Regardless of how long it will take to complete the move, there are several tips to consider before packing and transporting your bottles of liquor and wine. This is particularly true for high-value collections, since they need to be handled in certain way to preserve their quality and flavor while being transported.
1. Check and sort out your inventory
The first step is going through your collection to determine what is worth moving. We're sure you don't want to pay extra money for packing and transporting unwanted bottles or product that you can easily replace, especially if you are paying per pound and you're doing a long distance moving.
In case you decide to transport bottles that have been opened previously, tight the caps as much as you can and wrap the bottle with bubble wrap or with two or three sheets of paper. Be sure to mold the bottle's neck with the paper in order to wrap it tightly.
2. Get the supplies
If you are packing wine bottles by yourself, you need to gather the following supplies:
- Wine moving boxes or cell boxes: the first type of boxes are more expensive, because they are specially designed to protect the bottles from breaking and from bumping against one another (since each box comes with Styrofom dividers). Cell boxes in the other hand, are inexpensive, but they offer less protection. You can get these boxes for free at your local supermarkets and liquor stores. Just be sure that they are in good shape: clean, sturdy and not wet, in order to avoid accidents.
- Bubble wrap or clean packing paper: use these supplies to wrap each bottle, in case you are not using wine boxes for moving. Items like t-shirts, towels and other linens are great for the same purpose.
- Packing tape to secure the wrapping and avoid loose ends.
- A marker to label the boxes or containers.
3. Wrap the bottles
If you want to keep the labels on the bottles free of stains and scratches, do not use newspaper. Instead, wrap each bottle with bubble wrap or towels, t-shirts and other clean linens.
In case you decide to use packing paper, remember that the best way to wrap a bottle of liquor or wine with it, is placing two or three sheets on a flat surface, then place the bottle on its side perpendicular to the corner of the top sheet of paper, and roll the bottle as you push forward.
Use tape to secure the paper and always be sure there are not loose ends.
4. Pack the bottles
- Pack red and white wines separately.
- To save the corks of expensive wines from drying out, pack the bottles upside down or on their sides.
- Before you place the bottles (that you previously put in wine shipping boxes or cell boxes) inside a larger box o container, make sure to put plenty of crush paper or bubble wrap on the bottom for extra support, then add plenty of these materials inside the box for cushioning. You can also add towels and other linens to fill out the box or container, so the bottles are packed tightly and they don't move and bump against each other while they're in transit.
- Seal the box with duck tape.
- Label the box with its contents and write: fragile.
- Attention: In the introduction we talk about the importance of properly handle high-value collections of wine and liquor, in order to preserve their quality and flavor while being transported. Remember, that the value of the wine and liquor is indeed, a key factor to consider when packing and transporting them. For that reason, wine moving companies recommend to take extra measures in case you own a rare, expensive or vintage collection.
For example, wine is more sensible to temperature than other beverages; if they get too hot, they will age prematurely and become flat; and if they are exposed to very cold temperatures, the lack of moisture will dry out the cork allowing oxygen into the bottle.
Red wines are best kept at temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, while white wines can be stored at 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
For that reason, we highly recommend to transport your expensive wine in a climate-controlled vehicle; this is the ideal way and you can obtain the service from moving companies with experience in the task and the right equipment.
If for some reason you are not able hire this service, be sure to place your wine in a cooler and use a thermometer to check out the temperature. You can add dry ice inside the cooler, to keep the wine from getting warm during the transportation.
Finally, if you are not sure you want to deal with the delicate process of packing and moving your valuable collection by yourself, please contact a professional moving company.
We know how to pack a wine and liquor collection in an efficient and safe manner, and we have the right equipment to transport it.
So please give us a call. It'll be a pleasure to assist you!