If you have a valuable collection of wine to move to your new home, it is a good idea to ensure they are properly packed to avoid any damage during a long distance move. Not only are wine bottles fragile, the delicate nature and chemistry of wine makes it sensitive to movement, temperature, humidity and light.
Most long distance moving companies will not move expensive perishable goods, such as wine, due to the enormous liability it can place on the moving company. Moving companies that are properly equipped to transport wine can also be expensive. Therefore, it is often best to check your inventory to determine if you really need to keep the wine before packing and moving.
If you are moving long distance and do not want to pay to move your wine, consider gifting them to friends and family. If you have decided to transport the wine yourself, follow our tips below on how to properly pack your wine to minimize any potential risks and preserve your wine collection during a long distance move.
Packing supplies you will need:
- Wine boxes, cardboard cell boxes or sturdy cardboard boxes (opt for smaller boxes for easier heavy-lifting)
- Packing tape
- Packing paper (avoid newspaper as they are thinner)
- Marker or pen for labeling
How to Pack Wine
- Assemble the box. Assemble the bottom of the box with packing tape. Make sure it is secure and will hold the weight.
- Add some cushioning. Cushion the bottom of the box with some packing paper.
- Wrap each wine bottle. If using a standard box or the cells in the box are too big, wrap the wine bottles before placing them into the box. Here’s how to wrap wine bottles:
- Place a stack of packing paper on a large flat surface.
- Place a wine bottle on its side, perpendicular to the corner of the packing paper, and roll the bottle to wrap it in 2-3 sheets of packing paper.
- Check that the packing paper is molded tightly around the bottle and the bottle’s neck.
- Secure the wrapping with tape.
- Place wine bottles into the box. Lay the wine bottles on their sides so that the corks are kept wet to prevent oxidation or spoilage. The bottles should be placed into the box using a top-to-bottom format. That is, the first bottle has the neck at the top, the second bottle has the neck at the bottom, the third bottle has the neck at the top, and so on. Cover each layer of wine bottles with scrunched packing paper to fill any gaps and provide extra cushion. Make sure the final layer of wine bottles is also covered with scrunched packing paper.
- Secure the box with tape. Tape the box shut with packing tape.
Label the box. Label the box clearly with signs such as “Wine”, “Fragile” and “This Side Up”.
Load the boxes. When loading the boxes of wine into the moving truck, place them on the floor of the vehicle. Avoid stacking the boxes on top of other items or placing them near the vehicle’s door, where the boxes are prone to shift or fall out.
Extra tip:
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.
