Experience of wine into LAX

[therudies86]

I’m flying to the US in a week or so, and would like to take 2-3 bottles of wine with me. Looking at the US Customs and Border website it states 1L can be brought in duty free - Bringing alcohol (including homemade wine) to the U.S. for personal use

What experience have you had in bringing wine into the US ? Have you declared if you’re bringing in more than one 750ml bottle ? How have you been treated by customs if you’ve brought in more than one 750ml bottle ?

Thanks

 

[cove]

Why would you want to do this? We live part time in California and ther are endless amounts of wine. I have bought thru San Diego Wine , Costco , Ralphs, Gelsons and BevMo.
What exactly do you want to take there?
I am currently trying Zinfandels.

 

[therudies86]

Why would you want to do this? We live part time in California and ther are endless amounts of wine. I have bought thru San Diego Wine , Costco , Ralphs, Gelsons and BevMo.
What exactly do you want to take there?
I am currently trying Zinfandels.

I want to take wine from my cellar to share with US friends. You can’t get this stuff, or vintages, from retail.

 

[cove]

I have taken two 750ml bottles of wine to the US with two of us travelling. Be aware that there are laws that can be broken taking wine over State boundaries in the US. I think those laws go back to prohibition times and probably are ignored currently.

 

[CaptJCool]

Leaving Australia you can't carry it on board. Found that out the hard way.... it has to go in check-in luggage....

You may find this of interest
Hauling Home Heavenly Wines by Rick Steves

Couples get away with 3 bottles = 2.25 liters

 

[cove]

I think I took a 98 rated Moss Wood and a Diana Madeline for friends to try.
I would take a Penfolds 707. Grange is already in California.

 

[cove]

Yes not in hand luggage unless you want our border control to drink it for you as it will be confiscated.

 

[drron]

I have taken 3 bottles in and declared it.No problems but there were 2 of us so no laws broken.
It was in the checked luggage.Didn't have to be shown to customs-just asked what it was for-to share with friends is OK.
Again it was from my cellar and vintages you wouldn't get in the USA.

 

[therudies86]

I think I took a 98 rated Moss Wood and a Diana Madeline for friends to try.
I would take a Penfolds 707. Grange is already in California.

Ive got some old Rockford’s that Ive stored since release in the mid 90s.

And it is only me (on a business trip)

 

[serfty]

Last june I (solo) took a 2001 bottle of Kilakanoon Shiraz for a specific purpose, but no need to declare as under the limit.

My suggestion is to take the bottles in checked luggage and declare them on entry.

In all likelyhood you'll be waved through (not enough taxes to make it worthwhile collecting).

 

[therudies86]

Thanks all, I'll take a couple of bottles, declare them and be prepared for some duty if required.

 

[MAM]

I used to take 6 bottles in my check in luggage 3x a year back in the early 2000s flying UAL LAX/SFO. Got caught once, played dumb, and the customs agent just waggled her finger at me.

 

[therudies86]

Well, I took in two bottles with me, declared them on my form, but didn’t get asked about them - so sailed through customs