Packing & shipping bottles: This is how it’s done safely

Do you want to send wine, sparkling wine etc. as “bottle post”? We explain to you how best to wrap and send a bottle so that it arrives undamaged at its recipient. You can also find inspiration on how to gift-wrap bottles in our article.

What you can expect in this blogpost

• Packing the bottle: How to do it right
• Filling material for shard-free transport
• Securely seal the bottle carton
• Caution glass: Warning labels
• Shipping bottles: This is how it’s done
• Costs, shipping service providers & parcel sizes
• Tips: What you should bear in mind when sending bottles
• Packing a bottle as a gift

Packing a bottle: How to do it right

If you want to pack and ship a bottle of wine or champagne, there are a few things to consider. We explain how to pack bottles properly so that they reach the recipient intact.

To ensure that the fragile goods arrive safely at your customer’s or recipient’s door, you need the right packaging and the necessary accessories such as filling material and warning labels.

Packing single or multiple bottles

First of all, you should ask yourself whether you want to send one or several bottles. Depending on your requirements, choose a suitable packaging to pack the wine or spirits bottles. Since not every box is suitable for sending bottles, use bottle boxes that are certified for safe shipping by the usual shipping service providers, such as DHL, Hermes or UPS. These have been proven to withstand the stresses during transport.

Packing bottles: These are your options

With a so-called PTZ box, you can pack and ship up to twelve bottles of sparkling wine or wine. Depending on how many bottles you want to pack, you will need different numbers of compartments. The inner sleeves ensure that the bottles sit stably in the wine packaging and that there is a double layer of cardboard between each bottle and on the outside. In this way, the bottles can withstand any knocks.

Watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to pack a bottle:

If you only want to send 5 bottles, fill the empty sleeve with paper or other filling material. Note that you must not put any other objects, such as corkscrews, into empty compartments. Otherwise the insurance cover is not guaranteed.

In addition to PTZ bottle packaging, you also have the option of packing your bottles in other boxes. Do you not want to send your bottle post, but rather gift wrap several bottles and hand them over personally? Or do you deliver the bottles with your own vehicle? Then choose one of the following packaging options:

• Bottle carrier bags
• Bottle packaging with dividers
• Bottle packaging with compartments
• Bottle packaging with cardboard insert and film fixation

Filling material for shard-free transport

We advise you to pad all cavities in the box when packing bottles. This way, your goods are cushioned and can absorb possible shocks during transport. In addition, padding prevents the packaging from being dented during shipping.

You can choose different products as padding material:

• Air poster
• Foam packaging
• Cavity fillings

Securely seal bottle carton

To fully protect your bottle box, you need to seal it properly. This is best done with wide (at least five centimetres), tear-resistant packing tape. Secure the tape sufficiently over the seal and the edge sides of the package. If you want to send several bottles and the box is heavy, we advise you to tape the edges more tightly. Do not use loose strapping, such as parcel or gift ribbon.

We recommend that you apply the packing tape as follows:

Caution glass: warning labels

If you are packing and shipping a bottle, it makes sense to have a notice about the contents on the outside of the package. Warning labels that say “Caution Glass” are meant to discourage parcel delivery staff from throwing the package or being careless with it. Note, however, that a warning label is not a basis for liability for shipping.

Shipping bottles: This is how it’s done

Once you have packed your bottles, the next question is how to ship them. We give you answers to the different shipping options, the costs and the insurance of your package.

Costs, shipping service providers & parcel sizes

Depending on the size and weight of your bottle shipment, the prices for shipping vary. You also have a choice of shipping providers.

DHL

For sending wine or other bottles, choose DHL’s parcel shipping service. Depending on the weight and size of your package, the price for shipping varies. It starts at 6.99 euros for a parcel weighing up to five kilograms and with maximum dimensions of 120 x 60 x 60 cm. For a PTZ bottle package from Rajapack, this is definitely enough for shipping up to four or five wine or champagne bottles or a magnum bottle. For a quantity of six bottles or more, you will need a parcel stamp weighing up to ten kilograms with maximum dimensions of 120 x 60 x 60 cm.

Hermes

At Hermes you will find various parcel classes for sending wine or champagne bottles within Germany. Depending on the size of your box , it is an S, M or L parcel. If you are only sending one bottle, it is an S parcel. If you are sending three, six or twelve bottles, you should expect to pay for an M-package. If you are sending more than twelve bottles, you will need an L-package. Please calculate the exact parcel dimensions and compare them with the official information from Hermes.

S-package	Longest + shortest side up to 37 cm, max. 25 kg	3,70 Euro
M-package	Longest + shortest side up to 80 cm, max. 25 kg	5,40 Euro
L parcel	Longest + shortest side up to 120 cm, max. 25 kg	10,40 Euro

UPS

If you want to ship wine or other alcoholic beverages, you have to present a licence for shipping wine to UPS. Then you must have signed and concluded a contract with UPS for the transport of wine. Depending on the weight of the package to the zone of the delivery area, there are different prices.

Tip: Choose PTZ bottle packaging Cargo from the RAJA online shop as packaging. These are in fact certified for shipping by DHL, Hermes and UPS and thus demonstrably withstand the stresses during transport.

Interesting additional services for bottle shipping

The common shipping service providers offer you the possibility to pick up your packed bottles. This way you don’t have to carry the heavy boxes yourself and sending wine by post is an easy task.

Make sure you send your bottles with certified bottle packaging. This is the only way you will have insurance cover for the package. DHL and Hermes, for example, are liable up to a value of 500 euros if your bottles are damaged during transport. You do not need to take out extra insurance cover for this. The only requirement is that you have sent the bottles in certified bottle packaging.

Tips: What you should bear in mind when shipping bottles

In order to be able to claim compensation from the responsible parcel service provider in the event of damage, you should observe the following points:

• Assemble the box correctly and completely.
• Only bottles that have been tested with the respective packaging may be shipped with it.
• Glue the carton securely and correctly.
• Empty compartments must be filled with filling material accordingly.
• You may only send the permitted number of bottles in the box, no additional items.

In the following video we summarise how to send bottles easily:

Securely pack & ship bottles

If you want to send one or more bottles, you should first pack the bottles securely. Choose special bottle shipping boxes to ensure that the fragile goods can withstand the stresses and strains of transport and that insurance cover applies in the event of damage. When you send the bottles, make sure that they are properly sealed and that the correct postage is used for your package. You can find special accessories for shipping in our shop. Choose from a wide range of bottle packaging and filling material.

Bottle gift wrapping

If you want to please a business partner, colleagues or a friend, you can gift wrap one or more bottles before sending them or handing them over personally. Whenever you wrap wine, security has the highest priority. After all, the recipient should be able to enjoy the fine wine. A protective cover made of corrugated cardboard, for example, is very suitable before you pack the bottle. If you want to wrap your bottles as a gift, simply let yourself be inspired by our range of carrier bags.

Gift-wrapping bottles: Simple and classy

Are you a fan of simple but elegant packaging? Then give wine, champagne or sparkling wine bottles wrapped in wrapping paper with beautiful ribbons and bows. To wrap a bottle with wrapping paper, you need some skill and a little practice.

• Classically, place the bottle on the sheet of wrapping paper so that only a little paper peeks out from under the bottom of the bottle.
• You can leave more paper above the neck of the bottle so that you can create an artistic gift closure there.
• Fix the narrow edge of the wrapping paper to the body of the bottle. Now roll the bottle in the wrapping paper until it is completely wrapped. Now cut the paper so that the paper edges overlap slightly.
• Fold the paper in at the bottom of the bottle. Make sure that the bottom is covered with paper, but that the bottle can still stand. If necessary, cut off any excess paper.
• You can now gather the overhanging paper at the neck of the bottle by hand and tie it together at the neck of the bottle with the help of a gift ribbon.

Wrap bottles simply and chicly with bottle bags and bottle wrappers

You want to save time and paper? Special gift wrapping for bottles is the easiest way to wrap bottles effectively. Open the gift bag, put the bottle in it and you’re done! If you like, you can close the bottle bag with a gift label. In the RAJA online shop you will find all the necessary material for a noble bottle gift wrapping.

Christmas bottle wrapping

Do you want to give wine or sparkling wine in beautifully decorated bottles as a gift for St Nicholas or Christmas? Then decorate the bottles with Christmas elements. For example, hang Christmas tree decorations on the ribbon that you wrap around the neck of the bottle, or tuck a fir branch into the ribbon.

Does the recipient like mulled wine? Then pack a bottle of wine with mulled wine spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and star anise and give it as a gift.

Packing a bottle creatively as a pineapple

If you want to pack a bottle creatively, turn it into a pineapple. To do this, get a protective cover made of corrugated cardboard, put it around the bottle and stick chocolate balls in golden paper on it. Cut leaf-shaped pieces out of green wrapping paper and stick them to the neck of the bottle. And the pineapple is ready. There are detailed instructions on YouTube.