It can be difficult to know how to pack alcohol ahead of moving house.
To pack wine bottles for a move,
- Wrap individual wine bottles in paper and bubble wrap.
- Pack bottles in a wine box or corrugated cardboard box.
- Fill gaps with packing materials.
- Clearly label boxes.
1. Wrap Individual Wine Bottles
Before anything else, you want to make sure that your wine bottles have adequate protection. For obvious reasons, if you put wine straight into a box or bag and then move it around, this will cause the bottles to smash.
Instead, you should prepare a clean and flat space to pack the wine bottles, and work through them one at a time. For each bottle, wrap it once in packing paper, and once again in a layer of bubble wrap. If you have expensive or extra delicate bottles, you can add more layers of both packing paper and bubble wrap for additional protection.
As with most fragile items, make sure there are no gaps in your wrap. If there is even a small section of the bottle that is unprotected, there is a chance that it will smash.
2. Pack Wine in a Wine Box or Corrugated Cardboard Box
We’d recommend that you use a wine box as these have been designed to encase and protect each individual bottle. Although these look like a normal corrugated cardboard box on the outside, there are clear dividers inside to create individual compartments. You might have spotted these in your local supermarket or newsagents.
Wine boxes resemble traditional wine home storage — and for good reason! These purpose-built containers have been designed to keep your wine still, safe, and sound.
You could also use a wine shipper, which is made from expanded polystyrene for extra strength. You just put the bottles into the designated holes, and pop on the Styrofoam lid. These containers have been designed and approved for travel (even flights) by couriers, so it might be worth the investment if you are moving far. This is similar to an inflatable air cushion which, if you have one lying around, can also be used to protect a wine bottle.
In the instance that you can’t get your hands on a wine container or shipper in time, a strong corrugated cardboard box can do the job — it is just not as secure. With this, you should pad and line the box with paper, bubble wrap or cardboard sheets before you put the wine bottles in. Next, put the wrapped bottles in one at a time, and separate with thin layers of cardboard.
3. Fill Gaps with Packing Materials
Regardless of what method you go for, you should fill all the gaps with packing materials. You need to avoid as much contact between bottles as possible, so make sure that your bottles are packed in tight to prevent movement.
4. Clearly Label Boxes
Once your boxes are filled up and sealed tight, label them with warnings to make sure you (and your movers) take extra care. This might include “FRAGILE”, “DELICATE”, “WARNING” or “KEEP CLEAR” labels.
Finally, make sure that you put nothing on top of the box and keep it upright during the move.
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At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your wine bottles and other valuables are moved and kept in perfect condition. Rest assured that your move will be completed with expert precision.
To learn more about our removals service, or our storage facilities, take a look at out our website or contact Nathan.
