Wine to Be Shipped
Shipping wine overseas raises several issues to consider. First is the protection of the cargo, the customs declaration and the legality of the shipment.
Instructions
1. Shipping wine overseas is actually relatively easy. There are three main issues to consider. First you must consider packing so the wine does not break en-route. Secondly there are customs declaration forms you must consider. Finally the legality and the strictness of where you are shipping to is a huge consideration. There are countries, mostly in the Islamic world, where importation of wine is strictly prohibited. There are also countries that are stricter and harder to ship to such as Sweden where packages are regularly checked, more than in many countries, and alcohol is considered "smuggled" if it comes from abroad and is subject to confiscation and taxation if allowed in.
2. First find a shipper. Not all companies, including USPS will allow you to ship alcohol. This does not necessarily mean you cannot try if it is not an expensive bottle but you need to be careful and will need to list it simply as a "gift" and disguise it. Do note it is ILLEGAL to ship alcohol USPS. Unfortunately, private courier services tend to be checked on both ends so shipping to countries that would stop the import means that the USPS is your best option by disguising the wine as a "gift". This is risky though. Always check the laws of where you are shipping.
First let's discuss packaging though. You will want to get a large enough box that you can throw some other things in there and the shape of the cargo can be disguised. Then you will want to bubble wrap the bottle completely-box it separately if you can after that for further protection, then throw the packing popcorn in and then the bottle(s) and then more popcorn. If you can throw an old towel around it all the better and if you can pack it with a stuffed animal or something festive it may be less perceptible to customs.
Close your package and if you can gift wrap it then put it in yet another box again, all the better as it will seem like a bona-fide gift. When you address the box itself I also recommend writing such things as "Happy Birthday!" with hearts or the like so as to again look like a gift. Also undervalue the actual value on the wine on the customs declaration. You need to declare what it is you are sending but as companies that ship medical prescriptions into the USA (which is illegal) they often write "supplements" or "health foods". I would list the entire package as "novelty items" and plead ignorance if caught---for example you can claim the recipient is a non-drinker thus it was a gag gift (though this is far-fetched).
3. Finally you need to send the package. If you choose a major courier you will need to have stated it is wine and will have to undervalue it so where applicable it will simply be allowed into the country as an import. If you choose to try and go via USPS the risk is yours on this side but here are some secrets to getting it elsewhere.
Asia-largely easy other than to Islamic countries where you may run into problems or worse yet create problems for the recipient.
Australia-Easy usually enters no problem.
Europe-If you can send it first into the EU (if shipping to an EU country) via a lenient land and have it shipped onward for you (let's say you have a friend in the third party country) then you will have an easier time. For example the UK, Spain, Italy and Greece are countries that will easily allow anything through and then it can be shipped to stricter countries like Sweden almost unnoticed. EU countries of the former Eastern Bloc are relatively easy to ship into as are non EU countries with the exception of Norway.
Central and South America and the Caribbean are all easy to ship to. The only issue in some places may be corrupt officials stealing your shipment for their own use!
Tags: countries that, customs declaration, consider First, easy ship, issues consider, issues consider First, must consider