Wineries in Lombard, Italy

[bootsyyy]

I am spending a few days in Milan and would like to bring some win from Italy back with me. Are there any good wineries in the Lobard provence of Italy, where Milan is located. Otherwise what would be a great wine and vintage to bring back with me from Italy.

[Thomas]

The answer to your first question is YES!

The answer to your second question will come to you in Italy, after you have tasted some of the wines. You will find that most restaurants in Lombardy will carry local wines. Taste and then decide for yourself which ones you want to take home with you.

Nearby, as in Piedmonte and the Veneto, you will find even better wines.

Do not forget the customs people on the way inot the U.S.

[bootsyyy]

How much wine am I able to bring into the US from Europe and where do I declare that information.

[Innkeeper]

Just a short drive northwest of Milan gets you to the Northern Peidmont. Here are more nebbiolo based wines not as well known as the Barolos and Barbarescos of the Southern Piedmont. They have names like Gattinara, Spanna, Ghemme, and Carema and can be found in and around towns with the same names.

Last time we looked you could bring a gallon per person back to the USA duty free. However, the duty on a bottle of table wine is very low. Just be sure to declare it; fines for not declaring can mount up. Check with your local customs office in Miami to get definitive information.

[hotwine]

Flight attendants will distribute Customs declaration forms when you're still a couple of hours out from your destination. As Innkeeper stated, just be sure to declare everything. List each bottle, with the price you paid for it, and you'll be OK.
I once brought 19 bottles back from a trip to Germany, with four in my briefcase and 15 rolled up in dirty laundry in a large suitcase; I declared them all, and wasn't charged a dime of import duty - even though one bottle was Chateau Lafite.
In my experience, the attitude of the Customs inspectors is, "If you can carry 'em, you can have 'em, just be sure to declare 'em all."

[Thomas]

Luckily, most customs people realize that a few bottles of wine is not a smuggling operation, and since the duties are low, it's often no problem to declare and then take in without having to pay.