The Best Ways to Store and Serve Champagne this Festive Season
We all enjoy a festive glass or three of our favourite Champagne at this time of year, and it's always nice to have one chilled in the fridge ready to drink when bubbly o’clock arrives.
Well, as it turns out, we shouldn't be keeping Champagne in the fridge for prolonged periods of time. It's OK to keep it in there if you intend to drink it in the next few days but not longer than that.
During a recent Louis Roederer Champagne taste testing, Grand Cru Wine Fridges Matthew Gerard learnt an interesting fact about keeping your bubbly in the fridge for too long.
“If you’re planning to enjoy your bottle of Champagne within 3 to 4 days of the purchase, it is fine to store the bottle in the refrigerator,” Gerard said. But only keep it in the fridge for a few days, or else the bubbly will begin to change.
“If it sits in the fridge for weeks, the cork can dry out due to low humidity,” he said. “As corks dry out, the seal between the bottle and the cork loosens up and the Champagne will oxidize faster, changing its aromas and structure.”
Instead, try storing all types of sparkling wine (whether it’s Champagne, prosecco, cava, etc.) in a cool place, ideally around 10°C to 12°C, on its side, away from light and most importantly, with a consistent temperature until you are ready to drink it. That could mean a cellar or ideally a good quality wine fridge, if you have enough space and budget.
When it comes time to pop that bubbly, Gerard also gained a few pointers on the best way to chill it and at what temperature to best enjoy it.
The best way to chill your bottle is to fill an ice bucket with ice and one-third water, allowing the bottle to cool for 15 to 20 minutes, ideally to a serving temperature of around 6°C to 10°C he said. “When serving, you should only fill your glass about one-third of the way and hold your glass by the stem, otherwise the Champagne can warm too quickly.”
Now you are ready to celebrate summer with friends and enjoy your perfect glass of bubbles just as the Champagne House intended.
At the Grand Cru Wine Fridges Shop, we are the wine fridge experts and can provide you with state of the art wine fridges to store your Champagne at the perfect cellaring and serving temperature all year round.
In addition, we can now offer you a selected range of premium wine accessories, Coravin Wine Systems, premium glassware including Champagne glasses, and lots more. Visit our shop to discover our new collections and our Australia wide delivery options.