How to Save Leftover Champagne from Going Flat (6 Tips and Tricks)

You may often be left with an opened bottle or two of Champagne after your soiree. 

But you don’t want to let it lose its exotic flavors and fizz. A bubbly without those bubbles would taste pretty bland! 

How can you prolong the life of leftover Champagne for a few more days and keep it as enjoyable as when you first opened it?

Quick answer: You just have to slow down the release of the trapped carbon dioxide that gives sparkling wines their pleasant fizz.

In this article, you’ll find six tips on how to save Champagne after opening along with some smart ideas on how to properly store an unopened bottle of Champagne.

6 Smart Tips to Save Leftover Champagne from Going Flat

Here’s our list of top tricks to keep a bottle of Champagne fresh and fizzy after opening.

1. Use Reusable Cork or Champagne Sealer

The first thing you should do to prevent the CO2 bubbles from escaping the sparkling wine bottle is to reseal it as soon as you’re done serving it.

(Remember, the fizz in your sparkling wine is a result of the trapped carbon dioxide bubbles.)

However, the original champagne cork may not effectively reseal the bottle as it could be damaged. 

Instead, you should use a reusable cork or Champagne stopper to keep leftover Champagne fresh and bubbly for days. 

An effective Champagne stopper creates an airtight seal that locks the pressure inside the bottle and stops the outside air from entering.

2. Keep it Cold

You can save leftover sparkling wine from going flat by keeping it chilled. 

How does it help?

A colder temperature slows down the release of the CO2 bubbles.

You can either put your opened Champagne bottles in the fridge or an ice bucket between servings.

2. The Spoon Hack

Champagne lovers swear by this simple yet highly effective trick to keep their bubbly from going flat after uncorking.

The trick — just stick a metal spoon or fork in the neck of the Champagne bottle and keep it in the fridge.

Yes, it's that simple!

The refrigerated metal spoon keeps the bottleneck cold, creating an air plug that prevents the release of the bubbles.

Fun fact: There could be as many as one million bubbles in a standard Champagne glass.

3. Cover it With Plastic Wrap or Aluminium Foil

Sparkling wine, or any wine for that matter, will lose its freshness when subjected to temperature fluctuations. Changes in the wine storage temperature can quickly oxidize the wine, leading to flat champagne much sooner.

To prevent this, you can wrap the opened bottle of Champagne with aluminum or plastic foil. It helps insulate the bottle and maintain a constant temperature. 

Alternatively, you could just cover the bottle’s neck with aluminum foil to create a cold air plug, similar to the spoon hack.

5. Prep a Tasty Dish or a Cocktail with it

Sparkling wine is an excellent choice to make some refreshing cocktails and even some desserts.

So, instead of letting your wine bottle sit for days between servings (and going flat), you could check out some great Champagne recipes to transform the leftover juice.

6. Go for Better-Quality Champagne

Consider investing in good champagne if you intend to enjoy it over a few days.

Besides tasting better, high-quality sparkling wines usually keep their fizz for longer than budget-friendly ones. 

How to Store Unopened Champagne Bottles?

Here are a few tips for storing an unopened Champagne bottle so that it retains its flavors and bubbles till it’s ready to be served.

• Always ensure that you store Champagne bottles horizontally in a wine rack, wine cellar, or a cabinet. This prevents the cork from shrinking and letting outside air get in.

• Store your bottles at an optimal temperature of around 10-15 ℃. You can use a wine fridge or wine cooler to maintain the temperature.

• Avoid freezing your Champagne bottles right before serving. It’ll cause the wine to expand and release those tiny bubbles faster. Instead you can chill the bottle in the refrigerator.

• Keep the wire cage on to prevent the wine bottle cork from getting loose. 

• Consider investing in vintage Champagne, which usually has a higher shelf life than non vintage Champagne.

Save Them Bubbles!

Sparkling wines such as Champagne, Cava, or Prosecco can quickly lose their taste and fizz after opening. 

But with these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to enjoy your cherished bubbly for a few more days.

If you’re looking to add a fine Champagne bottle to your collection, check out the Vinovest website. Explore how you can easily buy, store, and sell authentic wines from all over the world.