Whenever there’s something worth celebrating – a promotion, birthday, or milestone – popping open a bottle of champagne kicks off the celebration. Many would want to have a bottle ready just in case so the common query of the correct champagne storage temperature always pops up (no pun).
The ideal temperature for storing champagne is between 45°F to 50°F. Some experts recommend a broader storage temperature range of 45°F to 65°F. Anything lower or above this range will risk ruining the quality of the bubbly.
When storing champagne at home, temperature isn’t the only factor to keep in mind. There are other defining factors as well like humidity, lighting, bottle position, and the place of storage.
Champagne Storage Temperature
Champagne is an ever-present guest at parties, celebrations, and occasions. When one has something to celebrate like a milestone or special occasion, popping open a bottle of champagne is the best way to kick off the celebration.
If you’re one to celebrate with a good bottle of champagne every time something worth celebrating happens, consider storing champagne at home, so you always have one ready to be popped.
If you’re thinking of storing a couple of bottles at home just to be ready when you need one, then you should know how to properly store them at home so you don’t accidentally serve champagne that has gone bad. Growers and champagne houses put extreme efforts into producing a quality product, so you want to make sure you don’t ruin it by storing it incorrectly.
When storing champagne at home, one of the most important factors to take into consideration is the temperature.
The ideal temperature for storing champagne is between 45°F to 50°F (8°C to 10°C). Some experts broaden this temperature range to about 45°F to 65°F (8°C to 18°C).
But basically, letting the temperature reach above 70°F or drop below 45°F will ruin the champagne and degrade its quality and your overall tasting experience.
How to Store Champagne
As you know well by now, temperature isn’t the only factor you should consider in storing champagne bottles at home. Making an ideal storage environment for your champagne is the way to keep them and their delicate qualities until you pop them open.
Here’s all you need to know to properly store champagne at home:
- The ideal temperature to store champagne
Champagne should be stored at a temperature between 45°F to 65°F. Going below 45°F or above 70°F will only ruin the quality, taste, aroma, and effervescence of the champagne.
Never store a bottle of champagne in the freezer as well. This will dry out the cork and let oxygen into the bottle, ruining the taste and fizz.
Extreme temperature fluctuations are also a big no in storing champagnes. Keep it where the temperature remains constant.
- The ideal humidity to store champagne
Humidity levels are important when it comes to storing champagne, especially for long-term storage.
The ideal humidity level for storing champagne is between 60% to 85%. Anything lower than this will cause problems for the cork sealing the sparkling win instead. Anything above this level also poses a risk of ruining the overall quality of the champagne.
Keeping a hydrometer in your storage will help you keep track of the humidity levels.
A humidifier might also come in handy to prevent the dropping of humidity levels in the environment of the storage.
- The ideal lighting to store champagne
When storing champagne bottles, you must keep them away from direct sunlight and even strong artificial light such as bright fluorescent lighting. These UV rays can harm the bubbly inside the bottle and degrade its quality even before you pop it open.
A dark cellar would be a good option if you’re planning on storing your champagne long-term.
- The ideal bottle orientation and position to store champagne
There has been a long debate on whether champagne bottles should be stored vertically or horizontally. Both orientations and positions of the bottle can be correct for different reasons and time frames. Which one you should use would depend on how long you’re planning to store the bottle before opening it.
If you’re storing bottles long-term (more than a month): it’s important to store bottles horizontally on their side. This way, the liquid will be in constant touch with the cork, keeping the cork moist and preventing it from drying out. This is why wine rack designs for long term storage are almost always oriented for bottles to be stored horizontally.
For short-term storage (less than a month): You can store the bottle upright and in a vertical position. Less than a month wouldn’t be enough time for the cork to dry out. If you’re opening a vintage champagne, it can be a good idea to store the bottle upright for a short period before opening to help sediment to settle in the bottom of the bottle. Older wines especially, including vintage champagnes can sometimes have sediment, which you want to avoid ending up in your glass if possible.
- The ideal place to store champagne
The best place to store your champagne bottle is a cool and dark area. You want to avoid big swings in humidity and temperature, so aim for a constant temperature.
The kitchen and refrigerator aren’t ideal storage places for champagne.
If you don’t have a dedicated wine cellar or wine fridge, a dark and cool storage space that meets all the requirements might be your best bet.
You can store the bottle in the fridge if the purpose is to chill the liquid before serving, and leftover champagne can also be stored in the fridge for a few days (if using a champagne stopper to avoid ending up with flat champagne).
Conclusion
As the ultimate celebratory drink, many like to have champagne bottles in stock to be ready for any moment that’s worth celebrating. This means learning how to correctly store champagne or other sparkling wine to maintain its high-quality taste and bubbles.
The ideal temperature for storing champagne at home is 45°F to 50°F. Some experts like to offer a broader range of ideal storage temperatures and recommend keeping champagne bottles in the 45°F to 65°F temperature range.
Temperature isn’t the only defining factor in properly storing champagne. Don’t forget to consider other factors like humidity, lighting, bottle position, and place of storage.
