6 bottles? you're worried about 6 bottles? step up to the plate man, and add a zero to that number.

heck, for that small half case amount, you could flat rate ship it USPS or UPS for 10-15 bucks.

Go here and get one of these boxes-

http://www.boxvendor.com/ProductImages/6pk_styro.jpg

We used on these boxes and checked 6 bottles of wine from South Africa through France and then to the US without a problem. A decent wine shop in SF should have a similar box.

I have found that most places sell Old Crow. And that works for me.

Buy it there.

Cliff you can buy 6 pack shippers (like the one pictured above) at any serious wine shop. I buy them from a wholesaler, but in a pinch pick them up at the larger wine warehouses.

Here are the challenges: You can check it as luggage, but I'd put the box in a big duffel bag as an obvious wine box says to the luggage handlers, "drink me or shake me hard and throw me around."

I'd prefer to ship it, but most mortals can't ship alcohol. You have to be an approved alcohol shipper, and most fedex/ups places are not. And there are timing issues of where you want it to sit in transit, and where you don't. This is always a problem for our consumer shipments.

Yes, you can label the contents, "vinegar" or something cute like that, but you have better than average odds of having it returned or "lost."

Let me know if I can help, I can connect you with our wine shipping service and they even have the styro shippers.

I made some shipping containers out of PVC. I wrap the bottles in "small bubble" bubble wrap and put the tubes in a foam lined box. My brother and I have shipped beer back and forth between Georgia and Washington with no issues. I ship UPS and I declare it "glassware". The weak point in this system is the box itself.

I've ad hoc shipped champagne on airlines a couple times. I went to a U-haul store, bought a book box with dividers for 12 (handy isn't that), plus a role of bubble wrap. Wrapped each bottle in bubble wrap, slipped them into the slots, then made sure there were no rattles. Tape the box securely and deliver to checked baggage at the airport. Never had a break, wine tasted the same, cheap solution. Also can get the packing material at Lowes and Home Depot.

U-haul, but call around to see if they have this:

http://store.uhaul.com/master_product_detail.aspx?id=169

That seems like the best solution...

Buy the wine once you get here. It will give you an excuse to get out of the house. You should go to Apple Jacks. One of the largest and busiest liquor stores in the country. Excellent wine selection and good pricing. I visit Apple Jacks frequently to fill up my cellar. We built a large climate controlled wine cellar that holds 1200 wines but never has more than 300 in it. I feel like I am always wine shopping.

Good luck!

Steve

You are fortunate that you have the option to ship.
In Canada only corporations are allowed to ship inter- provincially.
We cannot ship wine home from another country, either.
A law that goes back to prohibition days. Conveniently used to further the corporate agenda.

First you're gonna need a black 1978 Trans Am. Next, pick up a copy of Jerry Reed's Eastbound and Down.....

And apparently wine drinking! :D