How to Pack Wine in Your Suitcase, According to Experienced Pros

Traveling with wine is no easy feat, but sometimes it’s necessary (hello, working in wine!) and sometimes it’s just downright desirable (hello, wine country vacations!). While many destinations will often be able to ship to you, it’s not always the most cost-effective or time-sensitive, especially internationally. 

“Sometimes you want to hold onto a few bottles to enjoy in the hotel, and then more immediately when you get home,” says Elise Cordell, senior brand ambassador, Pernod Ricard USA. 

So, just how do you travel with wine that won’t leave your bottles broken? We asked experts to share their insider tips for the best way to pack wine in your suitcase.

Use Strategic Placement

The most low-tech, low-effort, low-stakes option is to pack your bottles carefully using what’s already in your bag—your clothes. 

“If I’m really in a pinch, I wrap the bottle with a t-shirt or two, then put a pair of shoes on either side, shirts on top and bottom and pack it right in the middle of the suitcase,” says Michael Kennedy, the founder of Fraîche Wine Group, who travels with bottles at least once a month. 

“For red wine, I do try to put a bottle inside a sealed plastic bag just in case it leaks,” he adds. 

Kate Dingwall, a sommelier and Wine Enthusiast contributor, frequently transports bottles and also favors strategic placement and using what you have in a pinch. “I went to a friend’s wedding a few years ago in the desert and packed Champagne in cowboy boots,” she says. “They provided a shockingly great amount of padding.”

Take Advantage of Wine Bags and Wine Sleeves

While clothes-as-protection might work sometimes, most experts note that using wine skins, wine bags and bubble wrap wine wrapping is preferable. All use them. 

“I don’t skimp on the wrapping,” Dingwall says. “Any local wine shop will always have bubble wrap sleeves or packing materials if you ask–it’s worth the extra effort to ensure that any bottles you’re bringing home are properly packed. No one wants to get home after a long flight to find a suitcase full of broken glass and Syrah-slicked clothes.”

Master Sommelier Steven McDonald, executive wine director of Pappas Bros. Steakhouses, uses a wine skin from Uline, a sealed bag made from thick bubble wrap, when he travels.

Kennedy is also a fan of the WineSkin when traveling with “just a couple” of bottles. “They don’t take up a ton of space in your luggage and cost only a couple dollars,” he says.

Use Other Suitcase and Travel Helpers

For Cordell, padded wine shippers have been a lifesaver for her regular checked baggage. “The same ones that importers and distributors use to transport,” she says. She notes that these shippers can easily be found from local wine retailers or from Amazon. 

Kennedy recommends using a Wine Check, a fabric case with wheels that fits around a cardboard box that holds a case of wine. “Most winery people use this product, or something similar,” he says. 

Go for Styrofoam

McDonald has also used styrofoam cases, like this one from Uline, for trips, “due to its durability and temperature regulation." Styrofoam is a poor conductor of heat, and the material prevents heat from passing through and ruining wine.

Invest in a Wine Suitcase

Another practical option, especially for those traveling often with wine, is a wine suitcase with inserts. Both Kennedy and Cordell swear by the VinGardeValise. 

“It's something I reserve for when I travel with special bottles for events, like older, rare, Champagne,” Kennedy says. 

“I’ve had a VinGardeValise 12-bottle suitcase for almost 10 years now,” Cordell says. “It has been around the world with me, and is still going strong.” She likes it because the case is ultra-light, so it can accommodate wine bottles without going over the 50 pound limit and has four wheels for easy maneuvering. 

She also notes that the foam inserts are sturdy, and can accommodate uniquely shaped bottles. “The foam is also completely removable if you want to just use one suitcase when traveling, and pack your clothes/toiletries on one side and then your wine on the other,” she adds. 

Some other stellar suitcase options include the Vino-Voyage 12-Bottle Wine Suitcase or the Vino-Voyage 6-Bottle Suitcase. Both have TSA-approved locks and removable foam inserts to protect bottles.

Consider ‘Travel Shock’

Traveling with wine isn’t always ideal. It can be pricey, and it doesn’t always mean your wine will survive the trip, even if the bottle itself does.

“I'm always wary about travel shock,” Dingwall says. “There's a reason winemakers ship their bottles with temperature-controlled trucks. The hull of a plane can be frosty, bottles can get hot sitting on a tarmac, and all that shaking? Yikes, you'll end up with some anxious wine. I've opened a couple bottles which ended up pretty yucky after a plane journey—muted and awkward at the best, faulted at the worst. I now let any wines wait around for a few months before I open to give them time to settle.” 

And Don’t Forget about Sticker Shock

“Make sure that it's worth it,” McDonald says. “It's a lot of hassle and risk to take 25-ounces worth of wine in your bag. Make sure there is no irreplaceable clothing in your luggage that could be ruined, and know the tax law in each destination country because you may be subject to a tax or extra inspection depending on the amount of wine."

Cordell emphasizes that traveling with status on an airline or using a credit card tied to your airline for free baggage is a great way to save money and hassle when traveling with wine, “especially if you’re planning a vacation to wine country,” she says. 

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Published: September 13, 2024