Taking a trip to Tuscany with the wife in a few weeks. I don't necessarily mind paying to let the pros ship wine home for us, but I also don't know that we'll buy multiples of 6 at every place to ship home. Two questions, 1) will the smaller wineries ship less than 6 or 12 bottles at a time? 2) if we have a couple bottles from Montalcino and a couple from Chianti, etc. is it worth the hassle of trying to pack and bring back in checked luggage? If we don't take checked bags we will just take our Osprey bags for the trip for ease of travel.

Thanks!!

I have checked a case of wine in my luggage. Actually tossed some clothes. No problem. I declared to customs by just saying wine and he did not ask me how much.
My biggest fear was the heat factor, worried the wine would cook. Ended up not being a problem

If your wife is a wino, get a wine suitcase:
https://www.iwawine.com/wine-check-set-black?gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9tfrYGP8m6J1sW2mHELhnyjLoPpkmEN2q69uNpWOkmq3dkJ2aPZR6BoC_7QQAvD_BwE
They start at $150 and go up to $400.
Counts as a checked bag. Might be cheaper to fedex it home when you're done. Also might be cheaper to buy in Italy instead of checking it both ways.
If you have wino friends, ask them if you can borrow their suitcase.

Biggest tip, though is make sure they don't sell the wine at total wine and that you can't figure out what you like and buy it when you get back.

I had some shipped home from Italy a few years ago and it was disgusting when we opened it. Guessing it got too hot. I wouldn't go that route again...only checked luggage.

I've done it both ways and prefer just taking my wine check. In Montalcino, check out Capanna. It's my favorite in the area, and the tour and tasting is great. It's a one on one, so you don't have to deal with a group of people you don't know.

Have packed 10 bottles wrapped in bubble wrap in a suitcase. Always worry about the red smear on the conveyor belt but lucky so far.

Any problems with customs?

Wineries will ship any assortment of bottles.

I had 6 shipped plus the wooden crate for $90 in April.

Also in Montalcino, there are many wine shops that will do the same.

I agree with others…checking it is the way to go. Like you, OP, my wife and I only flew there and travelled with Osprey backpacks. However, we had wine and other gifts to bring back and so we purchased a larger suitcase for the return and checked it.

Also, not all the wines can be shipped due to import licensing etc. I believe you can bring as much as you want with you as checked luggage though.

Thanks all. Went ahead bought some wine bottle bubble sleeves and plan to take a checked bag dedicated to wine. Since we will be mostly in a rental car and not hopping trains on this trip the roller bag shouldn't be as big a hassle as it might be otherwise. Thanks again for the feedback!

We went to a really cool winery in Krems,Austria back in June. I really liked some of the wine tasting. At the end they said you could buy most of their wines at Total Wine. Problem solved. It was actually cheaper at Total Wine than at the winery anyway.

First, I agree with most on checking, we have a cheaper wine suitcase. It's just the Styrofoam insert with a canvas zip bag w/ wheels around it.

But, when we went to Australia we ended up buying more wine than we could bring back. The last winery we visited didn't mind shipping other wineries bottles w/ theirs....

Could definitely see that as being too accommodating for Europe, though....

Tell me more! Heading to Vienna for a girls trip August 2024 with my wino best friend!!

Winzer winery in Krems Austria. Pretty special place!