How To Keep A Magnum Bottle Of Sparkling Wine From Going Flat, According To An Expert

So many of us enjoy a good bottle of bubbly — whether it's a prosecco or a sparkling rosé or a classic champagne — but there is one challenge with it: How to keep it from going flat if the bottle isn't finished in one sitting. While a standard-sized bottle of champagne, which is 750mL, might not be too hard to finish, especially with at least two people drinking, any bigger than that gets a bit more challenging. The next size up is a magnum, which is 1.5 liters — the size of two standard bottles. 

It's a perfect addition to parties and celebrations. But what's the best way to keep that size bottle from going flat during the festivities? To get to the bottom of this, Tasting Table spoke with Cody Pruitt, owner of the newly opened French bistro Libertine in the West Village of New York City (who curated the bistro's all-French wine list), and beverage director of wine bar Anfora. He playfully insisted that, above all, the best way to keep a magnum bottle from going flat "is to just drink the whole thing!" But when that's not possible, the wine expert noted that it comes down to what kind of stopper you use on the bottle.

If you're not going to be able to finish a magnum of sparkling wine, then you're going to need a really good wine stopper in order to keep it from going flat. Cody Pruitt told Tasting Table that he recommends stoppers from Coravin because they provide a crucial element to maintaining those bubbles. "They essentially refill and top up the bottle with CO2," Pruitt said, "so the bubble consistency might change a bit, but not in a noticeable or negative way."

The speciality stoppers will make all the difference when it comes to how long the bottle will last. Even the most expensive wine doesn't have the ability to keep those bubbles on its own.  "A well-made champagne magnum can last a couple of days, but unless you're using a CO2 replacement system such as the Coravin, the bubbles will decrease," Pruitt explained. He also noted that a decrease in bubbles will affect the taste, which could be a positive for the sparkling wine drinker, as "it's always fun to taste the magnum throughout its 'evolution.'"

Keep in mind — in a pinch, there are cheaper options for champagne stoppers that can be bought on Amazon. And while they will help additional bubbles from escaping your bubbly, they won't replenish CO2 in the bottle like a Coravin will, so the difference in your next pour will be much more noticeable.

Now that we know everything we need to know about keeping a magnum bottle of sparkling wine as fresh as possible, it's time to think about what foods to pair that bubbly with while enjoying it. According to Pruitt, these drinks can be paired with just about anything — but he does have his favorites.

Pruitt told Tasting Table, "The pairings of bubbles and caviar or oysters are classics for a very good reason, but the brioche notes of quality bubbly can also work wonders with fattier, richer dishes and proteins such as duck breast or even steak." Beyond that, a less "fancy" dish is a preference of Pruitt's, with "bubbles and pizza" being an all-time favorite.

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to choosing a magnum of sparkling wine to enjoy (too bad we can't get our hands on one of the two newly released Zeus bottles from Luc Belaire France, said to be the largest bottles of champagne in the world). However, if you're looking for some suggestions, Pruitt has you covered. He noted that, personally, he has a preference for natural wine and smaller products (so he likely won't be buying that Zeus bottle anytime soon). Pruitt listed Suenen, Vouette & Sorbée, and Georges Laval for his champagne choices and Jean-Pierre Robinot's Fêtembulles or Patrick Bouju's Festejar Blanc or Rosé for naturally sparkling options, known as pét nats.