Moving Your Wine Collection

Moving a Wine CollectionWhen it comes to your wine collection, nothing is more beloved to you– except maybe your spouse and children. You’ve spent a long time selecting each bottle, and every hand picked vintage must come with you. Wine collections do well when just sitting there, but moving can be hard on wine, especially older bottles. Special care must be taken to ensure that wine bottles arrive untouched and unchanged from their original state.

Read on about Molloy Moving & Storage tips on Moving your Wine Collection

When it comes to moving, everyone talks about how to pack your belongings and safely wrap and package furniture and other delicate items so that they will not be damaged in the process. Occasionally, wine collections get left off the list. However, a lot of families and couples do have quite extensive wine collections that they’ve put a lot of time and money into. It would be a shame if the wine got damaged during the move, and after all, your wine collection probably has well over five bottles that need to be moved, so extra care needs to be taken to make sure that those bottles get there safe.

Wines require not only special handling, but storage when they’re being moved. Wines have chemistry and character that may be changed if they are exposed to too much movement, changes in temperature, and exposure to light. Special care must be taken with your collection, especially as many collections are worth thousands. So what’s the first step when it comes to having your collection transported?

The first step is having your collection professionally appraised. This will require paying either a fee or your appraiser by the hour. You can find an appraiser by recommendation from any merchant who deals with collectible vintages.

Inform your moving representative during your in-home estimate that you will be moving wine. Include other items of high value you’ll be moving and fill out a high value inventory form if your collection’s value goes over $100 a pound. You can get this form from our Molloy Brothers representative easily during the pre-move survey. Your representative will also go over protection plans you might want to choose from during your move.

The second step is to conduct legal research because different states regulate alcohol in different ways. Check with alcohol control authorities before you move because some states have restrictions about types of alcohol as well as amounts that can be transported for personal use.

Which brings us to packing! Molloy Brothers supplies boxes that are specially designed to transport bottles as well as glassware. These can be packed by your movers or if you’re packing yourself, Molloy Brothers has these boxes available for purchase from your local Molloy agent. You’re going to want to place wines that are corked either on their sides or upside down in the container, so the corks are wet. Place opened bottles to the side (they won’t always be shipped with the unopened bottles). Then, wrap bottles individually and insulate the box so that the wine is not disturbed while traveling from bottle shock. Once your bottles arrive, let rest for at least a week upon arrival for every day of transport to protect flavor and quality.

Next we come to climate controlled moving. Changes can affect your wine, and older red wines in particular have delicate flavors that need to be protected and stay at 55 degrees consistently while in transit. White wines will not be as inclined to damage from temperature changes. If you have a manageable collection that’s relatively small, a car with controlled atmospheric conditions may be your best bet. However, for a large and rare collection, a climate controlled van is your best bet. Make early arrangements in this case and check with your moving representative to see what your options are in this case.

The best time for moving a wine collection is in the early spring or the late fall. Summer and winter months both have extreme temperatures which may alter the flavor. If you must move during these times, consider transporting your collection with a commercial airline. You can also get your wine professionally packed (ask your mover for details). By flying your collection and making sure the collection gets delivered and picked up promptly, you will ensure your collection is not overly exposed to changes in temperature.

The final step in moving your wine collection is to check your inventory. The van operator will prepare your shipment’s inventory before loading. When you arrive at your destination, check your wine collection against this form. Then, if there happens to be any loss or damage, note it on the inventory. A Molloy agent will help you complete a claim form in this event.

Moving can be a complicated job, particularly if it involves wine collections. But if you take the appropriate steps and get things done on your checklist early, it can be surprisingly streamlined. Consult your moving agent for any questions and may you and your wine have safe travels on your journey to a new life!

At Molloy Moving & Storage, we handle all of our moves with care and sensitivity, and even specialize in New Jersey moving.