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Champagne Questions

Q	how long does champagne last unopened You don't say if the champagne is vintage or not, nor do you state the brand. So generally speaking champagne (vintage) can last a few years, but to be safe find a reason and drink it. Back to Topic Index
Q	Can I remove a bottle of unopened (uncorked) sparkling wine from the refrigerator and re-chill it later (say in a day or two)? Yes, but why would you do that. Also for the record. Do not chill champagne if you do not intend to drink it soon. If you want to chill any wine quickly, do the following. Fill wine bucket with equal amounts ice and water, leaving room for displacement of ice and water from a bottle. Place the bottle in the ice and every four minutes spin the bottle as it sits in the ice water. Your bottle will be chilled in less than 10 minutes. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of unopened Moet that has been stored in the refrigerator for about 4 years. Is it still good? It most likely is, but shame on you for having a bottle in the refrigerator for four years. My advice find a reason and drink it. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of California champagne charmat method sparkling wine: for a little over 5 years at room temperature and exposed to summer heat, is it bad or how can you tell if it's bad?? Please help! thanks... Wow, bad storage to say the least. The only way to know for sure if the wine is bad is to try it. Please have an extra bottle handy in case the wine has turned. Back to Topic Index
Q	I received a bottle of Cristal about 4 years ago and it's been refrigerated ever since, up-opened. Is it still good. No doubt it is still very good, but not as good as it would have been 3 years ago. Find a reason and drink it. Back to Topic Index
Q	I chilled a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut yesterday. We decided not to drink it; can I take it out of the refrigerator and save it at room temperature for another time? It is my experience and preference that once you chill wine you should keep it chilled. Wine does not like flucuations in temperature. Back to Topic Index
Q	do you store champagne upright or on it's side like wine Champagne like wine should be stored on its side to keep the cork moist. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of "Cuvee Rare" Champagne from Pindar with a Vintage date 1999, i've had for a little over 2 yrs, it hasn't been stored correctly -avg. temp. mid 60's to 70 degrees/with exposure to daylight (not direct sunlight)... Your thoughts on whether or not i let it sit too long to still be good? Congratulations on having such a nice bottle of wine. My opinion on wine aging is that you have to store it right from the beginning or else you risk being disappointed years later. I have wine that is stored for aging in a very dark place with a fairly optimal and consistent temperature. If you cannot say the same for your wine, I would drink it sooner rather than later. But please follow my general advice, which is to have a backup bottle just in case. And no I do not believe that you have stored it to long. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have an unopened bottle of 1993 cristal champagne. I purchased in year 2000. I store it in a typical winerack, is it still good/ at least not embarrassing to serve at this point. Where and at what temperature is the wine rack, is the question. Other than that, the year should still be drinking, but I wouldn't wait any longer. I would not be embarrassed to open any wine that has been aged. I find it to be a really fun experience to open an old bottle of wine with friends and see if it is past it's prime or really tasty. Back to Topic Index
Q	i have a bottle of champagne in my refrigerator that has been there unopened for over a year. is it still good? Wine, including sparkling wine such as Champagne is hardier than most people give it credit for and I have little doubt the champagne is still good. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of Moet Chandon which i received in 2003, is it ok to drink now? Moet Chandon 2003, can definitely be drunk now. Back to Topic Index
Q	how long open bottle moet in my kitchen cupboard With a champagne stopper, about 5 days and if stored in the fridge. Otherwise forget it, uncorked sparkling wine will go flat in a matter of hours. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have an unopened bottle of Dom Perignon that has been stored in the fridge for about 6 years. Is it most likely bad? Wine is a lot hardier than most people give it credit for, including wine professionals. I have little doubt that your bottle of Dom Perignon is quite drinkable, but the proof is in the pudding, so pick a date and corks off. Back to Topic Index
Q	how much is a bottle of Dom Perignon Rose champagne never been opened and sealed in the box worth? If it is the current vintage you could be in the rage of $250.00 to $300.00. Back to Topic Index
Q	How long does opened champagne last? If you have a champagne stopper, which locks into place on the bottle, I have had success with the wine lasting up to a week. This is a good average, but it will vary on the quality of the wine, meaning the higher the quality, the less deterioration in quality. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of Moet White Star champagne stored unopened in my dining room for almost 2 years? Is it still safe and good to use? I would say that it is probable drinkable but may have seen better days. Drink it now, but have an extra bottle just in case it went bad. Back to Topic Index
Q	I've had a bottle of moet in my refrigerator since May, 2004. Is it still good in September, 2006? We get so many questions regarding "is this bottle still good?". My best advice time and time again is try it BUT, have a backup bottle at the ready. To provide some contrary view point, I have found that wine is not always as fragile as people believe. I have had wine that I would have thought would be past it's time (think a 14 year old white) which were quite good. I have red wines days after opening that were very good, conversely I have has red wine that was horrible the next day. Proper storage of any wine will help prolong the life of the wine, and the only person who truly knows is the wine owner. So fear not your older bottles stored in the fridge or the wine rack, give the wine a shot or sip and you may be surprised that the wine is still quite good, assuming it was a good wine to begin with. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have leftover (unopened) bottles of sparkling wine from my wedding, not vintage/fancy sparkling wine. They were at room temp, then chilled, now back at room temp. Do you think these bottles are bad as a result? You say the sparkling wine is not vintage or fancy, which leads me to believe that the wine is a mid price bottle that is probable hardier than most wines. I doubt that the wine is undrinkable, I would give them a shot. Remember that sparkling wine and orange juice make great mimosas, and a non vintage, not fancy bottle is made for it. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of CA.Champagne extra dry Franzia. It is 23 yrs.old I got it when my son was born and he is getting married in Oct. We thought it would be neat to open at the rehearsal dinner..is it too old to even consider? You may have pushed the wine to its limit, especially since you do not refer to how it was stored. I would try the wine at the dinner, good or bad it will be a conversation piece. Back to Topic Index
Q	How long should I keep unopened bottles of champagne? MIt is a misconception that you have "age" wine after purchasing it. If you can buy a wine, you can drink it, because the winemaker will not "release" it until it is ready to consume. Back to Topic Index
Q	does champagne have sulfites in it All wines contain sulfites. They are a natural result of the fermentation process that turns grape juice into alcohol. Wine makers also add sulfites to wine to stabilize the wine so even wines that have not had any sulfites added during the wine making process will contain some amount of sulfites. Back to Topic Index
Q	i have a bottle of j.roget champagne sparkling wine that has been unopened at room temp for about 5 years is it safe to drink Sure it is, but don't wait and plan to drink it soon. Also have a backup bottle in case I am wrong. Back to Topic Index
Q	Does putting a metal spoon in the top of a champagne bottle keep it fizzy? No, the device you are referring to is meant to prevent dripping of the wine when you pour it. It doesn't not prevent the champagne from going flat, the only way to do that is to drink it. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a vintage 92 Schramsburg blanc de noir. Is it past its best days or should I go ahead and save it? The Schramsberg sparkling wine you are referring to can absolutely be drunk now. You could let it age longer, but I doubt that any extra aging will do that much good. Back to Topic Index
Q	whats the sign of a gone bad champagne? Champagne that has gone bad can taste musty or bitter in a bad way. Please bear in mind that perfectly good champagne may not taste right to you simple because you don't like the flavor. Back to Topic Index
Q	Is it ok to refrigerate champagne for 8 months to a year before opening? My first response is why would you? My answer is that it is not a good practice to follow and will help degrade the wine, to what extent and how noticeable it will be is based on the quality of the champagne the efficiency and temperature of the refrigerator, i.e., is it meant to store wine, and your taste buds. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have champagne that has been opened on new year's and unrefrigerated. Is it bad? Being that is it more than a day since you opened it, than yes it is bad. Back to Topic Index
Q	best way to store bottled champagne In a cool dark place, such as a basement or in the back of a closet. Put it in the refrigerator a day before you plan to drink it. Back to Topic Index
Q	i have a bottle of bollinger special cuvee, how do i tell its year and how soon should i drink it? If there is no year on the label then it is non vintage and can be drunk now or within the two to threw years. Back to Topic Index
Q	when should you drink champaign after putting it in the fridge Within a few days. Back to Topic Index
Q	how long can you store expensive champagne Vintage champagne can age from 5 to 15 years on average. Please note that vintage means there is a date year on the bottle and that it is made from 80% of grapes harvested in that year. They only make vintage champagne in good years so it is usually of higher quality. Don't you wish they did the same thing with still wine? Back to Topic Index
Q	Can I cook with open old champagne left in the fridge? You can try, but don't let it go for more than a day or two and try to recork it. I can this being frugal, but it is not my first choice. Back to Topic Index
Q	HOW LONG DO YOU REFRIGERATE DON PERIGNON BEFORE SERVING? A day to a few hours is sufficient. Please note it should be removed from the refrigerator a fifteen minutes to 1/2 hour before opening so that it is not served so cold that it stifles the taste. Back to Topic Index
Q	Is there a difference in champagne in regards to taste with cheaper bottles vs. more expensive champagne? First the champagne method of making champagne or sparkling wine can be more time consuming and expensive then a regular table wine, so simple taking into the method of making the wine can cause the wine to be more expensive and this is for better or worse. Now, price does not always guarantee a good bottle of wine or even that it will be better than a less expensive wine of the same variety. I have had $100.00 plus bottles of sparking wine and I have had $10.00 bottles. Both were good. The more expensive bottles had more nuisances to them then the less expensive ones. I typically won't spend more than $40.00 for a bottle of sparkling wine and I can usually find a very good one in the $20.00 price range. I myself cannot justify the double to triple price differential on the more expensive sparkling wines and usually stick to my budget and wineries I have had before. So to answer you question, yes there is a taste difference when it comes to price, but not one I could justify in spending big dollars for. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of Chateau Cartier Champagne that I received in 1973 it is still very clear but has some sediment in the bottle. Is it ok to drink? Wines have a tendency to drop sediment after aging and yours is no different. The white nature of the wine is allowing you to see this sediment more easily than if it was a red wine. If the wine was stored properly, you have a good chance that the wine is drinkable, but as I always say, have a backup bottle of another wine to play things safe. Back to Topic Index
Q	How long will an opened bottle of champagne last if put back in the wine refrig at 55 degrees? It might be good the next day, but I wouldn't count on it. As a general rule, you need to make a commit to finish a sparkling wine when you open one, since they do not store well once opened. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of Pieere Jouet (sp?) Champagne, 1995, unopened. Is it still good? Yes, it should still be fine if it has been stored properly. Back to Topic Index
Q	does champagne go bad Yes, all wine can go bad. Back to Topic Index
Q	how long will unopened champaign last? Since you did not mention the producer or the year, I will speak generally. If it is vintage, which simple means it has a year of the vintage on the label then it can age five or more years. If it is non vintage, try to consume within a year of purchase if not sooner. Back to Topic Index
Q	Recently bottles of Champagne by various producers, both vintage and nv, have sprayed all over the place upon opening. Temperature does not seem to be a problem. Suggestions? You are agitating the wine in some way. To avoid spraying, move the wine to a table 10 to 20 minutes before you plan on opening. Then when you are ready to open, remove the foil while the bottle is still resting on the table. With the bottle still resting on the table, remove the cage, then take a firm grip on the cork and then turn the bottle with your other hand. Try to minimize the cork making a popping noise, but keeping a tight grip. You have close to zero spraying if you follow these steps. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have a bottle of Andre Blush pink champagne dated 1995 that has been in a cupboard in my kitchen...is it still okay to open or should I just get rid of it? I would try it just for the fun of it, but I would have a backup bottle in the event the first bottle is not so good. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have put a bottle of Moet chandon in fridge and it has been in there for 2 days. Can I take it back out and drink in time to come? It is unopened. Temperature fluctuations help degrade wine, but a minor change from a refrigerator to basement temperature (55 degrees) should not impart any discernible changes to the wine. Although I want to note that this question comes on New Years day, and you are like many of us who have refrigerated champagne and sparkling wine to celebrate the new year, but you still have a bottle or two in the refrigerator. My advice is to keep the wine in the refrigerator and find a reason to drink it before the end of the month. Sparkling wine and French champagne are wines that I don't think we drink enough of as Americans. We seem to reserve the wine for special occasions, such as wedding and New Years, where it is such an enjoyable drink that I don't believe people should limit their consumptions to such few days of the year. Back to Topic Index
Q	Can you chill champagne and then let it go back to room temperature? Will it affect the quality? Temperature fluctuations help degrade wine, but a minor change from a refrigerator to basement temperature (55 degrees) should not impart any discernible changes to the wine. Back to Topic Index
Q	which is sweeter, brut or extra dry? Brut will be slightly sweeter, but they are both very similar in sweetness levels. For a quick guideline, brut has very little or no sweetness. Extra Dry is less dry. Sec is sweeter, and Demi-sec is the sweetest. Back to Topic Index
Q	How long can I keep un-opened champagne in the fridge? I would prefer to keep it for under a month, but up to six months most likely won't hurt the wine to the extent that you could taste a difference. Back to Topic Index
Q	We have several bottles of champagne for several years - veuve clicquot, moet & chandon, mumm brut prestige...can the bottles go bad. Thank you. Yes all wine, evenly sparkling wine can go bad if kept to long or stored improperly. If any of the wines are vintage then they will have a longer holding time than non vintage. In my experience long term aging of most sparkling wine makes only very subtle changes to the wine, and since all the bottles you referenced are fairly tastey on their own I wouldn't suggest long term aging, rather I would suggest finding a reason to open the bottles. Back to Topic Index
Q	Does Champagne go bad? All wine can go bad if stored improperly or kept beyond the holding time for the wine. Back to Topic Index
Q	how long can you keep champagne? First, be aware that the large majority of wine made today is meant to be drunk now not aged and that includes`sparkling wine such as champagne. With that said, depending on the sparkling wine, it may not age well such as an asti spumante or it could age ten years or more such as Dom Perignon. Not to be to broad in my answer but you need to be more specific with the wine. Back to Topic Index
Q	how long will a bottle of vintage moet&chandon last unopened. The year is 1998. I have found that aging anywhere from 3 to 15 years can work for most vintage champagne, including Moet & Chandon. Back to Topic Index
Q	If you have refrigerated sparkling wine for 24 hours, didn't open the bottle, should you put it back in the basement if you aren't going to drink it anytime soon? I would keep it in the fridge and then find a reason to drink it. Wine in general does not like to change temperature. Back to Topic Index
Q	does champagne go bad? All wine has the potential to go bad if stored improperly or kept to long. Proper storage consists of storage in a cool (55 degree) dark place, with little potential for vibrations. Basements are a good location or the back of a closet with an outside facing wall will also work Wine refrigerator are extremely energy inefficient and based on independent tests, most do not maintain the temperature consistently. Duration pertaining to how long you can keep the wine depends on the brand and the vintage. When in doubt email the winery for advice. Back to Topic Index
Q	How should dom be served? Chilled to about 60 degrees. (meaning keep in the refrigerator for two hours or more before drinking, and take out about ten minutes before drinking). Serve in fluted champagne glasses, which preserves the effervescence of the wine. Have friends on hand to toast with and enjoy the wine. And please do not wait for some unattainable special event to drink the wine. Take it out to dinner, have it on a birthday or open it on a Saturday night with someone special. The point is to enjoy the wine. Back to Topic Index
Q	how long approx.does unopened champagne keep Non vintage 2 to three years, vintage 5 to 15 years. Approximately. Back to Topic Index
Q	I have just purchased a bottle of Dom Perignon Vintage 1995 on the 3rd of December 2004, to be opened at my wedding on the 29th of December, 2004. Between now and the wedding date, how should I store the bottle? I live in Bombay, India, where the tempartures rarely get as low as the recommended 10-14 degrees for champagne storing, so what do I do? Please help! Keep the wine in the refrigerator, one month of storage in this manner will not hurt the wine. Back to Topic Index

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