It’s a common story—valuables or fragile items being damaged during the packing or transport portion of the moving process. There are so many factors to consider when dealing with delicate items, like moving a wine collection.
Moving a wine collection requires meticulous attention to detail and care. Not only are they fragile, leaving them prone to breakage, but improper packaging can also lead to them becoming sour or leaking. A wine collection being damaged or misplaced during a move can also be an expensive mistake, especially for vintage bottles. Expensive bottles of wine can easily go into thousands of dollars, and they’re not easily replaced due to the limited supply.
So, if you have valuable wine and you’re preparing to move, this guide is for you. It covers everything you need to know about moving a wine collection, how to properly store the wine, and the benefits of hiring a moving company.
How To Pack Your Wine Bottles For Moving House
Although most alcohol has to be transported carefully, fine wine, in particular, requires special handling and storage. Due to their delicate and volatile nature, the wine can be affected by movement, storage temperature and exposure to sunlight.
Just like how you wouldn’t choose a paper bag to transport precious glassware, choosing the right packaging is crucial for moving wine. There are boxes designed specifically for moving wine, known as ‘wine shipping boxes’. Although the exact design and size of the wine shipping box will depend on the business, they usually feature various individual slots to house 750ml bottles. This will help keep the wine bottles separated, reducing the risk of them clanking into each other and moving during transit.
Additionally, you’ll also want to invest in pulp or Styrofoam wine shippers. These wine shippers are designed to mould around the bottle and provide extra protection during the transport process. You’ll want to place your wine bottles inside the pulp or styrofoam wine shipper, then place them inside the shipping box compartments. You’ll want to ensure that all the compartments are filled—any empty compartments can cause an imbalance, which can damage the bottles.
A good wine shipping box should be made of a sturdy, reinforced cardboard material and have large hand holes for easy carrying. The corrugated inserts (for the compartments) should also be designed specifically for wine bottles, not just for ‘any’ bottle shape.
After the wine has been safely packed into the box, be sure to seal it properly with tape. Also, make sure not to place anything on top or underneath the wine box during transit. This can increase the risk of breakage and place unnecessary stress on the wine.
When packing wine, there are also a few other factors to consider:
- The type of wine bottle. Corked wine should always be placed on its side or upside down in the packing container to ensure the cork stays wet.
- Some wines will require climate-controlled transport. For example, old red and sparkling wines must be refrigerated.
- If you’re moving interstate, some states do not allow wine to cross borders. Always research the regulations beforehand and check with alcohol control authorities.
Our Best Tips For Moving A Wine Collection
Understanding how to pack the bottles into boxes is only the start to moving a wine collection. There are other tips you should implement to minimise the risk of temperature changes, vibrations, and potential shock damage impacting the wine’s quality and cover yourself if something goes wrong.
Assess your collection
Before transporting or even packaging your wine, you should assess your collection. Firstly, you’ll want to take inventory of your collection. This is a critical step, just in case any bottles are damaged during the move, and you need to replace them or claim insurance.
In the assessment process, you’ll also want to:
- Identify any temperature-sensitive wines, like sparkling wine.
- Take note of any potentially valuable or rare bottles that may require insurance coverage and special care.
- Organise bottles by whether they require insulated or climate-controlled packaging.
Appraisal & insurance
In particular, if you have a high-end and rare wine collection, you will want to get it appraised by an industry professional. Having your collection appraised is also crucial for insurance coverage.
Depending on the moving company and insurer, some require you to go through their wine appraiser, or you can hire a third party. Pricing will vary; some appraisers charge by the hour, while others charge a flat fee.
When insuring your valuable wine, make sure it is listed as ‘high-value inventory’. This will ensure the removalist services will take extra care and keep an eye on the product. Although it may be expensive upfront, you’ll also want insurance coverage that compensates the full value in case of a claim.
Although spoilage or breakage is rare when working with professional businesses experienced in transporting wine, accidents can happen. So, always take extra precautions, especially for valuable and sentimental stock.
Hire professionals
Moving wine by yourself might seem like a cost-effective idea, but it’s only worth it for smaller collections. It’s also harder to find insurance coverage if something goes wrong, and you’ll have to source everything yourself.
Especially if your collection has bottles that require climate-controlled transport, it’s not feasible to hire a van with refrigeration for most people. So, if you’re planning to move a large, valuable wine collection, hire a professional removalist service.
However, before hiring a moving company, do your research and consult with them about relocating wine. You want to make sure they have experience with wine relocation and the proper equipment, including climate-controlled transport options.
Consider the season
When it comes to transporting wine, the temperature is important. For example, prolonged exposure to hot weather and/or moving wine through different climates can affect the taste and appearance of the drink.
Many wine experts recommend that wine must be protected from changing temperatures. You’ll also want to transport it during cooler weather, which makes seasons like autumn and winter an ideal choice for moving. If you have to move your collection during the summer or spring, always employ the use of climate-controlled transport. Also, minimise the time the wine is spent in the sun; you don’t want it exposed to UV.
Take The Stress Out Of Your Move With Ready Movers
Whether you’re looking for removalists in Adelaide, the wine capital of Australia, to help move valuable wine, or you’re just interested in packing services, Ready Movers has you covered. Our professional team has helped over 20,000 clients relocate their belongings, including fragile and high-value items.
We understand how stressful the moving process can be, so our services are designed to make it as easy as possible. Whether you’re moving to another suburb or interstate, our moving services can range from just transporting belongings to helping you pack them and even assembling furniture.
Ready Movers also offers comprehensive insurance options, and we have a written no-damage guarantee. If you’re planning a move and want a professional team to handle valuables like wine, request a quote today. You can also contact us at 1300 787 934 or nostress@readymovers.com.au.
