The topic of Champagne storage is a hot topic amongst today's wine and Champagne drinkers. It is a subject that needs to be tackled in two categories: before and after you pop the cork.
Champagne Storage- Before Opening
You have just gone to the store and purchased the finest, or most acceptable, bottle of champagne you could find, now what? The most basic aspect of Champagne storage is that the bottle should be kept on its side. Keeping a bottle upright for too long can ruin the drink's consistency and decrease its fizz factor.
The temperature at which you keep your Champagne is also important. The bottle should be kept in a cool, damp place and completely out of the light. If it is impossible, for some weather or architectural reason, for you to prevent you Champagne from meeting the light, then the next best thing to do is to wrap it in a dark cloth. Ideally, the temperature at which Champagne should be kept is 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and allowing the temperature to rise above 75 degrees should be avoided at all costs. It is also important the temperature that the champagne is kept at does not fluctuate too drastically. Champagne should not be refrigerated more than two or three days before its intended use. So for all you spontaneous drinkers, you will have to develop a taste for Champagne with a warmer tinge.
Though it doesn't necessarily affect the taste or aroma of it because it is aged to perfection, Champagne storage can be stored for up to 4 years without it losing it's essence.
Champagne Storage- After Popping the Cork
So the party is over, and you have leftover Champagne on your hands. Well, it gets slightly more depressing because sticking that cork back in the bottle is quite the feat. There are many clever tricks out there for wedging the cork back in, but the easier option is having a bottle sealer on hand. There are different styles of them out there, but the general idea is a pressure-withstanding cap that covers the opening of the bottle and prevents air from getting in and spoiling your Champagne.
Another option is doing nothing at all. Recently, scientists and Champagne enthusiasts alike have discovered that storing an open bottle in the refrigerator, upright and with no cap or cover, works about as well as any other method in storing Champagne.
So while storing Champagne before its ceremonious opening has quite the list of rules associated with it, storing the bottle after consumption takes no thought at all. That is, again, if there is any Champagne remaining in the bottle.
So there you have it. Ensure you take the proper steps for Champagne storage and you will be able to enjoy Champagne the way it was meant to be.
Champagne Storage- Before Opening
You have just gone to the store and purchased the finest, or most acceptable, bottle of champagne you could find, now what? The most basic aspect of Champagne storage is that the bottle should be kept on its side. Keeping a bottle upright for too long can ruin the drink's consistency and decrease its fizz factor.
The temperature at which you keep your Champagne is also important. The bottle should be kept in a cool, damp place and completely out of the light. If it is impossible, for some weather or architectural reason, for you to prevent you Champagne from meeting the light, then the next best thing to do is to wrap it in a dark cloth. Ideally, the temperature at which Champagne should be kept is 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and allowing the temperature to rise above 75 degrees should be avoided at all costs. It is also important the temperature that the champagne is kept at does not fluctuate too drastically. Champagne should not be refrigerated more than two or three days before its intended use. So for all you spontaneous drinkers, you will have to develop a taste for Champagne with a warmer tinge.
Though it doesn't necessarily affect the taste or aroma of it because it is aged to perfection, Champagne storage can be stored for up to 4 years without it losing it's essence.
Champagne Storage- After Popping the Cork
So the party is over, and you have leftover Champagne on your hands. Well, it gets slightly more depressing because sticking that cork back in the bottle is quite the feat. There are many clever tricks out there for wedging the cork back in, but the easier option is having a bottle sealer on hand. There are different styles of them out there, but the general idea is a pressure-withstanding cap that covers the opening of the bottle and prevents air from getting in and spoiling your Champagne.
Another option is doing nothing at all. Recently, scientists and Champagne enthusiasts alike have discovered that storing an open bottle in the refrigerator, upright and with no cap or cover, works about as well as any other method in storing Champagne.
So while storing Champagne before its ceremonious opening has quite the list of rules associated with it, storing the bottle after consumption takes no thought at all. That is, again, if there is any Champagne remaining in the bottle.
So there you have it. Ensure you take the proper steps for Champagne storage and you will be able to enjoy Champagne the way it was meant to be.