• Registered: 2010-12-12
  • Posts: 211

Topic: Shipping wine

I can tell from a topic that was about wine & food that some of you are just as perplexed and annoyed by how and where you can buy your adult beverages.

We took a trip to Long Island, NY to visit some wineries (lovely Chardonnays by the way) and I did not want to have every winery I visited ship the 1- 2 bottles I bought and we were going on to visit my husband's family in Massachusetts, so I thought I would do it in one big shipment. Well, stupid me....I took them to a Pack & Mail in MA and was honest about the contents and was told it is a federal offense to ship wine to yourself (I thought it was a state issue).

A winery with a certain license and permit can ship the wine to you. But there again, it depends on the winery and what state they are in. I was going to visit a winery in Rhode Island, but they said I could not buy the wine over the phone and they were not sure if they could ship to me anyway if I came in person.

Right now there is a bill called HR5034 that the liquor distributors support because it would restrict direct shipping by retailers, breweries and wineries to the consumer. I have REALLY simplified this but if you want to read more about it go to the websites: "Free the Grapes" and "The Wine Institute". And of course, I am biased...

Another thing... I have to have a "license to pour" whenever I represent a winery at a festival or a wine tasting. I am not allowed to sell wine if I do a tasting in a private home; only at a licensed facility.

I would love to hear anybody's ordeal with trying to buy a bottle of wine or shipping issues.

Someone told me I should have labeled the box "holy water" and see if UPS would ship it.  wink

Tx Sommelier's Website

  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
  • Posts: 1,412

Re: Shipping wine

I have some experience with this.

First of all it is a federal offence ($10K fine) to knowingly ship any alcoholic beverage through the United States Postal Service.

The private shipping firms (United Parcel Service, Federal Express) generally refuse to do so because of tax liability for the state that the shipment is destined to. They just don't want to be bothered having to collect tax (here in New York they call it "consumption tax") and having to send it to that state's tax bureau.

Some states do have reciprocal tax agreements so you can ship wine, beer or spirits between them. Generally it is much easier to ship wine than hard liquor. My local UPS shipping center has a poster up on the wall showing which states that you can legally ship wine to. In my experience, use UPS or FedEx Ground and be sure to use good packaging materials to minimize the breakage risk.

Texas is one of the worst states to live in if you want to receive alcoholic beverage shipments. Retailers I deal with will ship to New York (they are in RI, IL and CA) but refuse to ship to TX. On the other hand, I have had Spec's in Houston ship whisky to me. Go figure...

Good luck - you may be able to find online info from FedEx or UPS online.

Major Tom to ground control...

3 Reply by It's Me (edited by It's Me 2010-12-19 12:19:13)

  • From: So. Calif.
  • Registered: 2010-07-05
  • Posts: 525

Re: Shipping wine

A few years ago I purchased some wine here at one of the Temecula wineries and shipped them to my mom in Florida.  Have to say I was not quite honest about what was being shipped because I had been enlightened to the restrictions of shippping the stuff. Which really does not make any sense to me.
I have some friends who are members of wine clubs, but that is a CA winery shipping to a CA member but for the most part they are close enough to go and pick them up.

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4 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2010-12-22 18:22:57)

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  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
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Re: Shipping wine

Jane, even here in Ca. with the liberal shipping allowed, the wine must be signed for by an adult. That eliminates the underage purchase. I get around the hassle of signing for home deliveries 'cause i'm not there by having it shipped to my office. Interesting to note the laws in effect there are residual from prohibition.  neutral
My delayed Christmas just arrived. The wife bought me a case of wine 3 years ago. It was still in the barrel and just now it is being shipped after bottling and further aging. Wine Futures! smile I've been looking at that certificate of ownership for a long time. roll It's actually worth double what she paid now.
Rick

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  • Registered: 2010-12-12
  • Posts: 211

Re: Shipping wine

Thanks Jane for the article about Maryland's issues with transporting wine. I really think a lot of states are trying to fight this but they need help from the Federal government, but Congress doesn't want to touch it and the Distributors have deep pockets.

Whatever happened to "free trade"?
And like you said Rick....these laws are from Prohibition!

By the way, Rick....I looked up your Pinot Noir guy, David Vergari and he dosen't ship to Texas!!!!

Rick, I'm beginning to be a little jealous of the "wine aspect" of your life  wink ....you got futures too? Where from?

Tx Sommelier's Website

6 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2010-12-24 15:11:00)

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Re: Shipping wine

Tx Sommelier wrote:

Thanks Jane for the article about Maryland's issues with transporting wine. I really think a lot of states are trying to fight this but they need help from the Federal government, but Congress doesn't want to touch it and the Distributors have deep pockets.

Whatever happened to "free trade"?
And like you said Rick....these laws are from Prohibition!

By the way, Rick....I looked up your Pinot Noir guy, David Vergari and he dosen't ship to Texas!!!!

Rick, I'm beginning to be a little jealous of the "wine aspect" of your life  wink ....you got futures too? Where from?

We've had a "wine aspect" for years.  smile It is Spring Mountain Vineyard's 05 Elivette, their flagship meritage. A fantastic location on the mountain overlooking St. Helena with vines planted over a range of 1500 ft of elevation. One of the oldest properties in the Napa valley. If you ever get out to the area, make sure to arrange a tour and tasting! It is easy but by appointment only. Seriously good stuff there! That '05 Elivette (one of our cats is named after it smile ) made a major world's top 100 list, the only California wine to do so. (they promptly raised the price 50%) I've got a bottle reserved for Joe when he has his show here.
Rick

edit to add a link with a few reviews from visitors. http://www.yelp.com/biz/spring-mountain … int-helena
As the yelps say, this is a special place with very special wines. The '05 Elivette is still available at the old price for a while to members, this is a world class wine that will need quite a bit of time to fully get there. It can stand with the great chateaus of Bordeaux.

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  • From: Acworth, GA
  • Registered: 2006-05-13
  • Posts: 339

Re: Shipping wine

Our local UPS folks told us that they cannot ship wine, but, they can ship shoes in shoe boxes...wink, wink...

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me...and, I'm feelin good

8 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2010-12-24 10:20:02)

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Re: Shipping wine

The Other Joe B. wrote:

Our local UPS folks told us that they cannot ship wine, but, they can ship shoes in shoe boxes...wink, wink...

I'd be happy to reship special order shoes for anyone interested... wink
Drop me a pm.

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
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  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Shipping wine

It's Me wrote:

A few years ago I purchased some wine here at one of the Temecula wineries and shipped them to my mom in Florida.  Have to say I was not quite honest about what was being shipped because I had been enlightened to the restrictions of shippping the stuff. Which really does not make any sense to me.
I have some friends who are members of wine clubs, but that is a CA winery shipping to a CA member but for the most part they are close enough to go and pick them up.

My girlfriend and I were tasting @ Pine Ridge(of which Karen is a club member) in Napa Valley last summer and chatted with a fellow member who lives in Utah. His dilemna was he couldn't have his club shipments delivered to Utah, so he had them sent to his parents home in Fla. and picks them up when he visits. He shared a potentially horrific story of how one shipment arrived just after his folks left town for a week in the summer and the wine sat on their porch in the heat!!! It did survive though. Shipping wine is a tricky proposition and better methods are long overdue.

                                                                                                                        Cheers!!!

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What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint

10 Reply by timams (edited by timams 2011-08-23 04:05:57)

  • Registered: 2011-08-03
  • Posts: 5

Re: Shipping wine

Well so far I always decided not to ship by myself but to send any things like gifts like wine and chocolate or flowers by a company that has the license to do so. Therefore I always know that the things I want to send are sent on a legal way and reach the recipient. Last time I sent a gift delivery of wine hampers to my mother and she was so happy when receiving it. smile

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Shipping wine

Jane H. wrote:

Maryland recently passed a new law that affects this. I am not sure if its about MD wineries shipping out or stuff shippin in. Haven't had the time to figure it out or the money to order what i know i wanna if i can. wanna try some of the other kinds of Korbel not available here but i know it will just be expen$ive pastime to get into

anyway when i find out the details i will post

thnx for being willing to help if needed though Rick

If it doesn't work with the wine, there's always some Crown Royal at the store!!!

                                                                                                                                 Think Canadian,

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What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • susan
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Re: Shipping wine

I had no idea there were so many restrictions shipping wine.  I just had a case delivered from California via Fed Ex last week.  I've done it numerous times and never had any problem.  Fed Ex knew what they were delivering and the only restriction was that an adult had to be home to sign for it. 

I also belonged to a European wine club (PRP Wines) for years.  You go to a tasting, pick the wines you want and have them delivered.  This must be a state by state thing.  But, here in Florida, I have never had a problem.  Very weird.

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