How to Ship Wine

Shipping from a Winery

Call the winery that you would like to buy the wine from. Ask the winery if they ship wine to where you or your family member or friend lives. This is an important question since some wineries do not have the permit to ship wine out-of-state or internationally.

Ship from a local winery. If the winery cannot ship wine to your recipient’s home state or country, then call a local winery in your recipient’s home state or country. See if the winery has the same or a similar type of wine. If the winery does not have the wine you are looking for, then call a different winery in the state.

Ask for a recommendation if you do not know which wine to choose. The winery may ask you about your wine-drinking preferences to the help them choose a wine for you. If you are choosing a wine for someone else, then ask about their top rated wines or signature wines.

Make the arrangements to have the wine shipped. Once you have found a winery that can send wine to where you need it to go, purchase a select amount of wine. Give the winery the sending address and have the wine shipped as soon as possible. Since only persons 21 years of age or older can sign for a wine shipment, you may want to request a hold for pickup service. If you want to send the wine as a gift, ask the winery if they can gift-wrap the package.

Buying Wine Online

Visit the website of a major online wine retailer. Type in your search engine "online wine stores" or "order wine online." The search engine will generate a list of websites that sell wine online. Browse through a few of the sites to see if they sell the wines you like. It may also be worthwhile to look into sites that make lists of the best sites to buy from.

Confirm that they can ship wine to where you or your recipient lives. Browse the site’s FAQ section or check under “rules and restrictions” at the bottom of the webpage. Verify that the retailer can ship wine to you or your recipient’s state or country. If they cannot, then you will need to choose a different online retailer. If the site does not list where it can ship wine to, find the site's contact information. Either call or email the site to find out more information.

Browse top rated wines. Top rated wines are a safe choice if you do not know which wine to buy. Identify your favorite type of wine, like red wine. Look through the top rated wines in this category.

Select a bottle of wine. Send the wine to your address or your recipient's address. If you are unsure if you or your recipient will be home to sign the package, request a hold for pickup service for the package.

Joining a Wine Club

Find a wine club. If you are a wine enthusiast, then your best option may be to join a wine club. Join a club based on a type of wine, a region, or your budget. Whatever club you choose, make sure it fits your tastes and style. A one-bottle membership typically costs $60 to $90 every three months, while a two-bottle membership typically costs $100 to $150 every three months. Prices can vary depending on your membership level. Check out reviews of wine clubs to determine which clubs meet your tastes, needs, and budget.

Confirm that the club can ship wine to a variety of states. Check the club’s FAQ section to see where they can ship wine. If they can only ship wine to a small amount of states, like five or less, choose a different club. However, if the majority of your friends and family members live in the select states, then that club may be a great choice for you.

Avoid clubs that have hidden shipping costs. Instead, choose clubs that do not pass shipping costs and fees onto the consumer. Also avoid clubs that require long-term commitments, and ones that are partnered with brands unrelated to wine.

Create your wine profile. You will be asked a series of questions to determine your taste in wines, or your wine-drinking preferences. Depending on your answers to the questions, the site will suggest different wines for you to choose from. Choose a wine and wait for your first bottle to arrive. You may want to select a hold for pickup service if you are unsure if you will be home when the shipment arrives.

Traveling with Wine

Place your wine bottles in waterproof bags. Wrap the bottles in two layers of clothes. Pack the wine in your suitcase. Make sure to check the suitcase with the wine bottles in at the airport. The average amount of wine you can travel with is 1 litre (4.2 c), about two bottles. For extra protection, wrap bubble wrap around the wine bottles. Double-check your airline's rules and regulations on wine travel.

Put your wine in specially-made packaging. Specially-made packaging, like a Wine Skin or a Wine Mummy, is designed to protect your bottles in your luggage while you travel. Pack your secured wine in your check-in luggage. You can find specially-designed packaging at wineries or online.

Place a case of wine in a Styrofoam wine shipping container. Check the shipping container in as a separate piece of luggage at the airport. A case of wine typically weighs less than 50 pounds (800 oz). Use a shipping container if you have three or more bottles of wine. You can purchase Styrofoam shipping containers from wineries and shipping supply stores.