Transferring your cherished wine collection requires special care to prevent damage during a long distance relocation. Highly rated specialty movers understand that wine bottles are more than simply fragile glass—their contents can be adversely affected by movement, temperature fluctuations, light exposure and varying humidity levels.
How to Pack Wine for a Move
Most long-distance moving companies will avoid handling high-value perishable commodities like wine, aiming to dodge significant potential liabilities. Employing movers with necessary expertise in wine transportation could prove costly. Hence, it’s prudent to reassess your collection for indispensability before packing for the transfer.
If you’re relocating across a vast distance and reluctant to bear wine moving expenses, consider giving them to your close ones. If you resolve to manage the wine transport, refer our guidelines for securely packing to reduce risks and ensure the preservation of your wine assortment during the move.
Packing Essentials for Moving a Wine Collection
- Smaller, sturdy and easy-to-carry cardboard boxes, or wine boxes, and cardboard cell boxes
- Packing tape
- Thick packing paper (avoid thinner newspaper)
- Labeling pen or marker
Step-by-Step Wine Packing Process
One thing that makes our long distance moving agents so successful is their knowledge of proven, reliable processes that prevent damage. Use the following steps to protect your valuable collection during loading and transit.
1. Start with setting up the box – Secure the bottom using the packing tape ensuring it can bear the weight.
2. Add an extra layer – of safety with packing paper at the bottom of the box.
3. Wrap every wine bottle individually – If using regular boxes or cells are oversized, consider wrapping before placing them in the box. Here’s the wine wrapping process:
- Spread some packing paper on a flat surface.
- Position the wine bottle sideways on the paper’s corner and roll to wrap using 2-3 packing paper sheets.
- Confirm that the packing paper snugly molds around the bottle and its neck.
- Fasten the wrap using tape.
4. Place the wrapped bottles into the box – Store the bottles sidewards to keep the corks moist, aiding to eliminate chances of oxidation or spoilage. The arrangement should alternate between having the neck at the top and bottom. Cushion each layer of bottles with bunched-up packing paper and fill gaps. Ensure the final layer is also cushioned this way.
5. Seal the box – Use packing tape to firmly close the box.
6. Label the package – Clearly denote labels like “Wine,” “Fragile,” and “This Side Up.”
7. Box placement – While loading wine boxes on the moving vehicle, position them on the vehicle floor. Avoid stacking or placing near the door to prevent shifting or falling.
Tip for Wine Care After Moving
Your long distance moving partners will safely unload your collection at the new location. However, there’s one crucial thing to consider before enjoying your first glass of wine. Once you have arrived at your new home, avoid opening the wine for a couple of days to help prevent “Bottle Shock”. Bottle shock is the temporary loss of flavor in wine when it absorbs too much oxygen over a short period due to excessive movement during transit. A good rule of thumb is to allow your wine to rest for at least seven days for each day it was in transit before opening and enjoying.
By following the wine packing process and techniques above, your valuable wine collection will be kept safe and secure throughout your long-distance move.
Contact Us for Specialty Packing and Moving Services
For help moving your wine collection and other specialty solutions, trust the skilled professionals at National Van Lines. We provide a comprehensive range of packing, loading and storage services for residential and commercial relocations. Contact us by calling 800-323-1962 or request a free moving quote.
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