How to store Champagne, in short: keep unopened bottles somewhere dark, still and steady at about 50 to 59 F (10 to 15 C), away from heat and odors, and chill them only shortly before you open them. Position matters less than with still wine: bottles can stand or lie down. A kitchen fridge is fine for a week or two, not for months. Below are the source numbers, how long bottles keep, and which racks and wine fridges fit the wide Champagne bottle.
How to store Champagne: the conditions that matter
The Comite Champagne, the trade body for Champagne producers, sets out its storage advice on its preparing to drink Champagne page:
| Factor | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Constant, between 10 and 15 C (50 to 59 F), per the Comite Champagne. Dr. Vinny suggests 55 F. |
| Humidity | High and constant, 60 to 80 percent (Comite Champagne). Dr. Vinny suggests about 70 percent. |
| Light | Keep bottles in the dark. Dr. Vinny calls Champagne “extremely sensitive to light.” |
| Vibration and odors | Protect bottles from both, in a well ventilated spot (Comite Champagne). |
| Position | Upright or on the side (Comite Champagne). See the next section. |
Dr. Vinny’s figures come from his Wine Spectator answer “What’s the best way to store Champagne?” (2012). Without a cellar or cooler, he suggests a dark spot such as a closet corner.
Champagne storage temperature: why heat is a bigger risk for bubbly
Steady temperature matters for all wine, but sparkling wine adds pressure to the picture. Purdue Extension’s Wine Storage Guidelines (FS-58-W) notes that sparkling wine bottles already hold about 6 atm (90 psi) of pressure, that high temperatures make that pressure “rise dramatically,” and that bottles have burst after heat exposure. Purdue adds that temperature swings stress corks and can let air in. A hot garage or a cabinet beside the oven is a poor home for Champagne. For more numbers, see our wine storage temperature guide.
Should Champagne be stored on its side?
This is where the sources differ, so here is what each one says:
- Comite Champagne: “Bottles can be stored upright or on their sides.”
- Dr. Vinny, 2012: lying bottles down to keep corks damp “isn’t necessary for sparkling wines,” because the carbonation keeps humidity high inside the bottle.
- Dr. Vinny, 2018: in “Is it true Champagne shouldn’t be stored on its side?” he says he cannot confirm the CO2 humidity claim himself, stores corked wines on their side, and sees “no disadvantage” to doing the same with bubbly.
- The CIVC study: The Caterer (thecaterer.com, “The lay down on storage”, an archived trade article) reported that the Champagne trade body, then called the CIVC, tested 3,000 bottles over 22 months, lying flat or upright. The report says bottles lying down aged slightly faster because the wet cork lost elasticity, but the CIVC called the differences “minor” and visible only after a long time.
Our take: either position works, so choose whatever fits your space. For bottles kept for years, a cool, dark, steady spot matters more than the angle, and no source we read says side racking harms Champagne. Still wine is different; see should wine be stored on its side.
How long does Champagne last unopened?
Champagne does not go bad on a set date, but it changes. Dr. Vinny writes in “How long will an unopened bottle of Champagne stay good?” (Wine Spectator, 2019) that well aged sparkling wine turns darker, and that you will probably notice a change around the 10 year mark, with fewer bubbles. In a 2023 answer he says non-vintage sparklers are usually best within a few years of release, while vintage bottles kept in ideal conditions can last a long time in the cellar. Practical rule: drink non-vintage bottles within a few years, and save long storage for vintage Champagne.
Can you store Champagne in the fridge?
For a short time, yes. In “Can Champagne be stored in the refrigerator indefinitely?” Dr. Vinny says he keeps sparkling wine in his fridge “never for more than a week or two,” because a kitchen fridge runs around 35 F and is much drier than wine likes, which can shrink corks. In another answer, he thought a bottle left in the fridge for a year was probably fine, but called food fridges short term storage only.
A wine fridge is a different case. Dr. Vinny says a temperature and humidity controlled wine cooler gives Champagne a better chance to age well than a closet or a regular refrigerator. To serve, the Comite Champagne suggests 8 to 10 C (about 46 to 50 F): a few hours in the bottom of the fridge, or 20 to 30 minutes in an ice bucket half filled with water and ice.
Champagne rack options that fit the wider bottle
Champagne bottles are wider than most 750 ml still wine bottles: the Champagne style bottle in our wine bottle dimensions guide measures 3.53 inches across. VintageView’s own install guide for its standard W Series racks says they suit most 750 ml bottles and to “use W Series Magnum Rack for Champagne storage.” These VintageView racks are rated for Champagne by the maker:
| Rack | Champagne fit (per VintageView) | Capacity | Our price |
|---|---|---|---|
| W Series Mag Rack | All 750 ml Champagne bottles, most 1.5 L bottles | 9 single deep or 18 double deep, 45 in tall | From $120 |
| Evolution Wine Wall 45 2C | Standard, Champagne or Pinot Noir bottles in the same row | 18, 36 or 54 bottles of 750 ml | From $343 |
| Vino Pins 2 Magnum | Magnum or Champagne, two deep | 2 bottles | From $49 |
| Vino Pins Mag 1 | Magnum or Champagne | 1 bottle | From $21 |
Per VintageView’s install guides, Vino Pins go only two deep for Champagne (three for standard 750 ml), and a Mag Rack column for Champagne starts at least 2 3/4 inches from an adjacent wall. If you also keep 3 L to 6 L bottles, the W Series Big Bottle Rack (from $133) holds four of them. Our magnum wine rack guide covers spacing for large formats.
Where to buy, honestly: VintageView sells these racks at vintageview.com at the same starting prices. On a small order, buying direct is cheaper: its cart quoted $9 to $13.50 standard shipping on single racks in our test, while we charge a flat $200 on orders under $999. Above $999, our free freight shipping can come out ahead; VintageView quoted $121.50 shipping on a $1,215 order (our test, October 2026).
Wine fridges for Champagne
A wine fridge gives the steady, dark storage the sources ask for. Two Marvel options, both rated for indoor and outdoor use:
- Marvel 24 in Essential Wine Refrigerator MRWC224: up to 55 bottles, 34 to 61 F, six full extension wire racks. $1,699 with us; Marvel lists it at $1,869 on marvelrefrigeration.com.
- Marvel 24 in Essential Dual Zone MRWD224: up to 46 bottles, 37 to 50 F upper zone and 50 to 61 F lower zone: cellar temperature below, serving temperature above. $1,899 with us; Marvel lists $2,089 on its site.
One caution: Marvel’s pages do not say whether the wire racks fit Champagne bottles, so we would plan on fewer Champagne bottles than the rated count (our estimate). Measure your widest bottle or call us at 866-777-2590 (Mon to Fri, 9AM to 6PM PST). Both fridges ship free, since they are over $999. See our return and refund policy for terms. For more options, start at the wine rack and cellar storage guide.
Frequently asked questions
Should Champagne be stored on its side?
It can be, but it does not have to be. The Comite Champagne says either position works, and a trade study found only minor differences over a long time.
What is the best Champagne storage temperature?
A constant 10 to 15 C (50 to 59 F), per the Comite Champagne. Serve at about 8 to 10 C (46 to 50 F).
How long does Champagne last unopened?
Non-vintage is usually best within a few years of release. Good vintage bottles can go much longer in proper storage.
Can you store Champagne in the fridge?
A kitchen fridge, for a week or two. A wine fridge set to cellar temperature works for long storage.
