Upright or flat, what’s best?

It’s a hotly contested subject. SA’s “Mr Bubbles”, Pieter Ferreira of Graham Beck, says bubbly can be stored upright – the pressure of the gas in the bottle provides enough humidity to keep the cork moist. But others insist that if you’re storing your bubbly for an extended period, it should be stored horizontally.

Pro tip: if you’re storing your bottle lying down, first hold it horizontally, then slowly dip its neck to 45 degrees before raising it. This nudges the air bubble inside towards the middle of the bottle and may help prevent the cork from drying out. As a general rule, non-vintage bubbly can be kept for around three years from the day you buy it, while vintage bubbly lasts for between five and ten years if it's stored in carefully controlled conditions. (Magnums are best for long-term ageing.)

foil

The covers the neck of the bottle and is there to protect the cork.