Moving to SHanghai with wine

WINE TALK
1

I am moving from The Netherlands to Shanghai in a little while. Has anybody experience with bringing wine into China? I would leave part in Europe, but probably want to take something in the range of 150 bottles. Any issues / regulations that I should be aware of? Also, I’d be curious if somebody has a guesstimate as to what this would cost…

Thanks

2

If I remember correctly China has a 50% tax on wine.

3

Hi Frank,
I have a feeling this would be a nightmare! Check with the moving company about what you can bring as personal belongings. Going through any official route would be virtually impossible. Not only the 48% duty but a whole range of regulations regarding labelling etc etc. If work takes you to Hong Kong on occasion that is surely the better option and you can mule wines up on a regular basis! There is actually a pretty sophisticated range of wines available in China although prices are high and older vintages pretty tough to come by.
Good luck

4

Thanks for the information, much appreciated! I got a similar advice from others as well, so I guess that I will simply bring in the wine bit by bit. Since I expect to be doing some back&forth to Europe anyway. It’s just lugging the weight that I would have liked to prevent…

5

I agree that this would likely be a nightmare or at the very least extremely costly. I do bring in 6-7 bottles every time I trip to Shanghai though, although you do take the risk in customs. I have never been stopped over 50 flights though so pretty safe.

Are there any other Shanghai WBers? Might be fun to get together for some drinks…I am there about 1/3 of the time.

6

I am guessing its only me!
PM me? have a fun blind tasting group here that meets more or less monthly
Marcus