best and leave some with customs...), thinking i might run into a 2 bottle limit. or 2 liters. however.... when i read the customs form on the plane you have to fill out on return to U.S., it said there were limits on cigars, liquor and something else. (currency? jewels? whatever...) i think now the 2 liter limit, per person, applies to hard liquor. for one thing, no one hassled me about my 8 or 9 bottles. theoretically, my wife could have had the same amt. so between us, getting a case back seemed to be no problem. whether this was all as provided by law, or just no one stopped us, i'm not sure, but i know that wine is often not classed as 'liquor' and there is no mention of limits on wine on the form. so do some research, you may be ok with a case or 2. especially 2 people with 6-8 bottles each. and just bring the best stuff. no sense carrying a $5 bottle.
It is more complicated than Owen is making it out to be. What state do you live in? Most states now have regulations that state only distributors can bring wine into the state (like Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, etc). I would check the state you live in. I would also check the US Customs service (can be very helpful - http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/
This is actually quite simple, although at one point, you will be carrying the duty can for Germany and the US.You will need to find a good shipping company (I would recomend Interlink express, but I don't know who they use in dear old Deutschland)who will ship either by weight or volume. I would suggest volume is a smart move, as wine is fairly dense stuff.
So, you purchase the familly vino paying all taxes in Germany, and the shipping agent collects it. (if you do use interlink, then make this on the last day of your holiday). you then return home, and receive your 'parcels' which will have a US duty request on them. Yo pay the US duty, and collect your wine.
Now, you've paid for shipping, and two lots of tax - a very expensive case or two of wine - but you can claim back the tax paid in Germany, to sweeten the pill somewhat - you need to collect a form from German customs to be able to do so.
Have fun!
Thanks for the reply. Sounds complicated and expensive! I think I'll just carry-on a couple of bottles and call it a day! This is a good excuse to just drink a lot while in Deutschland! Also, gives a great excuse to go back! Hey honey, we're out of wine. Let's go visit Gunther!!Enjoy,
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