If you enjoy drinking and wines, when you are moving, you will have a collection to move with you. When packing them and moving them, you will need to take special care to preserve them during the move. Wine bottles are delicate items and moving delicate items require special care.
For wines, you will need to be extremely careful when packing them. There are various reasons why you need to be careful when moving them. Firstly, they are very delicate and can be broken in transit. Secondly, wines have delicate chemistry which can easily be upset by high or low temperature, vibration, humidity, or even light. These reasons show that wines are very vulnerable and can easily be damaged during a move.
To move wine bottles, you will need special and careful planning and packing to minimize the risk of damage during the move. When wine bottles get damaged during a move, not only will they break, the content of the bottles can lead to a mess and damage some of the other things you are moving. Even if the move is a short one, you will still need proper planning to prevent damage.
A guide has been made to help you with tips for packing wine bottles.
Tips for Packing Wine Bottles
Make an Inventory
Check your wine bottles and make an inventory of the ones you want to pack and move. Do not move unnecessary bottles of wine from your collection. Do not move wine bottles that are already open. Wine bottles are heavy and moving them can be very expensive so the fewer wine bottles you have to move, the better for you.
Research Best Practices for the Wines You are Moving
It is imperative for you to find out the specific requirements of the wine you are moving to. If you are packing more than one type of wine, you will need to find out the requirements for moving all the types of wines you are moving to. For example, some wines are more sensitive to temperature than others. For your wine bottles to remain in good condition after the move, you will need to know your wine, know its special features and needs and hoe you will care especially for each bottle.
Purchase the Right Packing and Moving Supplies
Like dish boxes for dishes and kitchen wares, there are special wine boxes for wine bottles. They are specially designed to pack wine bottles for a move. They are built with cells in them that separate the wine bottles. They come in different sizes for different sizes of wine bottles because they are made to fit perfectly. They also have different capacities. Some can take one wine bottle, some six, and some twelve. Using wine boxes is a secure way of packing and moving your wine. Ensure that you get a sturdy box that will be strong enough to bear the weight of the wine bottles.
In addition to wine boxes, you will need tapes to secure the boxes, packing papers to protect the bottles, and permanent markers for labeling.
Wine Shipping Crates
These are wooden crates used for moving wine bottles. As you can imagine, they are more durable than wine boxes which are just carton boxes. Because wine shipping crates are wooden, they provide the best protection for moving a wine collection.
Wrap Each Wine Bottle
If you do not use a wine box or a wine shipping crate to pack your wine bottles, the other option available to you is the regular moving boxes. When using regular boxes, you will need to take special care because they do not have the cells that wine boxes and crates have to protect your wine bottles. This makes it important for you to wrap each wine bottle before placing it in the regular box. Wrap each wine bottle with two or three sheets of packing paper and secure it with tape before placing it in the box. Ensure to cushion the box with sheets of packing paper before placing the wrapped wine bottles in the box.
When you are done placing the wine bottles in the moving box, ensure that there is no space in the moving box. Space n the box will allow for moving and clanking when the items are in transit. If there is space in the box, place extra sheets of packing paper fill up space in the box.
Position the Wine Bottles Properly
How you position the wine bottle when packing is very important. How it will be placed will depend on the type of wine in the wine bottle. Each wine is moved in a unique way.
- For red and white wines, you are to pack them upside down or on the side. The purpose of this is to keep the corks wet throughout the move. Keeping the cork wet prevents oxidation or spoilage.
- For sparkling wines and champagne, you are to keep them packed upright.
Label the Boxes Appropriately
Moving involves lots of boxes. You need to label your wine box and indicate what it contains. Label your wine box fragile on each side of the box to ensure that it is handled with care.
Load Boxes Containing Wine Bottles Properly
When moving the wine boxes, ensure that you do not stack the wine boxes. Stacking them will increase their chances of getting damaged during the move. Place each wine box on the floor of the vehicle for moving.
Climate Control Moving
Generally, wines do well at a temperature of 55 degrees. If otherwise, it might go bad. You can get a professional mover with a climate-controlled truck to maintain the proper temperature for your wine bottles.
Do Not Open Wine Bottles Immediately After the Move
You will need to avoid opening your wine bottles for at least seven days after the move. If the move required driving for more than a day, then you will need to wait for a period longer than seven days. This is because the movement of the truck causes the wine to shake. This vibration can result in bottle shock. The bottles will need sufficient time after the move to recover from the vibrations. Opening them before they have had time to recover can result in loss of flavor. What is your wine worth when it has lost its flavor? It becomes worthless. So, it is good for you to wait a little so as not to lose the quality of your wine.
