How to Pack Wine Bottles for Moving
Household moving customers frequently ask if we can move their wine and liquor collection. The answer is yes, but always keep in mind the following: If you have a high-value collection of wine or liquor, extra care should be taken in packing and transporting it. WINE IS PERISHABLE. Liquor is less temperamental but, as you may know already, wine is more sensitive to temperature change.
If you are moving less than 150 miles and your items will be delivered within 24 hours of pickup, it is possible to transport perishables that are properly packed and require no servicing in transit.
How to Pack Wine – Preparation:
Some bottles of wine need to be stored at different temperatures.
- White wines should be left chilled. White wines can be stored at lower ranges at 45ºF. Transporting the wine in a cooler or a climate-controlled vehicle is ideal. Be sure to remove the guesswork by including a thermometer with the cooler. You can also try using dry ice and a cooler to keep the wine from getting to warm during transit.
- Red wines are best kept at 50-55ºF (10-16ºC).
If wines get to hot it will age prematurely and become flat. If the wine reaches too cold of temperatures the lack of moisture will dry out the cork and allow oxygen into the bottle.
Tips for Packing Wine and Liquor Bottles:
Our professional movers are trained to know how to pack your wine and liquor bottles, but if you prefer to do it yourself here are some tips to insure that your bottles stay safe throughout the whole process!
- Pack reds and whites in separate boxes.
- Start at your local liquor store for free boxes or other packing supplies for your collection. They may have extras of special boxes for transporting your wine and liquor in. These boxes are usually packed with Styrofoam and have partitions which will give the bottles extra support.
- If you are unable to get the boxes from the liquor store, use bubble wrap, towels, linens, t-shirts, or anything similar. Avoid wrapping the bottles in newspaper as it may scratch or stain the labels on the bottle.
- When packing the boxes be generous with the layer of padding. Use plenty of crushed paper or bubble wrap. Make sure to put some on the bottom of the box for extra support.
- Wrap each bottle individually and place them snugly into the box. Add additional towels or paper to insure the box is packed tightly and there’s no room for any to shifting.
Unpacking:
The most important thing to remember is to not open a bottle of wine right away after transit. The liquor is fine to open but, wine does not respond well to drastic temperature changes. It is recommended to have the wine lay on its side and to allow it to settle for at least two to three weeks before opening it.
If you are moving during the summer or winter months, temperatures can play a part in ruin your wine or liquor collection. If you have an especially large or high-value collection, you may want to give some consideration to requesting an estimate that includes moving the collection in a climate controlled truck.
Please contact us to arrange to speak with one of our professional estimators today and they will be happy to consult with you to figure out the best way to move with your fine wine and liquor collection!
