When I travel, my favorite souvenir to bring back is wine and spirits. A few reasons; one is sentimental, you are getting something you simply cannot buy where you live, and a bonus, the product is actually made in the country you are visiting. Check where that t-shirt or Eiffel Tower replica was made.
It is among the few things that you can enjoy many years after your trip and share with others. You may have tried the contents during your travels and having them back home will bring back a special memory.
Some products are simply not available where you live and this is your chance to find something truly unusual. Some brands you may already be familiar with, but some releases are Europe only for example. For the collector, there is the thrill of hunting down a special bottle.
Disclaimer: I have come home only to eventually find this awesome item I dragged back from half-way around the world sitting on a local store shelf – often for less money- this is the risk we take.
How will you know what to buy - maybe you visited a winery, had a memorable experience and purchase some of what they are selling. Seek out knowledgeable retailers in the cities you visit. If you speak to a merchant or salesperson that is enthusiastic about what they are selling, ask where they shop for themselves. If you make a purchase at their store, they are often happy to share where they like to find hidden gems around their city. I have had a lot of luck with this approach and so far no one has been offended.
Before you go, a few tips and tricks:
- Search out stores before you go
- Check out their inventory on-line if possible
- Make sure you cannot buy it closer to home – taxes are usually high, bottles are heavy, and baggage fees add up
- Find out what's their specialty – for example look for Single Malt Scotch in London
- Find out what they make in the area – taking a day trip outside Barcelona, look for Ratafia (Don’t be surprised if the local wine or spirit is not all that popular with the locals. Tastes have been changing and the older generation’s drink is not necessarily being picked up by the next generation of drinker. )
- Take a chance – some items can be expensive, but there can be an innovative distiller or small producer that is working hard to maintain high quality or bring something interesting to market. Unfortunately, there is usually limited information on these products and often you have to rely on the merchant’s opinion. Sometimes what you buy/try may not change your life, the goal is not to pick up an undrinkable stinker. Look for enthusiasm from the person you are buying it from
- Find out if shipping it home is an option - often the cost can be more than the bottle itself and some state laws make it even more complicated. If you are up for the challenge of getting it home yourself, read on
- Carry a good touring bag – while shopping, you may need to drag these heavy bottles around for longer than you planned before stopping back at your hotel room to drop them off
- Always travel with a few 2-gal or larger Ziploc bags for packing the bottles in your checked luggage. These fit almost any size and shape bottle. If the bottle does break, it's less likely to ruin the rest of your belongings, although I suppose there are worst smelling things than liquor soaked clothes
- Pack your bottles in the middle of your luggage surrounded by clothing, by the end of your travels, most likely dirty laundry. You don’t need anything too fancy to transport the bottles. The glass bottles are strong and should survive all but the most abusive luggage handler
Airport Duty Free, part of almost any journey, can be tricky. Generic products aside, items of interest are unique to the duty free shop and can be hard to know what is there before you arrive and harder to know what is in the bottle. The staff always seems to be overly enthusiastic about everything on the shelf.
Below is a list of store in some of the countries I have visited and where I like to shop. Stay tuned, we will be updating the list from time to time.
The list:
CANADA
MONTREAL
SAQ Signature - all the liquor stores are State run. SAQ is for generic items and there are many of them throughout the city. Beer is available form convenience style markets. For higher end products look for the SAQ Signature Locations.
spain
Madrid
Lavinia is a large, well-stocked store with a wide variety of wine and spirits. Helpful staff.
Barcelona
Vila Viniteca- mid size store with wide and interesting selection, knowledgeable staff
Lafuente – several locations throughout the city. The location I visited had mostly groceries and a compact selection of wine and spirits. The staff had limited English, but was super friendly and helpful. I ordered an item and came back two days later to pick it up. [picture of brandy 100]
GREAT BRITAIN
LONDON- THIS CITY IS CHOCK FULL OF EXCELLENT MERCHANTS, SO MANY IT IS HARD TO GET TO THEM ALL IN ONE VISIT.
The Whisky Exchange – this well-known store has an excellent web site. Not everything you see on the web site is in the store and it pays to contact them ahead of your trip if you have your mind set on something
The Vintage House – a very wide selection of single malt scotch. They have many independent bottlings and wide variety of sizes. Staff has a lot of personality and very knowledgeable
ITALY
ROME- IN ROME AND THROUGHOUT ITALY, WINE IS SOLD AT ALMOST EVERY ENOTECA, GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.
Trimani – around since 1821, this store has an extensive selection wine, beer and spirits. Much more than your average enoteca, with small producers and hard to find spirits. The staff was very knowledgeable and took the time to help me make thoughtful selections. I was informed the whisky selection, popular in Italy, was limited during the summer as people drink more of it around September when the weather cools.
See the Trimani Gallery
Chianti Region
Greve - Enoteca Falorni – large selection of wine and a few spirits mixed in. This cavernous subterranean restaurant/retailer makes you feel like you are in a large cellar. What makes this place unique, among other things, is that you can put a few Euros on a chip card and roam around trying over 100 wines, a sample or a full glass, divided up in different categories such as region or style. You can try olive oil as well. If you find yourself in this region chances are good winery tours are on your itinerary, but this in worth a visit.
FLORENCE
Enoteca Alessi – Spirits, liqueurs, cordials upstairs, wine cellar downstairs. This large shop sells a wide variety of products including coffee, tea and chocolate. I was drawn to the shop for its unique selection of eau de vie’s, but you will likely find something interesting in every category.
Le volpi e l’uva – compact shop with outdoor seating. More restaurant than a dedicated wine and spirits shop, this enoteca has a very thoughtful selection of wine and spirits. The main reason to go is the food and wine list, not to be missed if you are visiting Florence.
Signorvino – multiple locations throughout Italy. Good selection of Italian wines and a small, but carefully selected spirits section. Get a seat on the balcony for lunch with a view of the Ponte Vecchio.
