Winemakers offer free storage boxes to transport wine

Several wineries in California are introducing free storage boxes to make packing delicate wine bottles in checked luggage easier.

New regulations imposed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prohibit all liquids, including gels, pastes, and creams, from being taken into airplane cabins, which will prevent tourists taking bottles in their carry-on bags.

Industry insiders say this may discourage out-of-state tourists from taking home a bottle or two from California's main vineyard region in the Napa Valley so several enterprises in the region are set to adopt the new routines for transportation.

If wineries were to lose revenue as a result of the new TSA regulations, it would make a large dent in the turnover of the state's tourist industry. California's Wine Country receives an estimated 15 million visitors each year.

However, many people hope the new approach to wine transportation will smooth over the cracks that the new regulations could cause.

Vineyards are also considering offering extended discount or free shipping to more distant locations around the country and for a lower threshold of bottles per shipment.

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Comments

[Richard Brack]

I recently flew First Class on Delta from San Francisco to West Palm Beach. I packed all of 36 bottles in 3 boxes specifically for wine transport containing a styrofoam block w/ 12 sleeves per box. I was forced to sign a "fragile and unsuitably packed" release of responsibility disclaimer. I was advised by the Delta Customer Relations manager (Michael) that there is no way to pack wine to the satisfaction of Delta which will allow shipment without such a disclaimer.

Are there any airlines which are more wine friendly and might take responsibility for their baggage handlers?