A good bottle makes an easy holiday gift. Getting it across the country in one piece, legally, to someone who's actually home to sign for it is the hard part.
If you're planning to send wine or spirits from Las Vegas this season, here's what to check before you pack, how to pack a bottle so it survives the trip and how to time it around holiday weather.
Step one: check whether it can ship at all
This is the step people skip, and it's the one that matters most.
Alcohol shipping is regulated state by state, and the rules are different for wine, beer and spirits. In general, unlicensed individuals can't ship alcohol to a friend through most carriers. Some counties restrict or prohibit alcohol sales altogether. Laws change, so always confirm the current rules for the destination before you ship.
What that means for a holiday gift:
- Know where it's going. The destination's rules decide what's possible, not where you're shipping from.
- Wine and spirits aren't the same. A bottle of wine and a bottle of whiskey can fall under different rules.
- Buying from the source can be simpler. If you're gifting a bottle you haven't bought yet, ordering it from a winery or licensed seller that ships to the recipient's state may be the easiest route.
Not sure about a specific shipment? Ask us before you pack it. It's a lot easier to sort out the rules first than to have a box held or sent back in the middle of December.
Step two: pack the bottle like it's going to get dropped
Because at some point, it probably will. A box sitting on a conveyor, in the back of a truck and on a porch is going to get bumped, stacked and tipped.
Use a real wine shipper. Specialty wine shipping containers and inserts hold each bottle in place so it can't knock against anything. We stock them. A regular box with crumpled paper isn't going to cut it.
One bottle, one slot. Bottles should never touch each other or the outer walls of the box. If you're sending two or three, use a shipper sized for that many.
Fill the empty slots. If a multi-bottle shipper isn't full, don't leave gaps. Use the right size or fill the extra space so nothing shifts.
Seal it properly. Use pressure-sensitive packing tape on every seam, and apply any required alcohol labels.
Keep gift wrap inside. Wrap the bottle or the gift box inside the shipper, not on the outside of the carton. The outer box needs clean labels and clear tape.
If you'd rather not pack it yourself, ask us what we can do. We've been packing and shipping in Las Vegas since 1995.
Step three: watch the weather
Wine is more fragile than it looks, and not just because of the glass.
Temperatures below 25°F or above 80°F can spoil wine. In Las Vegas, the heat is the obvious risk in summer. For holiday shipping, the cold at the other end is usually the bigger problem. A box headed to a snowy state can sit in a cold truck or on a frozen porch longer than you'd think.
A few ways to work around it:
- Time it around extremes. If a cold snap is in the forecast at the destination, hold the shipment a few days.
- Don't let it sit over a weekend. Ship early in the week so the box isn't parked in a hub on a Saturday and Sunday.
- Ask about insulated shippers. We carry insulated shippers, which help buffer temperature swings on the way.
Step four: insure it and plan for the signature
Insure your shipment. A broken or lost bottle is a bad surprise for a gift, and a nice bottle can be worth more than you'd think to replace.
Plan for an adult signature. An adult 21 or older has to be there to show ID and sign, no matter who ships it. That's the part that trips up holiday gifts. If your recipient works all day, the box can end up going back and forth.
Some ways to make delivery easier:
- Ship to a workplace if the recipient can sign for it there.
- Give them a heads up so they know a box that needs a signature is coming.
- Avoid travel weeks. If your recipient is traveling for the holidays, nobody's there to sign.
Step five: give it time
Holiday shipping is the busiest time of year for every carrier. Boxes take longer, and a signature-required package that misses its first attempt can lose more days.
If the bottle needs to arrive before a specific date, ship earlier than you think you need to. Packing a box in the first week of December is a lot less stressful than packing one on December 20.
What to tell us when you ask for a quote
The more we know up front, the faster we can tell you what's possible and what it'll take. When you reach out, include:
- What you're sending. Wine or spirits, and how many bottles.
- Where it's going. The city and state for each recipient.
- When it needs to arrive. A hard date, or just "before the holidays".
- What it's worth. So the shipment can be insured for the right amount.
- Whether it's already packed. Or whether you need wine shippers and packing.
If you're sending gifts to several people, a simple list with names, addresses and bottle counts saves a lot of back and forth.
Shipping wine for wineries and businesses
Wineries face their own rules about who they can ship to, and proper packaging is a big part of the business. Many rely on a professional shipping company to handle packing and logistics. We offer tailored services based on each client's needs. If you're a business sending client gifts or a winery with holiday orders, request a quote and tell us what you're sending, how many and where.
Other gifts we can pack while you're here
Holiday gifts aren't all bottles. Our local packing and shipping store handles everyday parcels too, and our packing and shipping supplies cover boxes, tape, labels and specialty shippers if you're packing at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to ship wine as a gift?
There's no single answer. Alcohol shipping is regulated state by state, and the rules differ for wine, beer and spirits. In general, unlicensed individuals can't ship alcohol through most carriers. Confirm the current rules for the destination before you ship.
What's the best way to pack a bottle of wine?
Use a specialty wine shipping container with inserts so each bottle is held in place, seal it with pressure-sensitive packing tape and apply any required alcohol labels.
Can wine freeze in shipping?
Temperatures below 25°F can spoil wine, and so can temperatures above 80°F. Time your shipment to avoid weather extremes at the destination.
Does someone need to sign for it?
Yes. An adult 21 or older has to show ID and sign, no matter who ships it.
Get help with your holiday shipment
We're a father-and-son team that's been packing and shipping in Las Vegas since 1995. See our wine and alcohol shipping page, then get a free quote. We'll get back to you within one business day.