Marco
Barrel Filler
Posts:1041
 | | 12/01/2004 3:55 AM |
| So I break down and I buy 2 bottles of 1996 Dom. As most of you know, they come in these fancy, sealed boxes.
Do you remove the champagne from the boxes for storage purposes or do you prefer to store with the box?
I am not planning to give these away (heck, no!) so I don't really have much use for the boxes unless????
I have a Vinotemp 600 storage unit with three rows of champagne/magnum storage. The boxes would have to be stored at the very top. What do you suggest, what do you usually do? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2098
| | 12/01/2004 4:20 AM |
| | I would take the bottles out of the boxes so that I can keep an eye on the corks and the bottles. Not likely anything will happen to them, but ya never know. Keep the boxes around for decor. | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 12/01/2004 4:48 AM |
| | I leave them unopened in my cellar. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 12/01/2004 4:54 AM |
| | Keep the Champagne in the coolest part of your cellar. If this requires you to remove the bottles from the box then do so. If you can leave the Champagne in the box then I would do so. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 12/01/2004 7:18 AM |
| | Champagne should be stored upright. if you care, the short version is that alcohol attacks the elasticity in corks (bad), but the pressure increases the moisture in the air pocket, preserving the moisture in the cork (good). Remember PV=nRT. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 12/01/2004 7:42 AM |
| | That's interesting Bob. According toTerry Theise Champagne should be stored on its side just like regular still wine. However this might be why when older Champagne is opened the cork does not expend like on newer bottles. I think one of the main problems for many folks is that upright storeage is not available in lots of storage cabinets. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 12/01/2004 2:01 PM |
| | When you say "upright storage" to you mean standing up, punt side down, cork up? Or do you me cork side down, punt side up, like in a Champagne racking system? | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2098
| | 12/01/2004 2:39 PM |
| Riddling racks are used to keep the yeast in the neck. I forget the reason. Something with the bubbles. I don't think you need to store champers cork side down.
This is an interesting question for me now. What do the experts say about upright vs. side storage?  | | | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Thief
Posts:2849
| | 12/01/2004 2:40 PM |
| | I too am interested in getting a definitive answer on the "stand-up" vs "on its side" issue. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 12/01/2004 2:56 PM |
| | The local retailer where I buy a lot of my "Frenchies" stores a lot of his Champagne in his temp/humidty controlled warehouse in Riddling racks. Just curious if this would be preferred or not. | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Dick W.
Barrel Filler
Posts:1081
| | 12/01/2004 3:10 PM |
| a quick review shows differing advice, from two champagne houses no less. soutiran advises storing horizontally, of course recommending between 12-14 degrees with 75% humidity, obviously perfect cellar conditions. veuve clicquot ponsardin says on their site that champagne is the only wine that can be stored standing up with no loss of quality provided that ideal storage conditions are maintained. both stress that light, movement, and temp fluctuations are the enemy of proper storage.
so, i say have the perfect cellar, then we won't have to worry about it. they cautioned against storing in the fridge, as champagne can be permeated by the smells of the food in the fridge and the vibration of the motor going on and off is not good. long term of course, short term, say a week or so won't hurt as you prepare to serve it. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 12/01/2004 4:42 PM |
| | here is anotherarticle defending upright storage. I think I have spoken with most of the local sparkling wine producers on this topic and the consensus is for upright. | | | |
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Marco
Barrel Filler
Posts:1041
| | 12/01/2004 6:33 PM |
| Thank you for all the replies. Tons of knowledge on this site.
I have decided to store these bottles upright in the box. | | | |
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Dick W.
Barrel Filler
Posts:1081
| | 12/01/2004 7:22 PM |
| rumpel:
i think you'll be just fine upright, the biggest key is avoidance of light, and constancy of temperature. if your cellar has those, you're on your way to perfect storage conditions. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1475
| | 12/02/2004 4:04 AM |
| Quote:
Keep the Champagne in the coolest part of your cellar. If this requires you to remove the bottles from the box then do so. If you can leave the Champagne in the box then I would do so.
Why the coolest part of the cellar, skwid? | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 12/02/2004 4:12 AM |
| | Keeping Champagne in the coolest part of the cellar slows the aging process and keeps thing going slowly which IMHO is what you would like. | | | |
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winebrat
Sacramento, Ca.
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2326
| | 12/02/2004 4:43 AM |
| | Champagne and Madeira should always be stored upright. | |
"Everyday is worthy of a glass of sparkling wine" - Andrea Immer MS | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 12/02/2004 1:45 PM |
| Alright already! I'll go home tonight and stand up all of my Champagne bottles. I think I have enough clearance in the bulk storage section to stand them up. | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 12/02/2004 2:34 PM |
| | If you only have those small stand alone storage units, is it bad to store them on their side, then? | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Thief
Posts:2849
| | 12/02/2004 3:09 PM |
| | I don't think that storing them on the sides is "bad". Just not optimal. | | | |
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