How Long Can Champagne Last Once Opened?

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When celebrating a milestone, most people like to pop the champagne. But if you can’t finish everything in one go, exactly how long can champagne last once opened?

Once opened, a bottle of champagne can last for about three to five days more. Beyond that timeframe, the champagne will have lost its flavor, aroma, and fizz. Even within that time, it can already start going flat. While storing it properly can help keep the fizz in, it won’t last forever.

Champagne is better off consumed immediately after opening. But if you can’t, storing it properly might give you a few more days to enjoy it in its full flavor profile.

Understanding Champagne

Champagne is a favored drink during special events and occasions.

For anyone who enjoys serving champagne either for themselves or for friends and family, one common question is how long does champagne last?

Before we get to that in a while, let’s first understand champagne.

There are many types of champagne, two of which are vintage and non-vintage.

Vintage champagne

Vintage champagne is made from grapes harvested in a single year. It’s also bottle-aged for three years.

Generally, vintage champagne is considered to be of higher quality than non-vintage champagne, though you can still find good quality non-vintage champagne.

Vintage champagnes have a longer shelf life and you could be looking at anywhere from five to ten years if the bottle is left unopened and stored properly.

You can tell if you have vintage champagne by looking at the bottle. If the label lists a year, this indicates the year the grapes used were grown and harvested and would mean that the bottle is vintage champagne.

If it doesn’t, you most likely have a non-vintage champagne.

Non-vintage champagne

Non-vintage champagne is made from grapes harvested over several years. It has to be bottle-aged for 18 months.

Though generally considered a lower quality than vintage champagne, you can still find good quality non-vintage champagne.

It has a shelf life of three to four years if left unopened.

How Long Can Champagne Last Once Opened?

Once opened, a bottle of champagne only has a shelf life of three to five days. Even if you store it inside the fridge with a champagne stopper, it won’t last forever.

After a few days, it will eventually lose the fizz, flavors, and aroma and will go flat.

This timeframe goes for both vintage and non-vintage champagne.

How to Store Leftover Champagne

  • Use a champagne stopper as soon as you’re done pouring. This will preserve as much fizz as possible. A regular wine cork can keep the champagne fresh for some time.
  • Keep opened bottles in the fridge. Ideally, it should be stored at a temperature of about 5°C to 10°C.
  • Do not attempt to store it in the freezer as this will remove all the fizz.
  • Store it in a cool and dark place without direct sunlight or any source of heat.
  • Store the bottle upright to prevent any leakage.

How Long Can Unopened Champagne Bottle Last?

Unopened champagne, on the other hand, can last for years.

Vintage champagne can last for five to ten years while non-vintage champagne can last three to four years if left unopened.

How to Store Unopened Champagne

  • Do not store an unopened bottle in the fridge. Only chill the bottle 30 to 45 minutes before serving it in an ice bucket.
  • Store it at a temperature of 7°C to 10°C.
  • Keep it away from direct sunlight and artificial light.
  • Avoid storing in places with fluctuating temperatures like the kitchen, garage, or shed.
  • Do not store it near appliances that constantly vibrate.
  • You can store champagne bottles you plan on consuming within a month upright. But bottles you’re planning to store for a while should be on its side to prevent the cork from drying out.

Does Champagne Get Better With Age?

This depends on the type of champagne you have.

Vintage champagne can get better with age because winemakers use grapes from a single year. This gives them better control over quality aging.

Generally, non-vintage champagne doesn’t age well due to the multi-year harvests used.

Does Champagne Go Bad?

Champagne doesn’t last forever and will eventually go bad.

You can tell an opened champagne has gone bad by a few telltale signs:

  • It tastes flat and has no more fizz.
  • There is a strange, often vinegary smell.
  • It’s started turning cloudy or brownish.
  • It tastes rather unpleasant and sour and has lost all its fruit notes.

Is it bad to drink spoiled champagne (and sparkling wine)?

While it isn’t entirely bad to drink a little of what you suspect is already spoiled champagne, you might still don’t want to do that. While it won’t hurt you, it might cause an upset stomach nonetheless.

Conclusion

Champagne is the perfect beverage for special occasions and celebrations. Anyone who enjoys a glass or two here and there might be wondering how long can champagne last once opened.

Generally, opened champagne bottles can have a remaining shelf life of about three to five days. Even if you store it in all the right ways or use an airtight champagne stopper, it won’t last forever. After a few days of storage, it will start losing its flavor, fizz, and aroma.

If you open a bottle of champagne, it’s still best to consume it right away. If you can’t, then storing it properly might give you more days to finish it.