suiko

Wondering how to go about this. I have a large collection of wine amassed over the last 20 years, some of which I would like in Portugal for when I'm finally there full time and most of which is not really replaceable (either rare or out of my league pricewise these days).

Not planning on shifting the whole collection, but just enough for the wine fridge (i.e. about 100 bottles).

I'm planning to ship a small pallet of stuff out at some point next year (basically the wine fridge itself, furnishings, clothes, personal bits and pieces). But I'm not at all sure the wine can safely be shipped like this (definitely not in the warmer months, in any case).

So the other option is to drive it down.

It will be seriously inconvenient to have to do this now before the Dec 31 cut-off Brexit date, what with the short timescale, the fact that IMT may well have my licence by then, COVID and the fact that I currently have nowhere to put it all. But might it be more difficult afterwards? Obviously I don't want to pay duty on this as I've already paid the much higher UK duty.

Any views? I'm not expecting anyone else to have direct personal experience of such a "loucura" , but would be very interested in what people might think. I definitely need the wine fridge in Portugal with the much higher temperatures, and as I'll no longer have a job I don't really have the money to refill it with the posh stuff!

Andyj100

I think you either smuggle it or pay the VAT, or take it in 2 bottles at a time or whatever the duty free allowance is.

People with British registered boats in Europe are going to have the same problem, particularly if they have not managed to get them back to the UK by the end of the year.

suiko

Thanks. 2 bottles at a time is completely impractical with 100 or so bottles!

I think the options are:
a. ship it with my wine fridge. Would be very concerned about breakages though, and would presumably have to pay duty/VAT on it, if this is after Jan 1? May contact removal companies about this, e.g. Algarve Removals.
b. drive it down: this would presumably have to be before Jan 1 to avoid duty/VAT payments? I don't think these are applicable currently as VAT has already been paid on it in the EU. May be an issue with the driving as I have applied to exchange my licence and may have to surrender it before - would the document provided to state this be sufficient for authorities in Spain/France/UK?

liveaboard

I would pack everything in crates, strap them to pallets, and get them moved before the end of the year.

Maybe there will be a practical way after that, but I doubt it.

Brexit is a real thing. It's happening soon.

suiko

Thanks. I also fear as much. Unfortunately, while I can store the boxes for a few months, I don't have anywhere to store the fridge itself, living as I am in a top-floor apartment up a narrow spiral staircase!

Loafing Along

Why not try talking to one of the big UK wine merchants like Tanners - they ship wines everywhere so will have the knowledge of what to do, obviously will not be cheap but maybe worth it if your collection and those you want to bring are valuable. A 100 bottles is approximately 16 or so cases which must be a pallet load.

Alternatively look at shipping companies such as Algarve Express who do regular runs to that region with all sorts of things. There will be similar companies on the web depending on what part of Portugal you are coming to.

brodev

I buy 12 bottles of wine fairly regularly from Portugal Vineyards who, in turn, ship it to me via DHL and charge me €14 per case shipping costs. All have arrived intact and on time so DHL are experienced. I presume that they would do the reverse journey.

Score76

Pack your wine inside the fridge and get it shipped to Direct Transport in Andover. They will bring it down to Porches, store it then deliver out to Silves when you're ready.

A & M

We used Connoisseur, who specialise in transporting wine. Very competent and efficient.

suiko

Thanks, everyone.

Algarve Removals told me they could only do 4 cases, this being the maximum personal allowance allowed within the EU. I think I can probably work with this more or less, though would be nice to get another couple of cases. I think this really needs to be done before Brexit cutoff, right

I'll contact Direct to get a quote.

What sort of prices do Direct and Connoisseur charge? I don't think merchants like Portugal Vineyards (or Garrafeira Nacional, which was the Portuguese merchant I used when in UK) would do this kind of thing. I know the Spanish company I use (Vinissimus) don't.

A & M

Connoisseur are not cheap - we paid £360 plus VAT in freight charges for 120 bottles and £30 plus VAT for thermal lining - but we can certainly recommend them. The bottles were shipped in their original cases (not all shippers do this), with the cases securely strapped together, on a pallet surrounded by tightly-wrapped thermal lining.

Score76

Wow A&M, you must really cherish that wine. I ship the kids via Ryanair and that quite often only costs 20 quid plus 5€ for a cheese n ham toastie. I feel like a mean dad now 😜

A & M

Your children might not enjoy being shrink wrapped in thermal lining and strapped to a pallet during the journey!

riv

How interesting. 'Portugal Vineyards' you say ?

brodev

I think they are brilliant. https://www.portugalvineyards.com/en/