How to Store Champagne in the Heat
The queen of sparkling wines, champagne, enjoys an enduring popularity as everybody's favorite beverage for special events. Although the majority of champagnes do not benefit from aging, champagne should still be carefully stored so that it will taste its best. Like most wines, champagnes should be stored in a cool, humid environment that is protected from light. The temperature of this area should be between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The U.S. Champagne Bureau recommends serving champagne at 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an ice bucket to help your champagne achieve this temperature. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Champagne
- Cool, humid area, such as a basement
- Controlled-temperature wine cabinet
- Wine rack
- Refrigerator
- Ice bucket
- Ice
Instructions
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Immediately after purchase, place your champagne in a cool, humid area. Use your basement if it has a consistently cool temperature; use a controlled-temperature wine cabinet if not. Make sure that your champagne will not be exposed to heat, light or vibrations.
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Angle your wine rack so that the bottles sit on a slight incline. Store the champagne on its side on the rack. Position the champagne so that its cork remains partially submerged in the champagne. This will ensure that the cork does not dry out, allowing excess air to seep into the champagne and spoil it.
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Decide when you would like to drink your champagne. Consult the vintner's website to see how long you can wait before your champagne will deteriorate. The general rule of thumb is that most champagnes should be drunk within two years of their production.
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Place the champagne in the refrigerator at least three hours before you intend to consume it.
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Fill an ice bucket with ice. Place the champagne bottle in it, packing the ice around the bottle so that it is buried up to its neck. Take the champagne with confidence to even the hottest environments, as the ice bucket should ensure that your champagne stays at its ideal drinking temperature.
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Tips & Warnings
Every champagne has a flavor designation, which can be confusing. "Brut" champagnes have a dry flavor; "extra sec" champagnes have a slightly sweeter flavor; "sec" champagnes have a somewhat sweet flavor; "semi-sec" champagnes have a sweet flavor; and "doux" champagnes have a very sweet flavor.
Non-vintage champagnes come from different grape types that have been grown in various areas, while vintage champagnes come from a single grape type and area. While non-vintage champagnes cost less than vintage champagnes, vintage champagnes offer a more delicious, delicate taste.
Serve champagne in chilled flutes, as this allows it to breathe, revealing its subtle, effervescent flavor.
You can use champagne to construct a number of interesting cocktails, including bellinis and mimosas.
Once a bottle of champagne is opened, you should drink all of it within a few hours, as leftover champagne rarely tastes good.
References
Resources
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