This Popular Airline Is Now Allowing Travelers to Ship Wine for Free. Here’s How.

Bringing home wine from California’s wine country has long felt like a bit of a gamble. You either cough up steep shipping fees at the winery or carefully swaddle a couple of bottles in sweaters and jeans, zip up your suitcase, and hope they make it to your final destination in one piece. All that anxiety for oenophiles may finally be on its way out. Starting April 24, Southwest Airlines is rolling out a new “Sip and Ship” program that lets passengers check one case of wine—up to 12 bottles—for free on eligible flights departing select wine country airports.

The program is tied to the airline’s new service into Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, with routes connecting Sonoma to cities like San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, and Burbank—making it easier than ever to turn a quick tasting trip into a long weekend escape.

“As customers look to enjoy the best of Sonoma County’s renowned wineries, we’re making it easier for them to bring those experiences home,” the airline shared in its announcement.

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It’s a surprisingly generous move at a moment when airlines are trending in the opposite direction, tacking on fees for everything from checked bags to seat assignments. Against that backdrop, Southwest’s free wine allowance feels like a throwback to a more traveler-friendly era (even as we continue to mourn the loss of its open seating policy). It may also help give wine country a subtle boost, as wine country destinations across California navigate a slowdown tied in part to younger travelers drinking less, a notable shift from previous generations.

There are, of course, a few rules. Wine must be unopened, properly packed in a standard shipping box or wine suitcase, and under 50 pounds. Travelers must be 21 or older, and the case is subject to inspection at the airport before check-in. As always, it’s worth double-checking airline policies before you fly—but for now, you can spend your tasting day a little more freely, knowing your favorite finds might just make it home intact, no prayer required.