Owning a wine collection is a joy and a source of pride, but when it’s time to move it presents some challenges. In order to ensure the safe move of your precious wine collection, you need to take several steps.

1) Get an appraisal of your collection:

Have your collection appraised prior to your move by a qualified and certified wine appraiser. This will help set the value of the collection for insurance purposes, either for a personal property rider on your homeowner’s insurance or for the insurance policy of the moving company. This appraisal will give you an appropriate dollar value for the entire collection, if you ever need to make a claim for loss or damage during your move.

 If you possess rare or vintage wines you may also be given a value for individual bottles.

There are many ways to find a wine appraiser: Your local wine merchant or insurance company may be able to refer you to these professionals. Some personal property appraisers are also qualified to appraise wine collections. Also, many auction houses have wine appraisers on staff or know where to find them. You can also contact the American Society of Appraisers to find a certified wine appraiser in your area. This is the link to their website: http://www.appraisers.org/find-an-appraiser

2) Create and document an inventory of your collection:

Take a photo of every bottle. This will help document rare or delicate vintages, and gives you,
and equally importantly, your movers, a clear indication of what they are transporting.

Often, the moving companies will do their own packing inventory in the same way as they do for other household items that they pack. It’s important to check that these two inventories are identical.

3) Proper transportation of your wine:

Once your inventory is complete, you need to decide on the appropriate method of moving your wine. Call a professional moving company or a wine transporter. Make arrangements for a climate-controlled vehicle if your collection warrants it, and make sure that you book it well in advance of your moving date.

Notify your moving company ahead of time (if you aren’t using a professional wine transporter) that you are moving wine and that it is a high-value item. This will allow the moving company to determine the liability level and the type of insurance required for your move. You can also purchase different amounts of coverage for your move.

4) Packing your wine professionally:

Packing the wine should be the next consideration. Professional movers should know how to pack wine. If you pack the wine yourself, try to find boxes used to transport wine on commercial airlines. Usually, these are made out of corrugated cardboard or Styrofoam. Some wine stores also sell these boxes. The California Glass Company in Oakland has a great wine box which many professional movers use. You should avoid wooden boxes or any containers that do not cradle the wine safely.  Corked wine should be packed on its side in the same way as you would
store it on the racks in your wine cellar. Each box must be labeled FRAGILE-THIS SIDE UP to make sure that the wine stays on its side.

4) Check the wine at destination:

When your wine reaches its destination, it’s important to carefully check the collection against your moving inventory, your personal inventory, and your photographs. If there is anything missing or there is any damage, note it on your moving company’s inventory and contact
your mover immediately. They will help you complete a claim form for replacement or reimbursement.

All the above steps will ensure the safe transportation of you expensive wine collection.