Moving can be very stressful and it can be downright terrifying when it comes to a wine collection that took years to gather. Whether it’s just a few cases of your favorite bubbly, or an entire cellar full of aged red wine, poor handling could easily cost you a few broken bottles, several ruined corks, temperature damaged wine and a great deal of money.
AuSafe Removals Brisbane is an expert mover with many years of experience assisting clients in carefully and efficiently moving their most valuable and fragile items throughout Brisbane and Queensland. Below you’ll find a guide on safely moving a wine collection.
Why Moving Wine Requires Special Care?
Wine is among the more fragile items you will ever have to move. Unlike books or furniture, a bottle of wine is prone to a special mix of dangers:
- Temperature changes: Storing wine above 24C (75F) will cause it to “cook” and its flavour to be permanently ruined.
- Vibration: Overmuch movement of old wines can agitate the sediment at the bottom of the bottle and cause its aging to be permanently spoiled.
- Light exposure: The rays of the sun can rapidly spoil wine, especially if it is stored in a clear or light coloured bottle.
- Upright storage: Wines with natural corks should always be stored on their sides so that the cork does not dry out.
- Breakage: A glass bottle may break easily if not properly padded during a move.
Knowing these risks is the first step to a smooth move.
Steps Involved In Moving A Wine Collection Smoothly
Step 1: Take Stock of Your Collection Before Moving Day
Before you wrap up a single bottle, get the whole of your wine collection down on paper. Do two important things: get yourself organised as far as your packing plan is concerned and build up a list for insurance purposes.
What to make sure to note:
- The name, year of vintage, and number of bottles for each wine
- An approximate valuation for bottles particularly if they are rare or collectable
- The temperature and humidity in which they are currently stored
- Any bottles which are already open or have loose corks
You should also take photos of the bottles and the complete collection before they go anywhere; if anything breaks during transport you’ll want proof for your insurance claim.
Step 2: Gather The Right Packing Materials
Choosing the right packing supplies is essential. DIY alternatives like newspapers for bottles will not protect fragile glass properly.
The necessary supplies are:
- Specialised wine shipping boxes: These boxes have special card or Styrofoam inserts that will hold each bottle individually, ensuring they don’t touch each other during transport.
- Bubble wrap: Wrap bottles with this to offer additional cushioning. Pay special attention to the neck of the bottle.
- Packing tape: A good, strong packing tape to keep the boxes sealed.
- Foam wine sleeves: Special foam sleeves for bottles will protect the bottles as well as being reusable.
- Thermally insulated boxes or coolers: Essential for long distance or moves in the summer in Brisbane.
Do not use regular moving boxes, unless they have dividers in them; the bottles will crash into each other and break.
Step 3: Pack Your Wine Collection The Right Way
Once you have all your packing material ready, the time for packing is here. Follow the steps to ensure safe packing:
Orientation of bottles:
Bottles with natural cork stoppers should be laid on their side as this will help keep the cork moist. Wines with screw cap lids can be placed upright, however laying them on their side will ensure greater safety during transit.
Packing the bottles:
Wrap each bottle individually from the base of the bottle upwards towards the top of the bottle, overlapping the bubble wrap at the neck. Secure with tape and place the bottle in a fitted cell of the wine box.
Weight of boxes:
Each box should hold no more than 12 bottles at a time as these boxes may not support much weight themselves, so it will be easier for the removalists to handle the boxes and prevent the boxes themselves buckling under the weight of the bottles inside.
Label the boxes:
Ensure that all boxes are clearly labelled “FRAGILE – WINE” and which way the boxes are facing.
Step 4: Manage Temperature During the Move
Brisbane’s climate: During summer months, the mercury regularly pushes over 30C which represents quite a threat to wine on the move. Heat is probably the most damaging force on a wine collection and has the ability to transform your treasured bottles into unpleasant, vinegary liquid.
Temperature management tips:
- Schedule your move early in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day
- Use insulated cooler boxes or temperature controlled containers for especially valuable bottles
- Never leave wine in a hot vehicle or van for any significant amount of time – just half an hour in direct sunlight can cause harm
- If you are using an air conditioned vehicle to move wine then so much the better
- Upon arrival let the wine rest in its containers for a time before moving it into your wine cellar
Temperature management in relation to transporting wine over longer distances: As it would with an interstate removal, a removalist company needs to be aware of the threat to wine posed by long distance transportation.
Step 5: Loading And Transporting Wine Safely
It’s not just about how your wine is packed, it’s about how it is loaded onto the truck. Professional removalists understand:
- The wine boxes should be loaded last and unloaded first, so the boxes don’t have heavy furniture weighing them down.
- Never stack heavy boxes on top of wine boxes; even if well packaged, your bottles are susceptible to breakage.
- Ensure the wine boxes don’t shift during transit by using straps or by wedging the boxes securely against other items.
- Don’t place the wine boxes close to the truck engine where heat can build up.
- Drive safely – sharp cornering and heavy braking will cause movement and breakages.
At AuSafe Removals, our trained professionals handle fragile and valuable items with extreme caution. We care about your wine collection as much as you do.
Step 6: Allow Your Wine to Rest After the Move
When you get your wines safely to their new destination, don’t open a bottle immediately! Wine that has been agitated during transit may suffer from ‘bottle shock’, where it appears flat, dull or just off for a period of time.
Give your wines time to recover. They may require:
- Minimum of 24-48 hours for standard table wines
- Between one and two weeks for vintage reds and whites
- Up to one month for old, delicate vintages
Store bottles lying down in a cool, dark, vibration-free place until they have had time to recuperate. If you have invested in a wine fridge/cellar for your new place get the temperature up/down to the correct setting before unloading.
Should You Use A Professional Removalist For Your Wine Collection?
A considered, self-move of a small, mundane wine collection might just do it if you follow the steps above. However, should you have a larger or more precious cellar, you are definitely encouraged to call on the experts.
Why do professional movers make such a difference?
Fragile handling expertise
These professionals are skilled in lifting and loading delicate boxes, thereby reducing breakage risk.
Protection cover
Your insured removalists like AuSafe Removals will cover you for breakages that might occur accidentally during transport.
The right equipment
Padded blankets are a must, but so is the right loading technique, sensitive to temperature.
Speed and safety
These people will pack, load and move your cellar in significantly less time and with far greater security than the majority of self-moves.
Reduced stress
Moving is stressful enough! Hand the most precious items to people who do it for a living.
AuSafe Removals Brisbane offer packing and removal services to suit fragile and valuable items around Brisbane and Queensland, for single items or full home moves.
Also Read: Top 20 Benefits of Hiring a Local Removalists & Movers in Brisbane
Quick Checklist For Moving Your Wine Collection
The checklist to prevent anything being left behind:
- 1. Full stock take & photographic record of your collection
- 2. Find a reliable source for proper, subdivided wine boxes
- 3. Individual bottle wrapping in bubble wrap
- 4. Horizontal packing of your bottles (for cork-sealed wines)
- 5. Pack boxes of no more than 12 bottles
- 6. Label all boxes as ‘FRAGILE – WINE’ and include arrow indicators for correct upright orientation
- 7. Prepare to manage climate (especially on a hot Brisbane move)
- 8. Prepare a “briefing” document for removalists to handle wine
- 9. Pack last / unpack first
- 10. Give the wine 24-48 hours to settle post move
Final Thoughts
Wine collections should be moved in a safe manner; this involves proper planning, quality packaging materials, temperature control and right lifting practices. Moving a wine collection, from a few bottles or a fully stocked wine cellar, is a delicate and challenging task but can be completed without damaging your treasured possessions by taking proper care and precautions.
A well planned inventory, the correct wine packaging and stability of temperature, alongside experienced professionals where required can make sure your wine can be stored in its new location to continue aging beautifully.
If you are a resident of Brisbane or are making a move within Brisbane’s surroundings and need to ensure the entire moving process of your wine collection is easy and hassle-free then let the experts at AuSafe Removals take the stress away.
FAQs
How should I pack my wine to avoid breakages when moving?
Each bottle should be wrapped individually with bubble wrap, placed in divided boxes, with labels as ‘FRAGILE’. Bottles with corks must be packed on their side to ensure the cork remains moist.
Can my wine be damaged by the heat during a move to Brisbane?
Yes, wines at over 24C are permanently spoiled so be sure to schedule your move in Brisbane in the early morning, use insulated containers and do not leave wine in a vehicle where it will get hot.
Should my wine be moved vertically or horizontally?
If the bottle has a cork it will need to be moved horizontally, otherwise the cork will dry out, air will enter the bottle and you will ruin your wine, whereas bottles with screw tops can stand vertically, it will always be safest to lay bottles on their sides in the vehicle.
How long should I allow for my wine to rest once moved to a new house?
Let normal wines rest for at least 24 to 48 hours. With high quality, aged wine it will take at least one or two weeks for it to settle and no longer suffer from “bottle shock”.
Should I hire removalists to move my collection?
If it is a large or a costly collection, then you most definitely should hire removalists who have had training in handling such a task, like AuSafe Removals Brisbane.
How many bottles should I pack into each moving box?
A maximum of twelve bottles per box is suitable, not only to keep the box from getting too heavy to handle easily but also to avoid a collapse.
