While it’s often easier to get rid of your alcohol before a big move, you simply can’t throw away your unique vintage wine, your favourite wine from the Cape Winelands or a celebratory bottle from a special occasion. So how do you pack and move your precious wine collection, ensuring it arrives at its new home in pristine condition?
Wine is very sensitive— slight changes in temperature, vibrations, humidity and light can cause an upset. So, they need a bit more TLC to make sure they’re properly protected. But don’t stress, we’ve got you covered!
Here are some grape tips and tricks to pack your wine bottles for your move…
Before you get packing, it’s important to know exactly what wine you have and how many bottles you’re going to have to move. Make a list with the name, year and number of bottles for a detailed inventory.
Different wines should be handled differently, so knowing which specific wines you have will help you figure out the best form of packing and transport to protect each wine equally. It also helps you be sure of the number of boxes and packing materials you need from the get-go to avoid extra trips to the box shop later on. And don’t forget to check each bottle for leaks and cracks, making sure they’re each sealed properly.
To give your wine collection the best protection, you’re going to want to invest in the proper, good-quality moving boxes and packing materials.
You can’t get any old moving boxes for this job but boxes made specifically for wine bottles which are usually cardboard and double-walled. Most wine boxes hold either 12 or 6 bottles, but if you can, opt for 6 bottles to reduce the weight strain on the box.
You have two box options depending on the type of wine you’re moving:
Upright: Bottles are placed vertically next to each other in the box.
Flat packs: Bottles are placed horizontally, either next to or on top of one another.
Bubble wrap
Packing paper and tissue
Packing peanuts
But just make sure not to use any foam beads or biodegradable packing peanuts made from cornstarch, as any condensation that forms can damage the wine labels.
Not all wine should be packed the same, as each type of wine is different. Here are the main rules when it comes to packing your wine:
Corked red and whites: Store either upside down or on their side to ensure the cork stays wet and the wine doesn’t spoil, especially for long-distance moves.
Sparkling wine: Store upright to reduce pressure inside.
Open bottles: It’s best to either drink, give away or toss these before moving, as they can shake and spill from the vibration during transit.
There are some extra measures you can take when packing to give your wine the ultimate stability and security during transport:
Make sure your bottles are dry and free of condensation before packing them.
Wrap each bottle individually in bubble wrap or packing tissue and tape it closed to provide some cushioning and reduce vibrations.
Add packing paper around the bottlenecks to prevent rattling.
Place your packed wine box inside a second box for additional support and padding.
Secure and reinforce the bottom of your boxes with double tape.
Remember to label your boxes immediately after packing them, so that you don’t forget what’s in them and that they’re fragile. The last thing you want is for them to accidentally get mixed up with all your other boxes and not handled with the extra care they require.
You can either use a marker or ready-made stickers. There are few a different labels to consider:
Right Way Up
The type of wine in the box
Leaving your wine in extreme temperatures and humidity for extended periods of time can greatly impact the quality of the wine. To best preserve your wine collection, try to hire a temperature-controlled moving truck. It’s also important to avoid leaving your wine boxes in direct sunlight or heat.
For reference, the ideal temperature for storing wine is 13°C, but it can be transported in the range of 7°C-18°C.
While you may be tempted to open a celebratory bottle of wine immediately after your move, it’s vital that you give your wine some time to rest and settle.
The jostling of the wine during transportation can cause bottle shock when the movement of the wine results in more oxygen being absorbed. Opening a bottle of wine too early after your move can result in a loss of flavour in the wine.
So be safe, let your wine rest unopened for at least 7 days after your move, and even longer if your wine was transported for more than one day.
The best thing you can do to protect your wine collection during your move is to hire an experienced, trusted moving service that will treat your belongings like their own. How do you find a moving service you can trust? Easy — with Wise Move!
Wise Move is a popular moving company platform that connects you with the top movers across South Africa. With over 1000+ reviews on our platform, you can quickly and effortlessly find the most trusted moving company that suits both your needs and your budget! And it only takes a few minutes to get started!
Get your quote today and give your wine the ultimate protection!
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