My trip is booked and I will be visiting your fair city. Unfortunately, I'm only available the evening of Thursday Aug 2nd. I'm hoping that some of you will be around and not on holiday, as I've enjoyed reading your posts over the years

Question: what's the current status on bringing single bottles of wine into Canada from the US? Is there a limit? Not allowed?

TIA

As far as I know, 2 bottles of 750ml or equivilent of table wine is allow across the border.

Where are you staying in Toronto anyway? We can schedule accordingly.

I'm coming into town late Wed afternoon to meet with someone in Scarborough. I will be with him Wed night and Thursday day. He's sort of "suggesting" that I stay out there. Right now, I have no lodging booked and I'm open. To tell the truth, I'd rather stay somewhere close to an offline Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Tanglenet,

Shoot me an email at *email removed*. I can help out with some hotel suggestions and plan accordingly.

It's a long way out, but I'm sure I can find a way to offline.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: futronic,

I should be free for an offline on Aug. 2. I'll pencil it in.

I'm scheduled to be in Bucharest that week. The best I may be able to get there is Moldovan wine

I'll have to bring some with me.

I've penciled it in my calendar.

Tanglenet... do you have a particular theme or focus in mind? I'm up for anything except a Cali. vs. Canada tasting.

On The Wine, sorry you can't make it. But I've heard Budapest is a beautiful city. I'd like to go sometime.

Duojet, my cellar right now is CA Cabs, CA PN's, too early to drink Bdx and almost ready to drink Italian. I would suggest a Cab theme, but sometimes they do not show that well at offlines as some benefit from being decanted more than others. Maybe a general Pinot theme of Oregon, Calif and / or France depending on what people have in their cellars?

I've borrowed Duojets pencil and put in on my calendar. I'll know closer to the date.

Tanglenet...

I'd be up for a general pinot theme. I've got lots of red burgs and some Cali. pinots that need the right ocassion to be opened.

I have yet to attend one ... missed the last one for a wedding, but I'm nice and free for the 2nd

PS - I believe the legal limit for bringing wine into Canada, IF you are not a Canadian resident, is only one bottle (as it's considered a gift).

You can, however, take two bottles back with you (assuming you stay for greater than 48 hours)!

I cannot guarantee for sure, but my uncle comes to Toronto frequently from San Francisco, he usually bring me 2 bottles every time he comes ( best part is they are free ). Last time he came with his whole family ( 5 people altogether ) and they brought 12 bottles for me...

I concur with the two bottle limit and am also available to join in on the fun. I'm up for the pinot theme too.

Hey, this is shaping up! At some point someone is going to have to recommend a restaurant that's pinot friendly.

Don't worry about the restaurant. We'll have something firmed up prior to your arrival.

I don't own a single bottle of Pinot, so I might bring Champagne instead. At least that (usually) has Pinot in it.

Oh, and as for the "limit" of bringing bottles into the country, don't worry about it. Even if you want to bring six bottles, just tell them that you're having dinner with a bunch of friends at someone's house and the least you could do was bring the wine.

The two bottle limit is the duty free restriction for Canadians coming back into the country. Since this doesn't apply to you, disregard the other commentary.

Whatever you do, don't say they're gifts. Tell them what I wrote above - which is true. I'll write you an email later with some additional information.

Futronic

The two bottle limit is for travellers to Canada as well. It may not always be enforced, but it's the law.

Check it out here

I stand corrected.

That said, I've never seen it enforced, as long as you don't say it's a gift.

Personal consumption with friends during your trip is the line you should use.

quote:

Originally posted by Duojet:
Futronic

The two bottle limit is for travellers to Canada as well. It may not always be enforced, but it's the law.

Futronic's hit it right on. No debate. I cross the border regularly (every couple weeks) and ALWAYS bring wine, crossing as either U.S. or Canadian (dual citizenship). Many stories to tell (off line ), but the bottom line, officially, is 2 is the limit.

I will definitely bring 2, but do I dare bring 3?

My great-grandfather worked for US Customs during Prohibition in San Francisco. He use to take home "confiscated" alcohol. My understanding is that his house was never out of scotch...

Tanglenet, the official limit is 2 bottles, but they seem to apply that rule more to returning Canadians than visiting Americans. I know several US friends on these boards who have brought in more than 2 bottles and had no problems. I've also read several others who posted the same. And more frequently now, when I'm returning from a trip I bring 3 and they let my by.

No guarantees, but I doubt you'll have any troubles bringing three in. Just say you're bringing them for dinner with friends.

Less than a month now. Have we settled on a venue?

I was thinking about Niagara Street Cafe. It's in the King/Bathurst area. Corkage is $25, but the food is so reasonably priced, that it's a wash. Menu changes regularly, staff is great, and it's a place that I believe few people in the group have been to (myself and basecadet excepted).

Stemware is decent as well.

Have you booked your accommodations, tanglenet?

Works for me. The restaurant has a website here.

I haven't booked a room yet. I'm currently on vacation in Oregon and will do so when I get back next week.

FYI, the restaurent looks great!