Originally Posted by
CIT85
I don't know about IAH duty free. However, I have checked prices on red wine in many duty free stores around the world. Duty on wine in the US is low, so duty free does not offer any cost reduction. Prices in US duty free stores for wine tend to be significantly higher than in the market. Expensive wines get outrageously priced. Duty fee does not mean lower mark up. This is especially the case for SFO, closest international gateway to Napa and Sonoma Valley.
If you are spending time in any major US city, I would check out stores like Total Wine for selection and reasonable prices. The best prices are at Costco, and best selection of all Costco stores is the one near Sonoma Valley.
Though you're correct, then there is the hassle and potential breakage issue of checking it in. Vino Volo and/or Duty Free are pretty much the only way around this, unless you're in an awesome airport like PDX, which doesn't allow major markups.