A drink for any celebration and special occasion, champagne is a sparkling wine loved and enjoyed by millions of people throughout the world. Still, it’s not enough to crack the bottle open, pour the drink and throw it back: as any true wine connoisseur will tell you, there’s much more to drinking champagne than just a quick gulp of the bubbly liquid to soothe your mind and refresh your palate. Here, we have some simple tips to help you enjoy your favorite sparkling wine like a true pro so keep reading if you want to improve your champagne-drinking manners.
The proper way to store and serve champagne: Cooler than cool
Just like any other fine wine, champagne requires careful handling and storage prior to use. The best temperatures for champagne storage range from 50 to 55 degrees, and the best cooling environment is slightly too moderately humid. For best effects, store your champagne bottle on its side: this simple trick will prevent the cork from drying out and spoiling your opening experience. As for the serving, the ideal champagne temperature ranges from 44 to 48 degrees, as it helps preserve the abundance and flavor of your sparkly wine.
Off with the pop: How to open a champagne bottle correctly
Though popping the cork offers the most dramatic and exciting way to open a bottle of champagne, it may not prove as effective aroma- and quantity-wise. When the cork is popped, the bottle contents usually spill out on the floor or table, leaving you with less bubbly liquid and nasty sticky stains all over the place. The best way to open your bottle of champagne is to place it on a flat surface, remove the foil wrapping, untwist the metal cage wire and remove it from the cork, twist the bottle (not the cork) while keeping the cap safely in place so it doesn’t fly off and wait until you hear the sigh of a cork loosening. In this way, you will preserve the bubbles, aroma and some precious champagne that would otherwise spill out.
First come, first served: How to serve your champagne like a pro
After you’ve opened your champagne bottle, it’s time to show your barman skills and serve the drink the way it deserves to be treated. First, place the bottle inside a metal bucket with half water and half ice to keep it cool. For best-preserved bubbles and aromatic plethora, pour the beverage into a tulip-shaped glass. Thanks to its expanded middle part and smaller top opening, this type of glass will present you with the bubbliest, finest smelling and crispiest tasting champagne gulps ever. When serving champagne, avoid flute and coupe glasses as these reduce champagne’s aromatic and sparkly properties.
Drink up, mate: The best way to drink your glass of champagne
A common mistake most people make when drinking their champagne is to swirl the contents around the glass. Unlike regular wines, sparkling wines are not to be swirled as the motion causes release of bubbles that give champagne its true crispy nature. So, after you’ve poured your glass of champagne (the best way to pour it is to let the wine run slowly down the side of the glass to prevent excess foaming), put your glass down and let it set for a few minutes. Then, test the drink by raising the glass to your nose and sipping it gently to feel its true taste.
The vital when: The best time to present a champagne bottle
Different people like to take their wines at different times of day, and though the best moment to bring out a champagne bottle for a tasting is based on your individual preferences and drinking habits, there are some tips as to when the bubbly wine will go best with your food. According to champagne experts, this sparkling wine should not be served with desserts and sweet foods and should instead be tasted before or during dinner. Also, the true aroma and flavor of champagne will shine at their best when combined with salty appetizers like cheese and crisps, but it will also play well with meat, seafood, pasta and other main course dishes.
So, are you ready to open your next champagne bottle and serve it like a true connoisseur? Then go ahead – you can thank us for the advice later.
