Here's How Long You Can Expect Unopened Champagne To Last

The reason behind drinking Champagne on New Year's Eve is tied to improved quality of the wine in the 19th century, leading to its popularity at ritzy society restaurants. It's appropriate, therefore, that we toast to Auld Lang Syne ("old time's sake") at the stroke of midnight. You may not know, however, that the passage of time isn't necessarily kind to your precious bottles of bubbly! Given that Champagne is aged, just like all wines, does it stand to reason that holding onto it for a long time will only improve the vintage? Actually ... no.

The aging that your Champagne needs to ripen and become delicious is all done before buying, at which point it's at peak condition for consumption. Holding onto an unopened bottle of Champagne for too long, which is to say, more than three or four years, is likely to cause degradation of the taste and quality of the fizz. There are some fancy, vintage Champagnes that can hold out for around a decade, but your common bubbly should be drunk without too much delay.

Keep in mind that, in order to make Champagne go the distance and hold onto it for a truly special occasion, you need to store it properly. Knowing the right temperature at which to store Champagne is critical, along with other variables you can control. Even so, however, don't try to turn your personal collection into an oenophile's hoard and maintain it for years. You will likely end up with a ruined bottle of what could have otherwise been a delicious quaff.

For ideal Champagne storage, you want to mimic the conditions of a wine cellar as closely as possible, and keep things dark, cool, and relatively humid. A temperature no higher than 57 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect, but, barring that, at least aim for room temperature. You really want to avoid your bottle being hit by too much light, which can cause bleaching of the Champagne. Be wary of storing your bubbly in the fridge for an extended time, as it tends to be pretty dry in a fridge and the lack of humidity can also interfere with taste. Keeping your bottle stored on its side is a best practice, because this prevents the cork from desiccating and becoming crumbly. There are those who argue that, in the long-term, the cork soaking in the wine can impact its flavor, but most experts still advocate for sideways storage.

Remember, however, that, when push comes to shove, you can only hold unopened Champagne for so long before it goes flat and sour. With that in mind, stop saving it for a rainy day! New Year's Eve happens predictably every year, and is a great time to open a special bottle and toast to a bright future. But here's a secret: You needn't save Champagne for milestones or holidays. Champagne is the perfect accompaniment to roast chicken, and can turn a mundane Sunday night dinner into an extraordinary meal.