Wine bottle bag (wine skin) in France

[legroom]

Hello brains trust

On a spur of the moment, we bought some four bottles of French wines while I'm in Provence, France.

The best the wine shop can offer is bubble wrap each bottle.

Does anyone know a better way to carry them back home intact ?

Where could I buy the 'bottle bag' for better protection ?

If I cannot find such thing, what would be the next best advice apart from bubble wrap and keep them apart inside rolls of clothes ?

We will be in Provence for two days then Paris for another two.

Baggage allowance, suitcase space are not an issue.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

TIA

PS: some of you would say 'why only four ???', I'm sure

 

[bismarck]

I brought back four bottles of champagne from France a while back. Just wrapped in bubble wrap, in clothes in the middle of the suitcase and they were fine.

Bottles are usually pretty robust....just make sure when packing that there is nothing pointy against them.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

As bismarck posted in middle of clothes in middle of bag - will not be a problem - have 'imported' hundreds of bottles over the years this very way - never a casualty

 

[legroom]

Feel better now that you guys had done this without any issue

Thanks

 

[medhead]

All secured to minimise differential movement of the bottles with respect to the rest of the suitcase.

Many years ago, I did get a styrofoam wine bottle holder from Australia Post. But even one bottle took up a heap of suitcase room.

Do note that somewhere in Sydney or Adelaide the baggage handlers have some sort of pointy thing that can damage suitcases.
https://planeboring.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/baggage/

 

[SuzieQ68]

We picked up some inflatable wine bottle protectors to transport wine from Australia to Luxembourg. They're like a seriously strong bubble wrap with sealed tops and all the wine arrived safely. The kicker here though is that we purchased them in Australia from the company we purchased the wine from. Not sure where to pick them up in France. Maybe some of the wine shops over there have them? Know we went into a couple in Bordeaux, but can't recall if I saw any. That being said, the bubble wrap then clothes wrap should be just as good and a lot cheaper!

 

[YSSY]

I've brought a lot of wine back in suitcases just wrapped in clothes and only once have I ever had an issue and in that situation nothing would have saved the day. I had a bag with a bottle of Whisky in it go missing coming back from the USA, after a week I was advised that my bag was lost without trace, and then a few days later it arrived at the house by courier but was completely compacted down and was about 4 inches thick as though it had been driven over by a tank, and of course stank of whiskey...

 

[legroom]

I had a look in 2-3 wine shops here in Provence and they don't have anything.

Looks like I will do what you guys had done - bubble wrap plus clothes and hope for the best.

Maybe next time I'd get the 'wine skin' before leaving Oz.

 

[Dr Bob]

I've put then in sneakers or hiking boots in the luggage

 

[CaviAck]

Well if you're passing back through Paris, La Grande Epicerie de Paris next to Le Bon Marche near the Sevres-Babylone metro station has them for like 3 euros each. But otherwise bubblewrap, plastic bag and clothes around it did the trick for me numerous times.

 

[AnnaB]

Great thread, looking at bringing my brother a bottle of Australian whiskey when I go to Europe. Mostly as it cant be found over there and will be a bit of a special treat. Dont know about taste though
Will have a look for inflatable bottle protector, thanks for the tip.

 

[MDC]

I've brought home bottles from various locations and there are a few options for suitable packing materials if you want to protect the bottles in your checked in.

1. Wine retailers. Depending on the number of bottles they'll usually have packaging / old cartons that are suitable. Don't listen to them when they say they have nothing. Wine usually comes shipped in a 6 or 12 carton. I have even been given nice wooden cases free of charge before.
2. Package & freight forward shops. You'll usually find small packaging and freight forwarding shops in most cities. They will either package it for you or sell you the materials. I once went to a "Pack and Send" type place they used expanding foam in a box. You don't have to use their freight service, just the packaging service.
3. Office supply shops or postal offices. Most will have wine boxes and I'd be very surprised if you can't get one in France. Worst case is a box with packing peanuts - you can get that stuff anywhere!
4. Your hotel. Similar to above, the hotel will usually have empty boxes and packing peanuts they are throwing out. I've never encountered a hotel that doesn't receive some form of goods daily that comes with this packaging.

Side story but kind of on topic - I brought home some sauce bottles from Texas a while back. I was short on time so bubble wrapped them and put them in my suitcase. The TSA must have been a bit curious because they unwrapped each bottle to inspect them. So much for protecting them with bubble wrap!

 

[legroom]

CaviAck

I'm heading to La Grand Epicerie today for some unpasteurized Camembert so THANKS for the tip*.

MDC

I'm using metro to get to CDG so any box would be kind of hard to handle but your tips are great for any private-car transfers I'm sure.

*: my research said it's OK to bring back unpasteurized (raw milk) French cheese as long as it shows intact packaging with 'Made in France' label.

Any comments are appreciated.

 

[legroom]

From La Grand Epicerie in Paris for €2.80



Marginally better than simple bubble wrap I