How to Recork Champagne

Co-authored by Murphy Perng

Last Updated: March 15, 2023

A glass of Champagne or other sparkling wine is a lovely treat to celebrate a special occasion or bring in a New Year, and it can also be perfectly paired with juice for a special brunch indulgence. But if you don't happen to finish the entire bottle within a few hours of opening it, it can be re-corked and preserved for another day. As long as the bottle has been properly recorked, an open bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine can last between three and five days. There are a few proper methods that can be used to recork Champagne properly, plus some in-a-pinch tips you can use to help prolong the leftovers if you don't have proper recorking tools.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Recorking Champagne

1
Try an old cork. When a Champagne cork is removed from the bottle, it mushrooms out and cannot be reinserted back into the bottle. Regular wine bottles and some bottles of hard alcohol come corked with straight corks that can be recycled in Champagne bottles to help preserve the leftovers.^{[1]
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- To recycle an old cork, insert the old wine or whiskey cork into the Champagne bottle in place of the original cork.
- Champagne bottles are specially designed to withstand the pressure inside the bottle created by the carbon dioxide. Never transfer leftover champagne to a regular wine bottle as a method of preserving it.^{[2]
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2
Use a special sealer or stopper. There are sealers and stoppers available that are made for preserving Champagne, and they are specially designed to fit into Champagne bottles. Some of these are vacuum sealers that remove excess air from the bottle, while others are specially designed stoppers that are able to withstand the pressure that will build up in the bottle.
- Only wine made using a special tradition in the Champagne region of France can be called Champagne. Sparkling wine from different regions may have bottles with different sized openings, so make sure you're using a Champagne-specific stopper.
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3
Use plastic wrap. Not everyone has old corks or special Champagne sealers lying around, a third option is to cover the opening with plastic wrap. Seal it tightly around the rim, and secure the plastic in place with an elastic band around the neck.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Chilling and Storing Leftover Champagne

1
Chill the Champagne on ice.If you plan to finish your bottle of Champagne over the course of a night, keep it chilled in a bucket full of ice to preserve the flavor. Champagne is ideally served between 44.6 and 57.2 F (7 to 14 C).
- Fill a wine or metal bucket halfway with a half-and-half ice and water mixture.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Murphy Perng
  Certified Wine Consultant
  Expert Interview. 15 March 2019.} Gently place the bottle into the bucket, and finish filling the bucket with more ice and water. Make sure to leave the top third of the bottle exposed.^{[4]
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2
Keep the Champagne refrigerated. It is best to drink the champagne within a few days after opening the bottle.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Murphy Perng
Certified Wine Consultant
Expert Interview. 15 March 2019.} Whether you plan on finishing the bottle immediately or not, keeping it cold is one of the most important factors to preserving its flavor and fizz.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Murphy Perng
Certified Wine Consultant
Expert Interview. 15 March 2019.} In fact, if you plan to consume your open bottle within 24 hours, you can simply refrigerate it, uncovered, for the duration.^{[7]
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3
Don't freeze Champagne. Not only can freezing the wine destroy its flavor, but a bottle can also explode if it's left too long.

Expert Q&A

Question

Why is it necessary to lay the wine bottles that have corks?

Murphy Perng
Certified Wine Consultant
Murphy Perng is a Wine Consultant and the Founder and Host of Matter of Wine, a business that produces educational wine events, including team-building experiences, networking events, and private parties. Based in Los Angeles, California, Murphy has served as a Wine Educator for clients such as Google, Buzzfeed, Tiktok, Snapchat, and Equinox and been featured on National Geographic and The Somm Journal. Murphy possesses her WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 Advanced Certification.

Murphy Perng

Certified Wine Consultant

Expert Answer

When you lay the bottles, the wine touches the corks. Corks are like sponges. They absorb the wine and expand. They block the neck and do not allow air to enter the bottle.
Question

Which is the worst place to store wine?

Murphy Perng
Certified Wine Consultant
Murphy Perng is a Wine Consultant and the Founder and Host of Matter of Wine, a business that produces educational wine events, including team-building experiences, networking events, and private parties. Based in Los Angeles, California, Murphy has served as a Wine Educator for clients such as Google, Buzzfeed, Tiktok, Snapchat, and Equinox and been featured on National Geographic and The Somm Journal. Murphy possesses her WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 Advanced Certification.

Murphy Perng

Certified Wine Consultant

Expert Answer

The kitchen or the kitchen cabinet is the worst place to store wine because the temperature changes all the time over there. Wine needs a consistent temperature to remain intact.
Question

How can I aerate a wine?

Murphy Perng
Certified Wine Consultant
Murphy Perng is a Wine Consultant and the Founder and Host of Matter of Wine, a business that produces educational wine events, including team-building experiences, networking events, and private parties. Based in Los Angeles, California, Murphy has served as a Wine Educator for clients such as Google, Buzzfeed, Tiktok, Snapchat, and Equinox and been featured on National Geographic and The Somm Journal. Murphy possesses her WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 Advanced Certification.

Murphy Perng

Certified Wine Consultant

Expert Answer

When you are drinking red wines, you should aerate them. Hold your bottle steadily and pour the wine into a decanter. The shape of the decanter is such that it attracts air. There is more surface area on the top of a decanter. Slowly the air will oxidize the wine, making it open up. You can leave it in the decanter for two hours before you drink it.