Christmas: Spending Time Sharing Wine
As everyone rushes about buying gifts, decorating trees, fighting traffic, attending parties, it’s often important to slow down and remember what the season is really about. Family and friends. I love picking out presents I think someone will appreciate, that fits the personality. But I also love sharing good meals, and of course that means good wine. At the end of the month, I’m flying home for the first time in a long year. And I can’t wait. While time will be spent deciding which clothes to bring and how to fit them in my suitcase along with the gifts, something else will take much more concentration. Last year it took me ages to figure out which wines to take with me. With a limit of only 12, I had to pick and choose. What to give as gifts, what to drink with family, what to drink with friends. This year I have a little more leeway, since BK will be coming with me and I’m forcing him to check a case of wine as well….
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POSTED IN: holiday spirit, they love wine down south, wine friends
8 opinions for Christmas: Spending Time Sharing Wine
Wine Scamp
Dec 13, 2007 at 1:58 pm
How are you packing your wine? Do you use bubble wrap or anything special? Curious because my husband and I are taking some homebrew on a flight and we’re discussing packing options.
farley
Dec 13, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I use the shipping cases from the winery that have the inserts for bottles.
But I’ve also traveled with wine in my suitcase, using the normal boxes wine comes in– with the dividers. Then I just wrap clothes or bubble wrap around the bottles, put them into the box, and make sure to cushion the box within the suitcase…
Wine Scamp
Dec 13, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I wonder, do you ever have trouble with the airlines? And do you ever have issues with pressure variations screwing with your corks? Worried about picking up my checked luggage only to find it dripping…!
farley
Dec 13, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I’ve done this several times for each method and have never had a problem. Not with the corks (after all, some wineries including mine ship wine by air all the time) and not with airlines, even though I bring wine to states that aren’t allowed direct shipping. I’ve heard, though, they might give you a hard time if you’re going to Utah….
sara
Dec 13, 2007 at 3:59 pm
How lovely that BK will go with you!!! I know you are going to have a great time!! Looking forward to Saturday!
arieanna
Dec 13, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I like to make mulled wine this time of year, but it’s not something you can take from your home. And, as with Sangria, I am never 100% which wine is best to start with. So far it’s worked out, but any advice is appreciated!
john witherspoon
Dec 13, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Hi Farley and Wine Scamp
I have done the “check a case” method several times and never had any trouble. Usually Megan and I check 2 cases when we are coming back from Napa and it works great. This past year when we were in Italy Wine Tasting but couldn’t find any shippers to buy so we packed them in our suitcases and it worked fine, all wrapped in clothing.
Nice Post Farley.
John
:)
Farley
Dec 14, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Arieanna,
I am not much on mulled wine, but I love sangria. I find that I like to use decent but not expensive wine for mine. Definitely not bad wine or any that’s turned. I posted several recipes on my other blog, Wine Outlook.
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