If you’re the sort of person who keeps a fancy bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge in case of a special occasion, you could actually be impairing the taste of your fizz, according to one Moet & Chandon expert.
Speaking to The Huffington Post, Moet & Chandon’s Marie-Christine Osselin revealed that while it’s OK to keep a bottle of champagne, prosecco or any sparkling wine in the fridge for a few days ahead of the main event, doing so in the long term could change its flavour.
‘If you’re planning to enjoy your bottle of champagne (or sparkling wine) within 3 to 4 days of the purchase, it is fine to store the bottle in the refrigerator,’ Osselin explained, before warning that ‘if [the bottle] sits in the fridge for weeks, the cork can dry out due to no humidity. As corks dry out, the seal between the bottle and the cork loosen up and the champagne will oxidise faster, changing its aromas.’ This will have a knock-on impact upon the taste.
Instead of placing the bottle in the fridge, Osselin recommends storing champagne in a cool, dark place with a consistent temperature. Looks like we’ll just have to invest in a wine cellar, then...
Once you're ready to start popping bottles, she recommends filling an ice bucket with ice and one-third with water, then leaving the champagne to chill for 15 to 20 minutes.
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