We’re headed to the Cote-Rotie market later this month for the first time in ten years. In the past, I’d arranged with a freight forwarder at Lyon airport to collect our purchases in Ampuis and get them shipped back to the US, but the firm no longer handles that kind of business. Anyone have a lead / recommendation for a shipping contact in Lyon or vicinity?
Ziegler, which has a wine-shipping division, is based in Dijon – not so far from Ampuis/Lyon – and has an office in Lyon. Perhaps they could handle this.
We are heading to Ampuis also but later in spring and would love to hear if you found any easy and affordable method of shipping
Since Finland is in the EU, you just need to find a shipper.
For shipments to the US, one needs a shipper who can handle the customs clearance and take care of paying the duty. In addition to Ziegler, the other big wine shipper across the Atlantic when I last researched this more than a decade ago was Seabrook. If the wine isn’t travelling with you, it has to go through a customs broker when it enters the US. If it’s only a case or two, and you can get your wine to the airport, it’s easiest to just pay the baggage fees and bring it with you. Although technically you’re only allowed to bring back two bottles duty-free, the US Customs has a policy not to charge duty even for several cases if it’s for personal consumption and not sale.
Joel - You should see if there isn’t a retailer in Ampuis or Lyon who would take care of this for you. Many years ago I had wine shipped directly to the US by Le Cavon de Bacchus in Nuits St. Georges. They worked with Ziegler or Seabrook, as I recall, and I was quoted a shipping price up front that included the customs clearance and duty. I would think there might be a retailer in Ampuis or Lyon who could do the same.