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Bring wine back to US through Customs - 8/31/2008 6:40:39 PM

Hollowine

Posts: 329
Joined: 7/25/2008
From: Hood River, OR
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Wrighty's post on Australian classifications made me think this might be a good thread.

When I recently visited Australia, I carried 12 bottles back to the US. Everything I had read indicated that you are allowed 2 bottles Duty Free, and anything above that it is basically at the discretion of US Customs, but that likely I might have been charged Tax (Duty) on the purchases. I got a nice customs guy, gave full declaration, he waved me through and said enjoy my wine...WHEW!

Anyone else have experience bringing wine back into US? I can't easily see visiting any Wine centric country (France, Italy, Australia, etc) and bringing back less than a case, but I was absolutely paranoid of confiscation. Happy to hear your experiences.

Post #: 1

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 8/31/2008 6:46:18 PM

Serge Birbrair

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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In order to have hassle free wine customs expereince:
1) declare it. Don't be afraid
I always bring wine home and never pais duties in my life.

2) you are allowed 2 litters duty free, but do you know what is the duty on the rest???
Between $1.27 and $1.43 a bottle.

Confiscation!? I haven't even HEARD about it!

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Post #: 2

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 8/31/2008 8:10:46 PM

bgibbard

Posts: 392
Joined: 10/3/2004
From: Toronto, ON
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Serge Birbrair
2) you are allowed 2 litters duty free,

I believe that is actually 1 litre, not two.

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Toronto, ON

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Post #: 3

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 8/31/2008 8:18:13 PM

Serge Birbrair

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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you see, I don't know for sure, as this never been relevant,
plus...I never travel alone, so for me it's 2
:)

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Post #: 4

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 8/31/2008 9:47:28 PM

JohnNezlek

Posts: 218
Joined: 12/14/2006
From: Gloucester, Virginia
Status: offline

I agree fully with Serge. Last June, I brought back 18 bottles from my "cave" in NL (aka my girlfriend's house). I declared each bottle on the declaration form (e.g., 6 2005 Chateau X -- value $250). No duty. No hassle. Of course, I was well under the limit (which I think is $1000 now), and that seems to be the primary concern for Customs. The duty, if it is ever requested, is based on alcohol content, not value. Wine has relatively low alcohol, so the duty (if charged) will be low. I am not even certain it would be more than $1 a bottle, but I have not kept up on the specifics.Confiscation is a last resort that would occur only if you did not declare, and even then it is not likely. Just declare and be prepared to pay what amounts to an incovenience fee. By the way, I have done this (i.e., imported multiple bottles) more than once with nary a problem. As belligerent as Passport Control and Customs can be in the US (I hold a US passport and feel that I receive better treatment in Europe than I do in the US), they have bigger fish to fry than a dozen bottles of wine. Just look at who is searched and you will see what I mean.

Cheers,

John

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)

Post #: 5

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/1/2008 3:22:28 PM

Enosnob

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Joined: 4/22/2007
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Declare it all and never fear! My experience and insight from others is that you are only at risk if you are caught not declaring. Most likey they willl waive you thru, and if they charge you anything it is less than $2 a bottle as the duty is based on alcohol content not what you paid for the wine. I have never had any questions or duty imposed with more than 6 trips in with wine

(in reply to Hollowine)

Post #: 6

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/1/2008 4:15:27 PM

Serge Birbrair

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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also, not many people know but it's true nevertheless:
The objects of art, oil paintings and other things made entirely by hand are duty free too!

IOW, if you bring home Picasso from your foreign trip, don't be afraid to declare it -
you won't pay a cent in duties!

AVOID objects of arts looted from Iraq or museums, they will be confiscated!

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Post #: 7

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/1/2008 5:19:48 PM

duck833

Posts: 65
Joined: 5/13/2008
From: Eugene, Oregon
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1. Have brought lots of wine back from France, maybe a dozen bottles per trip, customs could care less.

2. Anything old, antique is exempted, they might ask for Certificate of Authenticity. We bring blank ones, have the vendor sign and date it, and attach a quick photo. Works every time.

3. Don't bring back any wonderful Spainish ham, sausage etc. They don't care about your wine but are death on meat products.

4. Health related stuff is exempted. Dear wife gets her custom frames and lenses done in Paris. No duty

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Go Ducks!!!

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Post #: 8

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/1/2008 6:15:25 PM

Hollowine

Posts: 329
Joined: 7/25/2008
From: Hood River, OR
Status: offline

Thanks everyone for sharing, wish I had this forum before I had gone, wouldn't have fretted so.

(in reply to duck833)

Post #: 9

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/2/2008 12:39:25 AM

tctang

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Joined: 9/2/2008
Status: offline

Customs duty is charged based on alcohol content.
For wine: 14% or less in alcohol content, it is only $0.20 per 750 ml and for 14% or more, it is $0.44 per 750ml.
Custom can care less if you bring back a case of wine back. We do have bigger fish to fry.
Exemptions is $800 in merchandise, 1 Liter of Alcohol (must be 21), and 200 cigarettes (no age limit). So yes, your kid can bring back a carton of cigarettes duty free.
So bring back as much wine as you like, duty is cheap. And always declare it.

(in reply to Hollowine)

Post #: 10

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/2/2008 7:29:34 PM

PSirah Tampa

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Joined: 12/9/2006
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I brought back 36 bottles of Barolo/ Barbaresco from Italy a few years back. The Customs agent just waived me through; no concerns. That really came as no surprise to me; the US Customs is far more concerned with agricultural products (and rightfully so).

A little more surprising to me, I went to India 2 years ago and Dubai last fall and brought a case of wine in each time. I had no issue in either country.

Has anyone ever had a problem with wine confiscation while crossing a border?

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Post #: 11

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/3/2008 1:26:10 AM

pjaines

Posts: 909
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: online

I recently saw a guy at Heathrow airport who had bought a bottle of Latour to take home. Unfortunately he bought it outside the airport and didn't realise he couldn't take liquids onto a plane. The customs guy said he had to leave it. You should have seen the guys face. I thought he was going to cry. He was there trying to negotiate with the security guard and even though the security guard was very sympathetic there was no way the guy was getting on the plane with his bottle of wine.

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(in reply to PSirah Tampa)

Post #: 12

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/3/2008 2:57:19 AM

Serge Birbrair

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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Paul, which vintage?

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Post #: 13

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/3/2008 3:00:25 AM

pjaines

Posts: 909
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: online

No idea Serge - I just remember seeing the bottle and thinking "Should I feel sorry for this guy or just laugh at his stupidity?"

In the end I went for pity.

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Post #: 14

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/3/2008 3:25:21 AM

Serge Birbrair

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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I'd go for pity too...
"Karma is not just the name of a stripper in las vegas":
;)

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Post #: 15

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/3/2008 3:53:27 AM

pjaines

Posts: 909
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: online

He should have opened it up and drunk it from the bottle. That is what I would have done.

A related a similar story...
http://www.decanter.com/news/171669.html

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-- Paul

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)

Post #: 16

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/7/2008 5:38:38 AM

khmark7

Posts: 63
Joined: 7/6/2008
From: Illinois
Status: offline

What type of baggage do you transport your wine in? Do people just stuff it in their usual luggage with their clothes??

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Post #: 17

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/7/2008 6:24:02 AM

NiklasW

Posts: 508
Joined: 10/13/2007
From: Finland
Status: online

I've taken to carrying bubble wrap with me, but wrapping the bottles with clothes should do the trick as well. Main thing is that there is no possibility for something hard (eg another bottle) to be able to directly contact the bottle. Also, the bottles should be pretty tightly in place, so that they don't move around in the bag. Throw your bag around a bit to test whether your packing is sufficient (remember they treat luggage pretty harshly in the airports!).

(in reply to khmark7)

Post #: 18

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/7/2008 8:49:24 AM

duck833

Posts: 65
Joined: 5/13/2008
From: Eugene, Oregon
Status: offline

bubble wrap and dirty clothes, have not lost one yet.

I did go on a rum collecting cruise a few years ago. I had all the bottles in a rollon that I carried onto the plane (pre 9/11). Only one that broke was a rare bottle of Cuban Rum that had very thin glass. Rollon smelly like Cuban Rum forever however and got tossed.

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Go Ducks!!!

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Post #: 19

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/7/2008 9:37:15 AM

fingers

Posts: 729
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline

I used one of these to bring everything to Seattle this weekend:

http://www.passengersonly.com/catalog/six-bottle-wheeled-wine-safe

Worked perfectly and the handlers couldn't destroy it! It also held the temp of the chilled whites for over 6 hours of plane trip and drive to the hotel. I put a couple of TSA locks on it and if I go home empty-handed, it can just carry-on.

(in reply to duck833)

Post #: 20

RE: Bring wine back to US through Customs - 9/7/2008 9:39:48 AM

NiklasW

Posts: 508
Joined: 10/13/2007
From: Finland
Status: online

Now that's a serious suitcase!