If you're lucky enough to have your own wine collection at home, you'll want to make sure you keep it in perfect condition when you move to a new house. Given how fragile glass is, it's important that you take extra care when packing wine bottles and glasses. Here's a simple step-by-step guide to keeping your fine wines in good condition until they reach their new location.

1. Make a List

A large wine collection can be difficult to keep track of when moving. If you don't have an inventory list, it's a good idea to make one. Jot down all the wines you own along with their values, if possible. When you unpack the wines at your new place, you can checklist them to make sure no boxes went missing. If you find that you have a lot of low value wines, consider giving them away as gifts so you have less to keep track of.

You can make a list on paper, but doing it on a purpose-made wine cellar tracking app will be even more useful. An app won't get lost in the move like a piece of paper might, and you can continue to use it post-move to keep track of everything.

2. Buy Cell Boxes

Cell boxes are packing boxes with dividers that fit standard-sized wine bottles perfectly. Cell boxes will protect your wine far better than regular packing boxes can because they keep the bottles from moving around too much and knocking into each other when they're in transit. If you can't find cell boxes, you can make your own by creating dividers out of cardboard or polystyrene and sliding them into existing boxes.

3. Wrap and Box

Before you box each wine bottle, wrap it in several layers of packing paper. Wrapping the bottles keeps them secure. Make sure the paper is tightly molded to every part of the bottle, including the base and the neck, then tape it in place. You may wish to follow the paper with a layer of bubble wrap. Once each bottle is wrapped, place it in its cell and use additional packing paper to pad out the cavity so the bottle can't move around. Repeat this process until every bottle is packed, then tape the box shut.

4. Don't Forget Wine Glasses

You can't drink wine without a glass. When packing up your collection, don't forget to pack your wine glasses too. Wine glasses should be packed in the same way as wine bottles -- wrapped and placed in cell boxes. Before you wrap them, stuff them gently with a ball of packing paper. When wrapping wine glasses, don't pull the paper too tightly; doing so can break the stem. Make sure the whole glass is covered with paper, then place them in cell boxes.

5. Use a Reputable Removalist

If you have a small wine collection, you may be able to transport it in your own vehicle. If your collection is too big or your car won't have enough space, you'll need to use a reputable professional furniture removals company. A good removalist will know how to transport boxes of wine without breaking them, ensuring that your collection is in perfect condition when you reach your new home.