[Joaniesmom]

Hi Everyone,

Hubby and I are preparing to move to TV in September. We just bottled 15 gallons of wine and have another 20 gallons to go. I know. I know. That's a LOT of wine and you're all invited to help us drink it!

Having said that, here's the serious question. The movers won't take any liquids so it's up to us to transport. BUT I definitely don't relish the idea of languishing in some southern jail for an alcohol violation. Would we be violating the law by transporting this wine to Florida? It is bottled and corked.

If there is the slightest chance we would get into trouble, our friends and neighbors here in Ohio will definitely be lucky!

I'm bracing myself for an avalanche of funny answers, but a serious one wold be appreciated, too! Thanks, new neighbors!

[l2ridehd]

No knowledge of all the state laws but I have a wine cellar with about 800 bottles that I plan to move. Will do it myself and pack them in boxes and just do it. I am still working the storage solution in the Florida home and have a couple in mind, but to me this is the bigger issue. In VA I have a climate controlled wine cellar that holds 1200 bottles at 56 degrees and correct humidity. In FL the biggest option I can find that will fit the space I have selected is only 400. Even building in a new cellar will only gain a few more spaces. Guess we have to do some serious drinking before we move. Without temperature control the FL heat will ruin your wine in a very short time window.

[Bryan]

The wine cellar situation is a little different in that all the wine has been "taxed" and is "legal'. You are talking about transporting untaxed, illegal (maybe) alcohol. For personal consumption, there is an allowed amount but I'm not sure what it is (less than 20 gallons, though, I'm pretty sure). What you are going to be doing is sometimes called "moonshining" - which is making illegal booze (as opposed to "bootlegging" - which is transporting booze from a place where it is legal to a place where it is illegal (i.e. to a "dry" county or city). Yes, you are technically breaking a law, but you are doing that when you go 75 on the interstate in a 70 MPH zone. Risks of getting in trouble - low unless you have an accident or some other event that draws law enforcement attention to you; then probably more embarrassment than trouble.

[2 Oldcrabs]

Do you have a truck or SUV. If you put that much weight in the trunk of a car, the cops might think you have a body in there. I do not know what style house you have, but you may have trouble finding storage that is climate controlled.

[carm310]

I did an internet search on "shipping wine".
Here is what I found:
Domaine Wine Storage
Wine Moving | Domaine Wine Storage
There were others and you might want to check UPS.
Any company who offers shipping services for wine should know the legalities.
Good luck and let us know when the party starts!

[getdul981]

Is it possible you might be making several trips and can transport some on each trip? If so, you can rent a climate controlled storage unit, but I doubt they will have it at 56 degrees. Probably more like 72 degrees. When we moved, I had several cases of wine, maybe 5 or 6, and the movers told me that as long as it was in regular wine/liquor boxes they would move it. You can get those boxes at any liquor store.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Joaniesmom

Hi Everyone,

Hubby and I are preparing to move to TV in September. We just bottled 15 gallons of wine and have another 20 gallons to go. I know. I know. That's a LOT of wine and you're all invited to help us drink it!

Having said that, here's the serious question. The movers won't take any liquids so it's up to us to transport. BUT I definitely don't relish the idea of languishing in some southern jail for an alcohol violation. Would we be violating the law by transporting this wine to Florida? It is bottled and corked.

If there is the slightest chance we would get into trouble, our friends and neighbors here in Ohio will definitely be lucky!

I'm bracing myself for an avalanche of funny answers, but a serious one wold be appreciated, too! Thanks, new neighbors!

Why don't you call the state highway patrol and ask them. We brought our well stocked bar down here in the car. I gave all open bottles to daughter. I know you cannot drive with an open container so I didn't ask and assumed it was o.k. as long as none were opened.

But for Pete's sake drive carefully, and HURRY HOME!

[asianthree]

You might want to contact a storage company most now have a unit you can store wine at the correct temp

[Skip]

If you move any alcohol across state lines without a license, you have technically committed a crime. If you live in Florida and your closest liquor store is in Georgia, you can't buy it there and bring it home.

UPS does not have licenses to ship alcohol (and will not accept it) but FedEx can tell you the names of private pack and ship businesses that have licenses to ship out of Ohio (a wine producing state). They are far a few between however. FedEx will transport alcohol if shipped by a licensed shipper. Luckily Florida is a wine import friendly state, so shipping to Florida is not banned. An adult must sign for the shipment when delivered.

If you enter Florida in a truck or camper, you must stop at the Agricultural Inspection Station at the border (Interstate only). There, they can ask to see your cargo. If they notice alcohol while looking to plants and fruit, you're busted.

I'm betting the cost to ship your wine is more than the wine is worth (no offense). Perhaps the bottles will make better "Nice To Know You" gifts for your Ohio friends and start making a new batch from supplies bought in the wine shops in Orlando.

Hope your varietals include Red Zins.

Skip

[Joaniesmom]

How nice you all are to answer so soon!

I know the temps down there will be deadly on homemade wine and we are currently auctioning off our equipment. Not worth the effort! So sad to do that! It was such a fun hobby! Made wine for more that 10 years.

We are currently really lucky about temperature regulation. Our home is built into a hill and the wine room is actually underground on two sides. We blocked any heat from going in there in the winter and open up the a/c to it in the summer.

But..... I am a kinda nervous person. Drinking wine helps that a lot! I'm not sure I want the worry of driving or storing that much wine to FL. Can't find out right now how much we are allowed to make in Ohio, but I do know it's waaay more than we currently make. I'll look it up.

I guess we ought to have a nice big going away party, invite friends and neighbors and give it away. Sob! In addition, I think we're just going to drink most of the "good stuff" we've been saving for "some day". That day is definitely here! And there are probably a few bottles we'll save to celebrate when we finally get to our new home and new friends in The Villages.

Thanks to you all!


Added later this day: I just HAD to add to this response! Might be helpful to someone else. I went to Mapquest, looked up all the states we have to travel through to get to Florida. Then I looked up the Alcohol Control Boards for Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the first two states we would cross. The laws in each were about the same and almost knocked me out of my chair. While it is perfectly legal to make wine for personal consumption, it is definitely NOT legal to move it from the premises where it was made. Meaning probably your house. This includes taking a bottle next door to your neighbor's. That was actually included in the article as an example!

SO, if I can't walk a bottle of homemade wine 20 feet across my lawn to my neighbors without breaking a law, how in the heck am I going to transport 50 gallons of homemade wine 1,000 miles without getting busted? Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I rest my case!

Again, my sincerest gratitude to all of you who took the time to respond to my post. Look me up in TV and I'll buy you a nice glass of wine!

[Joaniesmom]

Originally Posted by Skip

If you move any alcohol across state lines without a license, you have technically committed a crime. If you live in Florida and your closest liquor store is in Georgia, you can't buy it there and bring it home.

UPS does not have licenses to ship alcohol (and will not accept it) but FedEx can tell you the names of private pack and ship businesses that have licenses to ship out of Ohio (a wine producing state). They are far a few between however. FedEx will transport alcohol if shipped by a licensed shipper. Luckily Florida is a wine import friendly state, so shipping to Florida is not banned. An adult must sign for the shipment when delivered.

If you enter Florida in a truck or camper, you must stop at the Agricultural Inspection Station at the border (Interstate only). There, they can ask to see your cargo. If they notice alcohol while looking to plants and fruit, you're busted.

I'm betting the cost to ship your wine is more than the wine is worth (no offense). Perhaps the bottles will make better "Nice To Know You" gifts for your Ohio friends and start making a new batch from supplies bought in the wine shops in Orlando.

Hope your varietals include Red Zins.

Skip

Ouchy! I didn't notice your post when I made my last one! Looks like I was just determined to get busted! OK. OK. It all goes. Legally up here in Ohio. The good, the bad and the, er, homemade!

We don't plan to make any more in FL for reasons previously discussed. So, direct me to the nearest wine purveyor and let me stay out of jail.

BTW, thanks for the wise advice.

[hotrodgirl]

Good luck with your wine! There is a wine store I believe in Lake Sumter Landing and an ABC Liquors in Lady Lake. I can see I am going to need to make everyone's acquaintence once I close in Dec!! Woo HOO!!!!

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by Joaniesmom

Hi Everyone,

Hubby and I are preparing to move to TV in September. We just bottled 15 gallons of wine and have another 20 gallons to go. I know. I know. That's a LOT of wine and you're all invited to help us drink it!

Having said that, here's the serious question. The movers won't take any liquids so it's up to us to transport. BUT I definitely don't relish the idea of languishing in some southern jail for an alcohol violation. Would we be violating the law by transporting this wine to Florida? It is bottled and corked.

If there is the slightest chance we would get into trouble, our friends and neighbors here in Ohio will definitely be lucky!

I'm bracing myself for an avalanche of funny answers, but a serious one wold be appreciated, too! Thanks, new neighbors!

It either has to be the particular mover you have or we got lucky when we moved. We had a major interstate mover who did our moving and some packing, and we had all our alcohol bottles packed into three boxes we got from liquor stores. Not a question asked about them! Realistically, for how much we drink alcohol, we probably should have gotten rid of them back north before coming down!

[kentucky blue]

:

Originally Posted by Joaniesmom

How nice you all are to answer so soon!



But..... I am a kinda nervous person. Drinking wine helps that a lot! I'm not sure I want the worry of driving or storing that much wine to FL. Can't find out right now how much we are allowed to make in Ohio, but I do know it's waaay more than we currently make. I'll look it up.

I guess we ought to have a nice big going away party, invite friends and neighbors and give it away. Sob! In addition, I think we're just going to drink most of the "good stuff" we've been saving for "some day". That day is definitely here! And there are probably a few bottles we'll save to celebrate when we finally get to our new home and new friends in The Villages.

Thanks to you all!

That was my exact thought,throw a big party, and what's left over, give it to your friends and neighbors as farewell gifts.Don't forget, when your drinking your red wines have a piece of dark chocolate,that combination is great for your heart.That is what i've been told,and any advice that encourages me to drink red wine and eat dark chocolate works for me.

[rjn5656]

My mover gave the official answer that he couldn't move it, but ...........................................