Champagne is the ultimate party and celebration drink whether you’re at home or traveling. So, if you’re planning to carry Champagne bottles with you while you’re out on the road, there are certain things I want to share with you.
First of all, it is extremely necessary to store Champagne at the right temperature. It is because if the temperature is more than 80F, Champagne may have a change in flavor. Similarly, if it is direct exposure to sunlight, then also the taste can change drastically.
The best way to prevent all of this from happening is by keeping your Champagne cold while traveling. It will also make your overall Champagne experience a hit when you are on the road.
So, I have come up with some of the best on the road methods to keep champagne cold. Read on to find out!
Is There A Way To Keep Champagne Cold While Traveling?
Yes, despite what a lot of other people say, it is possible to keep Champagne cold while you are traveling.
The only problem is that these methods can work for a short amount of time. So, if you’re going to be traveling on the road for weeks, then you may have to take some extra measures to keep Champagne cold.
Moreover, there are certain methods that can also help in re-cooling the Champagne when you’re traveling instead of simply retaining the coldness.
Every method has a different level of effectiveness when it comes to keeping Champagne cold. I will be talking about all these amazing methods, along with their effectiveness.
5 Different Methods To Keep Champagne Cold While Traveling
Before I begin, bear in mind that for a few of these methods, you would require certain materials to keep the Champagne cold.
1. Using Toilet Paper Or Paper Towels
I highly recommend this method for its effectiveness, convenience, and affordability. So, if you don’t want to spend extravagantly on coolers, gel packs, etc. the toilet papers can do the job well.
Let’s see what you need to do with this method and how it works.
Steps To Follow:
- First, take toilet paper and soak it with cold water. In case you don’t have cold water, you can opt for room temperature as well.
- Then, wrap these papers around your Champagne bottle.
- You can further store them in a cool place in your vehicle. For instance, place these bottles in a box, then put them in your trunk.
How Does It Work?
The mechanism here is simple. When you perspire, your body releases the heat in the atmosphere. Similarly, when the Champagne bottles are wrapped with wet toilet papers, the heat is released. Hence, the Champagne becomes cold whereas the paper will become dry due to the heat released.
2. Using Gel Packs With Bottles
Using gel packs is yet another convenient option if you want to pack light or have storage issues in your vehicle.
Unlike ice, gel ice packs are reusable. So, you save up on that cost. Moreover, they also retain their temperature and state for much longer than ice. Hence, you can say that they can keep your Champagne cold for a longer duration than ice.
Let’s see what you need to do with this method and how it works.
Steps To Follow:
- Take a towel, along with some gel ice packs. Anything that can store Champagne works well.
- Place your Champagne bottle inside the towel. Then, add some gel ice packs beside the Champagne such that they’re covering the bottle.
- Store the towel in a cool area in your vehicle and away from sunlight.
How Does It Work?
Gel ice packs can work with almost any food or beverage item that you want to keep cool. Without going into detail, you can assume that the ice gel packs work by absorbing the heat from the surroundings. So, this way, they can absorb any heat around the Champagne bottles and keep them cool.
3. Using Ice Cooler
If you have enough space in your vehicle, then using an ice cooler is one of the best options to keep Champagne cold. This is also one of the most common methods for various Champagne and travel lovers out there.
So, let’s see how you can try out this method and keep your Champagne cold.
Steps To Follow:
- Find a good cooler with proper insulation. You can opt for high-end ones with excellent cooling properties.
- Fill this cooler with ice. I recommend choosing big blocks of ice instead of crushed ice. It is because ice blocks can last half a day longer than crushed or any other type of ice!
- You can also make use of gel ice packs with coolers. They can increase the cooling effect and keep your Champagne chilled for long. Moreover, if you don’t want the mess of melting ice, then also you can replace ice with gel packs in the cooler.
- Store the cooler in a shaded and cold area of your vehicle. Keep away from sunlight.
How Does It Work?
There’s no rocket science behind how coolers work with ice and ice packs. It is extremely easy to understand. Coolers consist of insulating materials such as foam or plastic. These materials help in keeping the heat out. Thus, preventing the rapid melting of ice.
4. Using Cooler Bags
If you just have one or two Champagne bottles, why not go for cooler bags? These bags are convenient, less space-consuming, affordable, and reusable too!
Moreover, cooler bags can keep your Champagne cool for hours to come when you’re traveling.
Let’s understand how you can use cooler bags.
Steps To Follow:
- First, you need to keep the cooler bags in your freezer as per the instructions of the manufacturer.
- Then, keep your Champagne bottle inside the cooler bag before you start your road journey.
- Store the cooler bag in a cold place, away from the sunlight. You can even put your Champagne bottles in cooler bags, then place them in an ice cooler for a longer duration.
How Does It Work?
A cooler bag works in a similar way to that of a cooler. It consists of heavily thick and insulated material that prevents heat transfer. So, your Champagne remains cold as there’s extremely less exposure to heat.
5. Using Natural Elements – Mud or Rivers
I recommend this method if you want to chill your Champagne again. So, if you find that your Champagne has become warm, then you can take a quick stop if you want to drink Champagne.
Natural elements such as mud, rivers, and streams can help in making your Champagne cold again. It may definitely not be as cool as a refrigerator but it would still work out well.
Given below are the steps that you need to follow.
Steps To Follow:
- If you see an area with damp soil or mud, start digging a hole.
- Place your Champagne bottle in the hole and cover the hole with mud. After a few minutes, your Champagne will have a pleasant temperature for drinking!
- If you see a river or stream, then you can place your Champagne bottle in a plastic bag and insert it inside the water. Make sure you anchor it to the surface using a weight, like rock, so that the Champagne doesn’t sink inside.
How Does It Work?
As the temperature of the surrounding water or mud is cooler than your Champagne, the heat transfers from hot to cold. Hence, there’s heat loss in your Champagne which makes it colder!
Is Champagne Better At Cold Temperatures Or Warm?
Well, the answer depends on what you prefer. According to experts, the best temperature of Champagne is around 47F to 50F.
Still, many people think that Champagne holds its fizz or bubbles for long if served around a temperature of 65F. So, if you want the bubbles to stay for long, you may opt for warm Champagne while traveling.
On the other hand, chilled Champagne is the go-to preference for many Champagne lovers today due to its flavorful taste.
Can Heat And High-Temperature Damage Champagne?
This is one of the biggest concerns if you are carrying Champagne while traveling in hot conditions.
The answer is yes, exposure to heat and high temperatures can damage or at least affect Champagne’s taste. Keep in mind that if the temperature goes above 80F, the Champagne may cook and lose its original taste.
So, make sure that you take care of your Champagne’s temperature and keep it away from heat while traveling.
Final Thoughts
Champagne tastes the best when it retains its flavor and is at the right temperature. To make it happen, I have suggested some of the most effective tips that can keep your Champagne cold while traveling.
The best method is to go for an ice cooler, along with ice blocks and ice packs. You can also consider going for only ice packs or cooler bags if you don’t want to carry a huge item with you!