Wine is fragile in ways that aren't obvious: heat cooks it, vibration ages it badly, and a tipped cork lets air in. A short local move is low-risk; a hot truck or a long haul needs care.
Heat is what ruins wine fastest, and an LA moving truck in summer can get very hot. Move wine in a climate-controlled vehicle — your own car with the AC on for a local move — and never leave it baking in a parked truck. For a serious collection or a long-distance move, specialized temperature-controlled wine shipping is worth it.
Use proper wine shipping boxes with molded inserts, or wrap each bottle in bubble wrap and pack snugly in a sturdy box so they can't clink or shift. Keep bottles on their sides (or upright for short trips) to keep corks moist, and keep them out of direct light.
Vibration disturbs the sediment and can "shock" wine. Move it gently, and once it's at the new place, let the bottles rest undisturbed for a week or more (longer for fine wine) before drinking, so it settles. This is the step collectors care about most.
Empty and unplug a wine fridge before the move, secure the racks, and — like any refrigerator — move it upright and wait several hours before plugging it back in so the compressor oil settles. Our crews move appliances upright and handle fragile boxes carefully; see our fragile-packing guide and refrigerator guide.
Keep it cool (a climate-controlled vehicle, never a hot parked truck), pack bottles snugly to limit vibration, keep corks moist by laying bottles on their sides, and let the wine rest a week or more after the move.
It can if it gets hot or badly shaken. Heat is the biggest risk; vibration disturbs sediment. Keep it cool, pad it well, and let it rest after the move and most wine is fine.
On their sides for anything but a very short trip, to keep the corks moist and sealed. Upright is acceptable for a quick local move.
Empty and unplug it, secure the racks, move it upright like any refrigerator, and wait several hours before plugging it back in so the compressor oil settles.
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