Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Cork champagne again
• Part 2 of 2: Cooling and storing leftover Champagne

Drinking Champagne or another sparkling wine is a delightful way to ring in the New Year or celebrate any other special occasion. It also pairs perfectly with juice at brunch. If you do not completely empty the bottle within a few hours, there is the option to cork it again. This allows you to keep the bottle for a day longer. If you cork the bottle properly, an open bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine can be stored for another three to five days. There are a few good ways to properly recork Champagne. If you do not have the right attributes, we will give you some other useful tips.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Cork champagne again

1. Try an old cork. When a champagne cork pops out of the bottle, it cannot be put back into the bottle. Regular wine bottles, but also some spirits bottles, have straight corks. These corks can be used to put in a Champagne bottle that has a leftover left in it.
   • Use an old wine or whiskey cork for the Champagne bottle.
   • Champagne bottles are specially designed to withstand the pressure in the bottle caused by carbonation. Never pour the leftovers into a regular wine bottle.
2. Use a special Champagne cap or stopper. There are caps and stoppers that are specially designed for storing leftover Champagne. They therefore fit perfectly on the bottle. Some of these vacuum seal the bottle. They remove the excess air that is in the bottle. The so-called Champagne Stoppers are precisely designed to withstand the pressure that builds up in the bottle.
   • Only wine that is made according to a special tradition in the French region of Champagne can call itself Champagne. The bottle opening of sparkling wine from different regions may vary in size, so make sure to use a specific Champagne stopper.
3. Use plastic wrap. Since not everyone has old corks or special Champagne stoppers at home, there is a third option. Namely closing the opening by means of plastic foil. Seal it tightly around the edge with plastic, and tie it around the bottle neck with an elastic.

Part 2 of 2: Cooling and storing leftover Champagne

1. Cool the Champagne on ice. If you plan to drink the Champagne during the evening, keep the bottle in an ice-filled cooler. In this way, the Champagne retains its taste. The ideal temperature to serve Champagne is between 7 and 14 degrees Celsius.
   • Partially fill a wine cooler or metal bucket with ice and water. Carefully insert the bottle and then add more ice and water. Make sure that one third of the top half of the bottle is sticking out.
2. Keep the Champagne chilled. Whether you drink the Champagne right away or not, the most important thing is that the bottle is cooled. Only in this way does Champagne retain its taste and bubbles. In fact, if you finish the bottle within 24 hours, you can simply put it in the refrigerator without closing it.
3. Do not put the bottle in the freezer. If you put wine in the freezer, not only will it lose flavor, the bottle may explode if you leave it in for too long.