These Products For Safely Packing Wine And Vinegar Into Luggage Are Pure Genius

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After a vacation in Italy or any other vineyard-covered paradise, you'll likely want to take a bottle of wine home with you. For the non-imbibers, a bottle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar straight from a local producer makes a memorable yet highly breakable souvenir. Depending on how many bottles you accumulate on your trip, experienced foodie travelers swear by different products. From shipper boxes to specific wine sleeves or protective suitcases, these lifesavers will keep precious glass bottles (and everything else in your suitcase) safe, stain-free, and undamaged. 

However, before bringing alcohol or food products home from abroad, always check the customs regulations of your home country or next destination. "Generally, one liter of alcohol per person may be entered into [the] United States duty-free by travelers who are 21 years or older," per U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "There is no federal limit on the amount of alcohol a traveler may import into the United States for personal use, however, large quantities might raise the suspicion that the importation is for commercial purposes." Usually, travelers have no problem bringing olive oil and vinegar into the U.S. because they don't contain pests, but it's always worth checking before your flight. 

If you're traveling with individual bottles, wine sleeves are the way to go. With a simple, assertive name, Wyld Wyrks already proves that the Original Bottle Sleeve means business. Priced at $14.99, it's designed to protect a single bottle from rough handling and the bangs and bonks of travel. The exterior is crafted from water-resistant nylon, while foam padding keeps your precious cargo safe. Plus, the all-black design is sleek and compact. If the unfortunate happens and the bottle breaks, the water-resistant polyester lining will prevent the liquid from escaping into your suitcase. It measures 15 by 4 by 4 inches and easily fits into the bottom of a rolling suitcase. 

Monkkino Wine Bottle Travel Protector Bags give more bang for your buck at $11.39 for 16 pieces. Instead of wrapping your bottles in sweatshirts and hoping for the best, use these inflatable protector bags. Saving tons of space in your luggage, the bags lie as flat as a ziplock until you inflate the seven protective columns using the included pump. Each column is separate, so even if one pops, the whole bag won't deflate. "While I've used them most often for wine, they also work great for spirits bottles and other breakable items such as drinking glasses, electronics, and more," reports kitchen gear expert Katie Brown, writing for Food & Wine. The bags are designed for bottles measuring 12.5 by 3 inches. These sleeves don't deflate, but another option, Wine Angel Reusable Wine Bags, can be used more than once.

Say you visited Spain's olive oil museum and magical grove-covered hills, departing with six or even a dozen beautiful bottles. When travel wine sleeves won't cut it, you'll need to purchase a wine shipper box or wine suitcase. Wine suitcases aren't cheap, but the best will protect six to 12 bottles and come with TSA-approved locks. For example, the VinGardeValise Grande Wine Suitcase features a shock-proof design with high-density foam padding and reinforced corners. At $349.95, it's certainly an investment, but it comes with a lifetime warranty and room for 12 bottles. Of course, traveling with wine in a checked bag is almost always cheaper.

You can also use wine shipper boxes, but they must be durable, correctly sealed, and preferably made of impact-resistant styrofoam. Most wineries provide shipper boxes, but you'll likely need to bring the styrofoam yourself. The U-Haul Wine Packing Kit comes with a sturdy foam insert that protects and divides 12 bottles. "I used this to bring six bottles of wine home on a flight during a recent vacation," shares one reviewer on Amazon. "Tape it well and you'll be fine." Also, make sure to ask for a "fragile" sticker at the airport.

While traveling with an extra packing kit or suitcase may seem like overkill, it's worth it to keep your bottles safe. For another way to protect vinegar, wine, and olive oil bottles, use this simple tool to stop them from knocking together.