The Office of Champagne, USA is now the Champagne Bureau. Along with our name change, we will be unveiling a new logo and Web site in the very near future. Check back often to learn more about this and other exciting developments. For daily updates, follow ChampagneBureau on Twitter!

200 year-old bottle of Champagne found at sea– still drinkable!

How to make your bottle last

Divers in the Baltic Sea found what may be the oldest bottle of drinkable Champagne in a shipwreck.  Diving Instructor Christian Ekstrom discovered the bottle, which is believed to be from the 1780s.  He retrieved one bottle from a depth of 200 feet and opened it on his way back to shore, saying it was still bubbly and sweet.

In light of this tale, the Champagne Bureau is offering tips to help ensure your bubbly also withstands the test of time.

Aging – Although Champagne has already reached maturity by the time it is released, you can successfully store it for years in your own home. Make sure that your bottles are kept in a cool, dark place (like a shipwreck!).

Chilling– We recommend keeping the bottle cool, ideally between 45-50 degrees. When the occasion you are saving it for comes along, make sure to serve the Champagne well-chilled. A Champagne bottle usually reaches its ideal temperature after twenty minutes in a bucket filled with ice and water.

Opening– Start by cutting the foil and undoing the wire cage, with the bottle pointed away from your face. Always hold the cork in one hand and then gently twist the bottle with the other. You will feel the cork easing out.

The right time to drink Champagne – It’s always the right time to enjoy Champagne.

Champagne is the only wine that is the true symbol of celebration.  Real Champagne only comes from Champagne, France!