Once you have browsed our gorgeous array of villas in Chianti, among the rolling green hills and endless vineyards, the pretty little villages and the famous wine areas for which this beloved destination in Tuscany is so well-known, you will likely be looking forward to experiencing Tuscan wine for yourself. And what an experience awaits!
From delicious wines with your meals in restaurants, to excellent bottles picked up while on a regular supermarket run to be enjoyed by the pool in your villa with a swimming pool in Tuscany, to wines sampled in a guided tasting at a vineyard, there are endless ways to appreciate the lauded wines of the region.
In fact, many years ago, a local told me that while lots of Italian wine is exported, the best Italian wine rarely leave the country. Instead, it is kept to be sold and enjoyed by Italians themselves. So, if you really want to sample the best of the best when it comes to wines in Chianti and at a lower price point than you can expect elsewhere (they haven’t needed to be imported somewhere else after all) then you have to enjoy them while in Tuscany.
Of course, once you’ve scheduled your visit to a winery (or two or three) and experienced it for yourself, then you might want to share this experience with loved ones or your favourite neighbour who watered your plants while you were away. Or you might simply want to stock up for the future. In either scenario, you might be wondering if it is possible to bring wine home from Chianti?
The answer is a yes but the methods can depend on various factors and what you choose will rely on cost, your personal preferences, your country of origin, and your airline.
Most wineries, when you visit, will have wines that they are selling directly on site and that they can ship on home ahead of you (though they will most likely arrive after you return home). If you are thinking about sending wines home, then going with the winery's official shippers is the best choice as many countries and companies will only allow the shipment of wine via licenced shippers. It is also a good idea to ensure that your country of origin allows the personal importing of wine before sending as it could be confiscated. Most do as long as it is for personal consumption and not resale but it's always best to double-check. Wineries that are used to shipping, however, will likely have experience with the specifics of your needs and knowledge about rules and regulations, making it all much easier for you.
Shipping costs will also vary depending on the distance and the winery themselves. Some visitors feel that the cost of shipping is too high for their needs, especially for smaller numbers of bottles. If this is not an issue for you or you are shipping a larger number of bottles, the cost-effectiveness will vary. Again, it is best to check with the winery on the day to get all of the information. Finally, be sure to check that a winery’s shipping cost includes all taxes and duties or you may be in for a nasty surprise when it finally follows you home!
Many people, instead, will opt to pack wine in their suitcases. Again, this should not be a problem for most but it is always a good idea to look into the policies of your airline and country of origin to see if and how much they allow you to bring in with your luggage. If you are going down this route, many find that simply cushioning the wine carefully amongst clothes is enough to ensure its safe arrival but you can also purchase inflatable wine sleeves that you could have at hand in your suitcase if you know that you are likely going to be stocking up on your vacation. Be sure also to keep an eye on your baggage weight limitations as the money you saved by not shipping might easily be spent on a penalty for exceeding your allotted limitation!
So, find your perfect vacation rental in Chianti and then stock up on some perfect Chianti wines so that you can reminisce and savour until your next holiday in Tuscany...
