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Champagne (which means sparkling wine) originates from a region of France called Champagne. This is where “real” champagne comes from. It is used for many occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other celebrations, and the one common question that has always come up is what is the proper way to store and age your champagne. Champagne is categorized by the level of sweetness, from brut (meaning no sugar at all), to doux (the sweetest level). In between are demi sec (which is half-dry), sec (dry), and extra sec.
Champagne is different from wine and the corks are different too. You may have been told for many years wine and champagne should be stored on its side to avoid the cork from drying out, but this actually causes the champagne to mature faster. Champagne corks are shaped different than wine corks and much pressure is used to get the corks into the bottles. Even though the corks stay wet if left on their sides, the cork loses elasticity which causes air to seep in and the champagne ages much faster. This does not happen with a dry cork, and it is recommended that when storing champagne, you should store in an upright position, allowing the gases to circulate properly and to allow your champagne to age properly.
Champagne should also be stored in a dark, cool place with no shock or movements similar to wine. The best temperature to store champagne at is below 59°, if the temperatures are warmer than this, this will also cause the champagne to mature more quickly. The other thing about chilling champagne is you only need to chill it for a few hours in a refrigerator, if you leave it in refrigeration for too long, this can destroy the taste and the value of your exquisite drink.
Remember, these are the general rules of thumb when it comes to storing champagne. Always use caution when opening bottles, remember the idea is to make the cork pop and not shoot across the room. Following these storage tips for storing champagne will help allow it to age properly.
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