How to Store Champagne: 2024 Guide for Every Bubbly Lover!

Have you got more bottles of bubbly than you know what to do with? That’s a champagne problem we’d all love to have.

But unless you’ve got a huge wine cellar, finding space to store your precious champers can be a real headache. Don’t just shove those pricey bottles in the back of your closet where they’ll get cooked by the heat. You need the inside scoop on how to store champagne properly so it stays crisp and tasty.

This guide outlines recommendations on ideal storage temps, humidity levels, and proper positioning, alongside extra tips to help you stash your sparkling haul like a pro. Read on to learn the secrets to creating ideal conditions for preserving your champagne’s bubbles and flavour.

Proper Storage Conditions for Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Vintage champagnes ages in storage, which can improve its taste and texture. However, the wrong storage conditions can cause irreparable damage. To store champagne long-term, it’s important to get the temperature, humidity, and light conditions right.

Consider the following tips:

Monitor the temperature.

To keep those bubbles bursting, a champagne bottle needs to be stored in cool conditions between 9°C and 12°C. Any warmer and the cork can pop prematurely! The best options are a wine rack or fridge, basement, or cool cellar. If those aren’t options, then a wine storage solution is your best choice, especially for large collections.

Maintain optimum humidity.

Champagne corks need the right humidity to stay moist and airtight. Aim for a minimum of 80% relative humidity. If storing long-term, check corks regularly and mist them with water if they start to dry out. Too much humidity, however, can lead to mould, so avoid over-misting.

Keep it dark.

UV and bright light can damage your wine, so keep champagne bottles out of direct light. If a cellar isn’t possible, a dark closet, cabinet, wine fridge, or chest is ideal.

Age graciously.

Unlike still wines, non-vintage champagnes don’t improve greatly with age. Most champagne is best consumed within 5 years of bottling. Vintage champagnes, however, have the potential to age for several decades when properly cellared.

With the right conditions in place, you’ll be popping corks and pouring crisp, bubbly champagne for years to come! However, people are often confused about the best way to store champagne — should you keep the bottle upright or sideways? Find the answers below! 

Storing Champagne Bottles on Their Sides vs. Upright

So, should you store your champagne bottles on their sides or upright? Either method works fine, but there are some pros and cons to consider for each.

Storing Sideways: Keeping the Cork Moist

When stored on their sides, the cork remains in contact with the wine, keeping it moist. This helps prevent oxygen from entering the bottle and the bubbles from escaping. The pressure in the bottle also keeps the cork firmly in place.

If the cork dries out from upright storage, it can become brittle and start to let air in, allowing the wine to oxidise. Oxidation can damage your entire bottle of wine, which can be devastating for champagne lovers.

Upright Storage: Keeping Sediment Out of the Neck

On the other hand, some producers argue that upright storage is better for aged champagnes, especially those that have developed sediment over time. When stored upright, the sediment falls to the bottom of the bottle, away from the cork, preventing particles from getting stuck in the neck. This helps keep your sparkling wine clear when you pour a glass. The cork is still able to stay moist enough when the bottle is stored upright to seal the bottle properly.

In the end, either upright or sideways storage can work well for most champagnes. As long as the cork remains moist and the bottle well sealed, champagne can last for many years when properly cellared. To achieve the best results, we advise storing your champagne in a wine storage facility. The below section offers insights on why you should consider self storage solutions for your champagne collection.

Self Storage Solutions for Your Champagne Collection

As a champagne connoisseur, you know that proper storage is key to keeping your bubbly tasting its best. Self storage facilities are ideal for housing your prized champagne collection. They’re designed specifically for storing valuables like wine, with the right temperature and humidity controls to preserve taste and quality.

Temperature-Controlled Units

To ensure a refreshing drink always, you should place your champagne in cold storage. Self storage facilities offer climate-controlled units that maintain a consistently cool temperature ideal for champagne. Fluctuating temperatures can speed up the ageing process and dull your wine flavours. On the contrary, the controlled environment of a self storage unit ensures your bottles stay crisp and refreshing.

Optimal Humidity

In addition to temperature, humidity levels are important for champagne storage. As mentioned earlier, a champagne bottle’s cork can dry out if the environment is too arid, allowing air to seep in and bubbles to escape. Self storage facilities carefully monitor humidity to keep levels at 80%, which is perfect for keeping champagne corks supple and sealed. This protects against oxidation and preserves the signature fizz of your bubbly, preventing it from becoming a flat champagne.

Security and Accessibility

Self storage also provides a secure place for your valuable champagne collection. Facilities typically have features like 24-hour monitoring, individually alarmed units, and security gates to restrict access. At the same time, as a customer, you have easy access to your unit whenever you want to select a special bottle for an occasion. Storefriendly goes the extra mile to offer guidance on affordable storage insurance, ensuring your prized collections are safe — book a unit online today.

For any champagne lover, self storage takes the guesswork out of proper storage. The climate-controlled, secure environment guarantees your collection remains in peak condition for years to come. You can rest assured your prized bottles of bubbly will be well-protected and ready to pop open whenever celebrations call for a toast! Request a quote today to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should champagne be stored flat or upright?

Champagne storage is quite flexible; it can be kept either flat or upright. Thanks to the internal pressure in the bottle, the cork remains moist and the seal secure. What this means is that regardless of the bottle’s orientation, your sparkling wines will retain their goodness, provided you store them in the right conditions.

How long can you keep an unopened bottle of champagne?

An unopened bottle of non-vintage champagne can be stored for 3–4 years, while vintage champagne is good for 5–10 years. With long-term storage, champagne will evolve, taking on a deeper golden hue and gradually losing some of its bubbles.

Should you keep champagne in the fridge?

For short-term storage of about 3–4 days, keeping an open bottle of champagne in the fridge at 8–10 ºC is fine. However, storing it in the fridge for longer can cause the cork to dry out and potentially spoil the wine. If you plan to store it for up to a month, it’s best to keep leftover champagne at room temperature, away from light.

Conclusion

You now know how to store champagne in a way that keeps your bubbly as refreshing as the day you bought it. With the right storage conditions, you’ll be popping bottles of perfectly aged champagne for every celebration to come. Remember, keep it cool, keep it dark, and keep it away from UV light. And if you don’t have access to a cellar with the ideal conditions or simply have a large champagne collection, consider a self storage solution — contact us now to rent a space!