You have to follow certain rules to store a bottle of champagne properly at home. In what position should it be placed? What are the conditions for the room where the champagne will be kept? How long can it be stored at home. You will find all the answers in this article!
How to Store Champagne if You Do Not Have a Cellar?
It is quite possible to store champagne well even if you do not have a wine cellar. Choose a room that does not experience significant temperature changes. Moreover, storing champagne properly at home implies to put the bottle horizontally and away from light. It is recommended to keep it inside its original box. You should know that the hotter the room, the faster the juice ages. However, rapid aging alters the aromas after only a few weeks.
It is not recommended to keep champagne in the fridge for a long time. You can put it in the fridge a few hours before tasting, but no more! Above all, do not leave your bottle of champagne upright out of its original box in the living room or on your kitchen counter. It can bring a touch of luxury to your interior decoration, but the tasting will be disappointing.
How Long Should Champagne Be Stored at Home?
Unlike wine which improves over years, decades, or even centuries, champagne can have an expiration date. If you respect all the storage conditions mentioned above or if you keep it in a perfect wine cellar, your champagne can be stored for up to 5 years. You can even keep it for 7 to 9 years if it is a vintage champagne or a special cuvée. During this time, the juice still retains all of its original aromas, bubbles and freshness. It may even improve a little according to the brand.
Then, the characteristics of the champagne will gradually change because the cork begins to shrink bit by bit. Air then enters the bottle, changing the aromas and causing the bubbles to disappear. You will then have a maderized bottle of champagne with a weird taste. It will not make you sick, but the taste will not be the same. So, to get the most out of your champagne, it is better not to keep it too long, whether you have a wine cellar or not. As far as the tasting is concerned, you will find the best advices in this site.
