Quick Answer: Champagne.fr says a bottle is aged at least 15 months before sale and can keep several more years if stored cool, dark and steady, but it gives no fixed number. Opened, it will not keep for long. Kendall-Jackson gives sparkling wine and champagne 1 to 3 days, and Bonterra says traditional-method sparkling can hold its character 2 to 4 days with a proper stopper. A spoon in the neck does not work.
How long does champagne keep? Champagne is sold ready to drink, so the question is less "when does it expire" than "what happens if I keep it, and what if I open it and do not finish". This post takes the sealed bottle first and the opened bottle second, using the champagne trade body and two wineries. For other sparkling styles and still wine, see the general guide to how long wine lasts after opening. Sealed wine of every kind is in the unopened wine post.
Does unopened champagne go bad?
No source gives a date. Champagne.fr says a bottle has already spent at least 15 months in the maker's cellar when you buy it, and that it can keep several more years if you follow a few rules. It gives no number of years. The table pulls together what the champagne site, Kendall-Jackson and Bonterra say, all read in September 2026.
| Situation | Guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bought, unopened | Ready to drink; can keep several more years if stored well; no number given | Champagne.fr |
| Storage | Constant 10 to 15°C (50 to 59°F), humidity 60 to 80%, away from light, vibration and odors, well ventilated; upright or on its side | Champagne.fr |
| Serving temperature | About 8 to 10°C (46 to 50°F); an ice bucket for 20 to 30 minutes, or the bottom of the fridge for a few hours | Champagne.fr |
| Opened, resealed | Will not keep for long; no number given | Champagne.fr |
| Opened, sparkling wine and champagne | 1 to 3 days | Kendall-Jackson |
| Opened, traditional-method sparkling, proper stopper | 2 to 4 days | Bonterra |
How long does unopened champagne last in the fridge?
No source gives a champagne-specific figure. Kendall-Jackson's storage guide says the fridge, at around 40°F (about 4°C), is not ideal for most wines unless you will serve them within a few weeks. It says a very cold fridge kept for too long can make natural cork contract. Champagne.fr only uses the fridge to chill a bottle for a few hours before opening. A cool, dark place is the long-term choice.
How long does opened champagne keep its fizz?
About 1 to 4 days, depending on the source. Kendall-Jackson's guide to open wine gives 1 to 3 days for sparkling wine and says traditional-method wines, whose bubbles are made in the bottle, hold their fizz longer than tank-fermented ones. Bonterra says traditional-method sparkling can keep its character for 2 to 4 days with proper stoppers, and that prosecco and other tank-method wines are best within 24 hours. Bonterra's own summary gives 1 to 4 days for sparkling wine in general.
What do you use to reseal it?
A stopper made for sparkling wine, and a cool place. Champagne.fr says to seal an unfinished bottle with a stopper cap designed for sparkling wines, and that putting a spoon in the neck does not work. Kendall-Jackson recommends a stopper with arms that close around the neck, and says not to use a regular cork or wine stopper, which could be pushed out by the pressure and cause injury. It also says not to use a vacuum pump on sparkling wine, because it pulls out the bubbles. Kendall-Jackson's test of wine preservers says a sparkling stopper helps keep the bubbles from fading completely for a day or two. The bottle sealers guide compares the other closures.
Esatto does not sell sparkling wine stoppers. Its pourers are for bar bottles, listed in the Pour & Seal collection and Other Esatto Pourers.
Is flat champagne still worth drinking?
Often, yes. Kendall-Jackson says a sparkling wine can still be pleasant after the bubbles have gone, and suggests a white wine glass rather than a flute. What ends it is turning. Kendall-Jackson's checks for any open wine are a darker yellow or gold color and a smell like vinegar. Take one small sip before you pour a glass.
Frequently asked questions
How long does champagne last unopened?
Champagne.fr says a bottle can keep several more years after you buy it if stored well, and gives no number. It sets the storage rules as a constant 10 to 15°C, high humidity, and protection from light, vibration and odors.
Does champagne go bad?
Opened, yes: it loses its bubbles first and can then turn, and a vinegar smell or a darker color is the sign. Unopened, no source gives a date. Storage matters, and Kendall-Jackson says heat does even more damage than cold.
How long does unopened champagne last in the fridge?
No source gives a champagne-specific figure. Kendall-Jackson says the fridge suits wine you will serve within a few weeks, and warns that long, very cold storage can make a natural cork contract. Champagne.fr chills it for hours, not weeks.
How long does champagne last after opening?
Kendall-Jackson says 1 to 3 days for sparkling wine. Bonterra says 2 to 4 days for traditional-method sparkling with a proper stopper, and within 24 hours for prosecco. Champagne.fr says only that it will not keep for long.
Can you drink champagne that has gone flat?
Kendall-Jackson says sparkling wine can still be pleasant when the bubbles have escaped, and suggests a wine glass. If it smells like vinegar or has gone dark yellow or gold, it has turned. Check with a small sip.
Can you use a wine pump on champagne?
No. Kendall-Jackson says a vacuum pump extracts the bubbles you are trying to keep. Use a stopper made for sparkling wine, with arms that close around the neck, and keep the bottle cool.
Does a spoon in the neck keep champagne fizzy?
No. Champagne.fr says the spoon idea is not true. It recommends a stopper cap designed for sparkling wine and a cool place for the bottle.