Wine & cellar advice

How long to keep a bottle of Champagne

Non-vintage and vintage

A non-vintage Champagne is intended for consumption between purchase and 2 to 3 years later, with no notable benefit from longer aging — the house style, based on consistency, does not significantly improve over time. A vintage Champagne, on the other hand, can be kept for 5 to 15 years depending on the structure of the wine and storage conditions, with certain prestige cuvées exceeding this range.

Signs of a bottle past its peak

Signs that a Champagne has passed its peak include a color turning to a pronounced amber (beyond a normal golden yellow), a gradual loss of effervescence regardless of the closure, and oxidative aromas (stewed apple, walnut) dominating the initial fruit.

Storage conditions

Storage at a stable temperature, around 12°C, away from light, and lying down or upright depending on the closure type, directly conditions this aging potential — a bottle stored upright in a kitchen will age faster than a bottle in a cellar.