How to Open Champagne

In order to open a bottle of champagne without making a mess you need just a little patience or some skill. In this article we’re going to discuss about opening a bottle of champagne step by step no matter of the champagne brands or how expensive it is. If you are doing this for the first time it's safer to practice with a smaller bottle (200 ml), yet learning to open a regular bottle should be your priority.

If you can’t find a smaller bottle, it’s ok to get a regular one (750 ml). First, make sure the bottle is cooled down. Utilize an ice bucket and put your bottle inside it for 20 mins. You can put it in the icebox too. Chilled champagne is much more delicious and the pressure level is lower, avoiding a spill when you open it. The perfect temperature to drink it is 5 – 8 degrees C (45 F).

If the bottle is cooled down, take a towel and dry the bottle. A dry bottle is easier to handle. Next, rip the plastic cover and don't shake the bottle too much. You don’t know how much the bottle was agitated before you purchased it so you don’t want any extra pressure building up. Remove the wire cage and hold a solid grip on the bottle while keeping your thumb on the cork to prevent it from accidentally popping. Still, an accidental pop doesn't happen too often but you should be ready.

Use a towel to cover the bottle of champagne, and tilt the bottle at an angle pointing it away from people and objects. Next, with your right hand easily twist the cork while griping the bottle firmly with your secondary hand. You can also turn the bottle while holding the cork. You'll hear a pop shortly however, sometimes it won't open so easily. Try harder and if it’s really stuck, shake the bottle a bit and then try again. In the end you’ll open it, but most of the times it won’t be necessary to shake it. Don't use a corkscrew. Once you hear the pop, take off the towel and start pouring the champagne. Pour only a little bit and the foam will fill the rest of the glass. Pour some more after the foam is gone.

Following these tips will work with each kind of champagne, indifferent of how expensive it is. Usually if it’s more expensive, the better materials and the lesser accidents, while inexpensive champagne brands might have a weak wire cage or a thinner glass.