Sparkling Wine Storage & Aging

Storing Sparkling Wine

All wine is best stored in a cool, dark place. It’s important to avoid direct sunlight and keep the bottles away from vibrations from appliances like a washing machine. If you have a wine fridge, awesome! If not, a cool, dry basement or closet can work great too. Remember, Champagne is stored in underground caves for decades in France! Aim for a storage temperature of around 50° to 55°F if possible.

If you’re planning on enjoying your bubbly in the next couple of years, it’s recommended that you store the bottles upright as opposed to on their side to prevent the cork from getting too moist. If you’re storing a special bottle that you plan to enjoy years down the road, store it on its side. Whether upright or horizontal, once you’ve got your bottle in place try to leave it be and move it as little as possible until you’re ready to enjoy it.

If you’ve got an open bottle on hand that you’re not going to finish, a closure or Coravin Preservation System as noted in the Accessories section above can be useful. If you’re at home, a piece of cling wrap around the neck of the bottle can do the trick. Just store it upright in your fridge and enjoy it within 2-3 days.

Aging Sparkling Wine

Whether a sparkling wine is suitable for aging depends on the style of wine. In general, wines made in the Champagne Method are better suited to aging than wines made in the tank method. The contact with the lees and very high acid of Champagne and similar style wines means they can last for years and years. Prosecco and Spumante wines are intended to be drunk young, fresh, and fruity so don't hold those back.

Sparkling wine recommendations