How to Open a Bottle of Sparkling Wine

How to open a bottle of Sparkling wine.

1. Make sure the bottle is cold. Sparkling wine is best when served cool (45 to 55 degrees). The best way to chill sparkling wine is to place the bottle in a bucket filled half with ice and half with cold water for about thirty minutes or chill the wine in the refrigerator for three hours.

2. Towel the bottle dry and remove the foil covering the cork. Chandon bottles have a tear tab for this purpose.

3. Place a folded cloth napkin over the cork and wire hood. Do not remove the wire hood from the cork. Grasp the neck of the bottle over the napkin with your left hand and place your thumb securely over the top of the wine cork. Tilt the bottle away from yourself and others at a 45-degree angle, bracing the bottom of the bottle against yourself. If you are opening the bottle in its ice bucket, brace the bottom against the inside corner of the bucket.

4. With your hand securely over the top of the bottle, pull down the wire tab that secures the hood; untwist the tab with six turns counter clockwise and loosen the wire hood so that it does not catch on the lip of the bottle. However, do not remove the wire hood and do not let go of the cork. Still grasping the cork and wire hood over the cloth napkin, slowly twist the tilted bottle – not the cork.

5. As you turn the bottle, the pressure of the bubbles will push the cork out. Keep a firm grip on the cork and gently let it ease itself out of the bottle. Try tilting the edge of the cork closest to you to allow the gas to escape slowly off the side. The cork should come out with a sigh, not a loud pop.

6. Enjoy!

OTHER HELPFUL HINTS
º Never use a corkscrew to open a bottle of bubbly
º If you’re having trouble loosening the cork, run the neck of the bottle under hot water
º With a proper re-closure, your sparkling wine will stay fresh for three days in the refrigerator