Storage of Chmapagne

[wdonovan]

Here we go again with this one! KC, which factor, the CO2 or the musillé (SP?) keeps the cork damp and/or prevents it from shrinking? Neither of these arguments make sense to me. Yes the wire keeps a dry cork from flying and yes again, positive pressure inside the bottle will prevent air from infiltrating. But..... (and this is a couple of big buts), what does the pressurized CO2 have that non-pressurized vapors in a still wine don't have? Why would one keep a cork damp and one not? Also, since everyone seems to be in agreement that wine corks are somewhat permeable, why wouldn't you want the best seal against pressure being lost through the cork? After all, where do the quantity of bubbles go in an older bottle?
Bottom line....I strongly disagree with keeping a sparkling wine vertical. It has a better chance of surviving than a still wine stored vertically but less chance than if it was stored on its side.