Moving can be daunting, especially when it comes to items you don’t quite know how to keep safe. Alcohol is one of those items. Glass bottles can break, and alcohol can spill and damage your other items, so it’s important that your beer, wine and spirits are packed and shipped safely for transportation.
Whether you have an alcohol collection, are a wine enthusiast or just have a few bottles you don’t know how to pack, follow these tips for packing and moving your alcohol.
New Zealand doesn’t have any alcohol-free provinces, and there are no rules for moving alcohol around the country. As long as you’re over eighteen, you will have no trouble transporting alcohol for personal use.
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Before you pack everything from your bar cart or collection, think carefully about what you really need to take. Wine and spirits are heavy and will add to the cost of your move. It's important to consider what to pack and what to leave behind. If you have an extensive collection of expensive or rare wines, it may be best to transport them yourself or hire a specialised wine transport service.
For everyday liquors, leaving them behind might be easier and restocking them once you've settled into your new home. Think about how far you are travelling, how much space you need, and whether the effort is worth it. You might want to throw a small moving party to get rid of any dregs of bottles you own.
Once you've decided what to pack, it's time to gather the right materials. For glass bottles, it's best to use sturdy, corrugated boxes as these are specifically designed for moving alcohol. These boxes have dividers to keep the bottles from touching and prevent breakage during transport. Bubble wrap and packing paper will help to cushion glass bottles and prevent the glass from touching and causing any damage.
Not sure how many boxes you need for your move? Use our volume calculator to find out.
If you can’t find speciality alcohol boxes, wrap each bottle individually with packing paper or bubble wrap. Then, place each bottle into a box, and fill any gaps with packing material. This will prevent the bottles from moving around and breaking during transport. Limit the number of bottles you pack in each box.
Pay attention to the bottom of each box. Reinforce it with packing tape to ensure it can support your items' weight. Before packing anything into the box, check it to ensure it's in good condition and not worn or damaged. If the box feels flimsy or weak, you can line the bottom with a piece of thick and stiff cardboard for extra support.
If you’re transporting wine, store corked white and red wines either upside down or on their sides. Although most wines in New Zealand now use screwtops, most imported wines still use corks. Lying wine on its side will keep the corks wet and prevent oxidisation and spoilage. Store your champagne and sparkling wines right side up. This will prevent them from overshaking.
To pack beer bottles, wrap each bottle with packing paper or bubble wrap and place them in shippers or a well-fitting box. For added protection against breakage, line the box with a cardboard separator. This will prevent the bottles from clanging together during transport.
Cans are easier to pack, but ensuring they are properly padded is still important. Ensure enough padding between the cans and the container walls prevents them from shifting around during transit.
Before packing liquor bottles, make sure they are securely capped. Wrap each bottle with newspaper or packing paper and secure the wrapping with tape. Place the bottles snugly in a properly sized box and fill any gaps with additional packing paper to prevent the bottles from moving around. This will help to protect the bottles from breaking during transport.
Cardboard dividers can be incredibly helpful when packing delicate items like glassware. Insert a divider into a box and place your stemware, tumblers, or other glassware into a cell of their own. It’s a good idea to leave a few inserts empty. This will ensure you don’t overpack your box and that your glassware isn’t touching.
Stuff the empty spaces with packing paper for extra cushioning. If you have valuable or fragile crystal glassware, consider investing in specialized shippers to protect them during transport.
Keep homebrewing equipment separate from your glasses and bottles. If you have a bar cart, remove the casters and pack it with other furniture and home appliances. This will help to prevent any damage during transport.
It's important to label the boxes containing alcohol appropriately. Label the boxes as containing alcohol and mark them as fragile. This will ensure that the movers handle them carefully and prevent any accidents during transport.
If you have an extensive collection of expensive or rare wines, it may be best to transport them yourself or hire a specialised wine transport service. This will ensure that your bottles arrive safely and without damage. Beer and wine are susceptible to temperature changes, so it’s best to only transport alcohol in a moving truck for short moves. Thermal boxes can help regulate the temperature of your alcohol while they are on the move.
While it’s tempting to celebrate your move with a bottle of wine or beer, it’s better to leave your alcohol for seven days after transportation. Celebrate with a freshly bought bottle instead. During transportation, the truck's movement causes the wine to shake, which can result in bottle shock. Opening the bottles before they’ve had sufficient time to recover from the vibrations can result in a loss of flavour. Sparkling wines and beers need time to settle so they don’t spray everywhere when opened.
Need help transporting your wine, beer, or alcohol for an upcoming move? Wise Move can help. Book the best movers in New Zealand for careful packing, safe transport, and reliable delivery, so your bottles arrive safely at your new home.
Wise Move is New Zealand’s leading moving service, helping thousands of customers with home moves, furniture removals, car and motorcycle transport, and more. Since 2017, we’ve been delivering reliable, affordable, and well-reviewed moving services in just a few simple steps. Our focus has always been on making moving as simple and effortless as possible for our customers.
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