Shipping Back Beer from Wine Country.

Do you happen to be flying out of Santa Rosa? If so, the Horizon airlines allows you to check a box of "wine" at no charge.

 

I would print off a label beforehand. You will not get asked any questions at the FedEx facility in San Rafael (1637 Francisco Blvd. East).

 

I haven't had any issues with using my own Fedex label on 6 bottle shippers and dropping off at a Fedex dropoff location off 4th St in Santa Rosa.

 

Just check the box on the plane, $25 might be cheaper than shipping it.

 

If you are a beer or wine guy and fly and want to bring back beer from where you are going always fly Southwest. You get to check two bags free. This includes boxes of beer. I always carry on my bag and then can check 2 beer boxes per person. It always ends up being cheaper.

If you dont know...now you know....

 

Dude Daemose Congrats on getting married! I am going to Napa then Santa Rosa in a few weeks too!!

 

@Daemose I'm here in Temecula right now, and plan on just checking a box on United. Seems safer and cheaper.

 

I actually don't know lol. I imagine they get styro bottle shippers all the time, so.they handle them with "extra" care (I hope).

 

There happens to be a Fed Ex Ship Center half a block from Russian River Brewing. You wouldn't be the first to try to ship beer f rom there. They will ask what's in the box as I assume they're required to. Do not ship in the box they give you at Russian River.

 

ohhh another thing i thought of is i know when i ship wine from Napa to Orange County it is not illegal. I'm not sure what the laws are to ship to TX but it might be okay to ship wine there anyways.

 

Sounds like you already have everything figured out, but thought I would relate that I fly United frequently from San Diego to Houston with beer checked in Styrofoam shippers. Never had an issue with over a hundred boxes. I put a little newspaper around the bottles so they don't move in the slots, and perhaps a little paper on the bottom as well. I usually say it's wine in the box rather than beer when I check it (just because I think the agents at United are more used to that).

Suggest adding more tape to the bottom of whatever shipper you get before you pack it. Or invest in the Wine Check if you do this a lot. http://www.thewinecheck.com/ From their website it appears you can pick these up in many Napa locations.

 

Fitch Mountain Shipping in Healdsburg can ship it for you.

 

I often ship from the fedex which is 30 yards from RR (and open 24 hours). I usually use my woman as a beard, as a young white guy with a package which screams it has beer inside isnt so bright.
When around napa, in st. Helena on oak (across from nvcr) their is a 3rd party shipper who does ups. They are good peoples. And I am pretty sure 55 degrees does shipping as well.

 

FWIW I consider checking a beer box far safer than shipping one.