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Bubba

Oct 24, 2005, 5:17 PM

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Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Well, for over four years now we have been storing some very nice and quite expensive French and California wines in a friend's winery in the Napa Valley and, on our next trip to the U.S. we wish to bring them back to our home in Mexico. Most of these wines were not actually purchased but were acquired gratis primarily because we were in the business, one of us in wine sales and one a banker to wineries. When we moved to Mexico, we sold most of our cellar and these constitute our remaining inventory.

We can simply claim the wine at the border and pay the duty but how do we demonstrate the market value of the various vintages since these were, in reality gifts and bonuses with no monetary exchange at the time of acquisition. Alternatively, we can bring in the maximum allowed in multiple border crossings since we only have about a case left. If we do that through Nuevo Laredo, we presume we may be subject to a further aduana check at the 20 kilometer checkpoint on the road to Monterrey. Every time we have passed the 20 kilometer checkpoint, those guys have been snoozing and we never even slowed down. We hate to tempt fate, however, with these rare wines.

Has anyone out there had to face this issue? We do not fear paying a duty but would be appalled if some customs agent confiscated these fine, irreplacable wines for his own consumption.

If this is too problematic, perhaps a What-a-Burger/ Chateau Lafitte feast topped off with a box of Kryspie Kremes is in order in Laredo before we return to our (otherwise) beloved Mexico.

Any input would be appreciated.

Ed and Fran

Oct 24, 2005, 5:26 PM

Post #2 of 15 (1436 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Hmmmm, a case you say, 12 bottles? At 2 bottles per person, sounds like you need 6 people. Easiest would be to convince 4 locals hoofing it back across the bridge to claim 2 bottles each in return for giving them a lift across the bridge......

Regards

Ed

johanson

Oct 24, 2005, 7:25 PM

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Please do not laugh But in the fall of 2000 I brought a case of bubbly back from San Antonio, Texas. In the back of the car was one computer printer, a few clothes and a case of my favorite champagne, "Andres". They waved me right through Cool

Oscar2

Oct 24, 2005, 9:19 PM

Post #4 of 15 (1374 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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I’m going to throw this out as probably one of many possibilities that may come your way. I’m not sure but Big Lots, formerly Pick & Save or any other discount store in your area of similar type, known for it’s extremely cheap prices on merchandise, foods stuffs, imported off brand exotic olives, marinated oyster and just a bunch of other edibles, including exotic really off brand very, cheaply priced wines from just about everywhere, are there for purchase.

$1.95 maybe $3.00 per bottle and perhaps cheaper by the case. Point being, the itemized sum total of the purchase receipt doesn’t reflect what kind or brand purchased, just that something, possibly wine was purchased and the amount paid. I would explore this as a possibility just to CYA, acronym for (Cover Your Ass) and if needed, should push come to shove. At about $3.00 per x 12 = $36.00 plus 15% duty = about $5.00 and change, out the door. Also brands such as What-a-Burger/ Chateau Lafitte, I’d be a bit dubious that the Mexican polecia regularly have a soiree clicking wine glasses of such ilk.

If Johanson technique works, cool. If not, maybe a little back up will save the day.

Good luck.

(This post was edited by Oscar2 on Oct 24, 2005, 10:32 PM)

Carron

Oct 25, 2005, 7:10 AM

Post #5 of 15 (1326 views)

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Last year my husband got the red light coming home with a 24-pack of US beer that was on sale even cheaper than his usual favorite Mexican brew. Aduana told him he could only bring 9 (?) cans of beer across. Joe offered to pay additional taxes but the guys said no; the limit is not a matter of tax but so much liquor per person. Then Joe told him he lived here in Mexico and the guy grinned and waved him on through. I suspect this is enforced in this heavily touristed town so that visitors will have to buy expensive drinks in the clubs and discos and package stores that line the main drag.

Same thing happened with horse feed! One day recently we came across with 3 large sacks of 10% horse and mule feed. Caught the red light and were told it had to be taxed. When Joe explained that it was going out to our ranch south of town for our daughter's horse, again the agent was surprised that we lived here and said in that case just go on.

As with most things Mexican, it usually "depends". Although I really can't see any aduana agents swilling down your fine French wines!

My husband suggests you might try getting them down here through a customs broker and paying the taxes.

We learned the hard way how serious US Customs is about returning to the States with liquor. When we first moved to Acuna, Joe went to visit our son in Houston with two bottles of liquor, one tequila the other brandy. US Customs only permitted one bottle into Texas and they have a large metal funnel right at the inspection station with a hose that runs off under the ground. Joe had to pour the contents of one full bottle down the funnel while the inspector watched!! Is that chicken poop or what??????

Ed and Fran

Oct 25, 2005, 7:50 AM

Post #6 of 15 (1314 views)

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Re: [Carron] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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We learned the hard way how serious US Customs is about returning to the States with liquor.

They're also picky to be sure the rum you're bring north isn't made in {{{gasp}}} Cuba.

Regards

E&F

MazDee

Oct 25, 2005, 11:23 PM

Post #7 of 15 (1231 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Make multiple trips. Send some with trusted friends. Don't take a chance. Dee

Bubba

Oct 26, 2005, 5:42 AM

Post #8 of 15 (1216 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Thank you for your suggestion: I am not sure it would work with wine as more than whatever the minimum is considered an import into Mexico and along with the taxes , there is a huge amount of paperwork to be done which I cannot do,
I exported wines for the winery I was running and Mexico was the worst place to export to. Considering the small amount of sales of high end wines there, it is not worth the hassle, This is why you do not see a huge selection of wines here.
If paying the tax does not work I would have to destroy the wine right there, which would just kill me. With inexpensive wine it is worth it bringing it in and chancing it, this is what I would do. We just may have to go to nice restaurants in the States and drink the extra 4 bottles.
Thanks again
Brigitte

Marta R

Oct 26, 2005, 9:50 AM

Post #9 of 15 (1172 views)

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Y'know, Bubba, I live in Sonoma. I'd be very glad to help you out of your delimma by taking these poor orphan wines off your hands. Just let me know. Always here to help.

Marta

Oscar2

Oct 26, 2005, 10:23 AM

Post #10 of 15 (1161 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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My experience transporting over the boarder is limited, at best. Having a receipt in hand reflecting cost of items purchased should appease questions of cost and adjusted price of duties. Based on your response, I think what you meant is anything over 8 or 9 bottles run risk of loss. Yes, if chance of this occurring exists and rather than it going to waste, a nice meal and sharing sounds like more fun than the opposite. Again, good luck and Bon Appétit..

Bubba

Oct 26, 2005, 1:03 PM

Post #11 of 15 (1141 views)

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Re: [Marta Randall] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Marta:

Your generosity overwhelms us but we are loath to impose upon you. Since you live in Sonoma, we know it would be a great sacrifice for you to force yourself to ingest wine from the Napa Valley and Bordeaux so we will spare you that task and pay corkage while in Dallas at a Ruth Chris' where we will we force down some wines we could never afford to purchase there with our steaks.

I'm damned if I plan to pour a few bottle of fine Bordeaux down the sewer at the aduana station in Nuevo Laredo. Sacrilege!!

Marta R

Oct 26, 2005, 1:11 PM

Post #12 of 15 (1139 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Coming back to the States once, when I was a kid, my folks forgot that we still had a few ripe mangoes in the picnic basket. We had been planning to stop on the Mexican side of the border to consume them but somehow forgot.

Anyway, the US border guard scooped them up then deliberately sliced them into the garbage can while my kid brother and I wailed like starving refugees.

I will forgive your slur against Sonoma. After all, Sonoma makes wine: Napa makes auto parts.

Marta

HHERRINGTON

Oct 26, 2005, 1:26 PM

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Bubba, my sister lives in San Tone (south Texas talk for San Antonio), and will be happy to store what Laurie and I can take across without a fine when we come down next year. If you desire to take us up on this let me know and I'll furnish telephone and address.

Howard
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Life is too complicated to be expressed in one liners.

Papirex

Oct 26, 2005, 1:58 PM

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Re: [Marta Randall] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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Marta, NAPA (all caps) is an acronym for The National Auto Parts Association. It has nothing to do with the city or county of Napa, or the Napa Valley. It is not based there and does no manufacturing there. Newcomers and youngsters (left handed compliment there) often confuse the two.

My eldest brother left the known world and civilization to settle in Sonoma over 40 years ago. We were left with two choices, leave him there or have him committed to Imola. We took the easy way out and left him alone.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

Bubba

Oct 26, 2005, 2:04 PM

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Re: [Bubba] Bringing Wine into Mexico

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No, lissen here, Marta. Having lived, at one time or another, in Jenner, Geyserville, Alpine Valley (St. Helena Road) , Santa Rosa and Glen Ellen, I defy you to find a bigger Sonomite than Bubba. I lived in rural Sonoma County for so long, my ears sprouted marijuana in place of geezer hair. Hell, I used to hang out at Camp Rose in Healdsburg saying stuff like, "Far out, Man!"

God, how embarrassing - but we had some fun.

Thanks for the offer Herrington but we gon' drink that wine in Texas.