Wine Packing Supplies:

If you are sure you want to transport your wine, you will need the following:

• Cell boxes: Cell boxes are specifically designed to transport bottles and can be purchased from a winery, liquor store or moving supply store.
• Newsprint or Bubble Wrap: You can purchase pre-cut sheets of newsprint at a moving store or you can try to find a bargain by purchasing a roll of newsprint at an arts supply store. The bubble wrap can be purchased at big-box stores or at shipping supply vendors.
• Packing Peanuts and Tape: You will want to get a small quantity of packing peanuts or, alternatively, shredded paper. As for tape, any kind will suffice, but packing tape is recommended.

If you are packing opened bottles, make sure they are properly closed and tightened. Begin by placing the bottle diagonally on the corner of a couple of sheets of newsprint or a sheet of bubble wrap. Roll the bottle diagonally on the sheet while folding the excess on the sides as you roll the bottle. When you finish rolling, wrap the bottle with packing tape and secure any loose ends.

Once you have wrapped all of your bottles, place them in the cell box. For extra safety, you should consider reinforcing the cell box by taping an extra piece of cardboard to the bottom. Fill the gaps in the box with packing peanuts or crumpled paper and seal the top with plenty of tape. Clearly label the box as fragile.

Temperature Controlled Wine Transport

Although it would be ideal to maintain your wine at 55F, it is not practical for most cases. For a large wine collection, however, consider contacting companies with climate-controlled moving vans. For smaller shipments of very valuable wine you might consider packing a cooler with dry ice for shipping.

Other Considerations

For large quantities of wine, you may need to obtain permits and licenses in order to comply with any state and federal regulations in regards to transporting wine. If you are sending a single bottle through a package carrier, they should be able to supply you with a special wine box. Make sure that they know that it is wine and you pay any applicable fees or taxes.

While you may be tempted to immediately opening your wine as soon as you begin unpacking your new home, or when it arrives in the mail, be aware that no matter how safely you packed it, it is likely to have been shaken up a bit during shipping. You should give the bottles a few days to settle before drinking them.