Sunday 31 December 2006

Champagne pouring tips!

"In victory, you deserve Champagne, in defeat, you need it.” Napoleon Bonaparte
Just to make sure you get it right, lets spell it out now:

Chill the Champagne to 45°F, usually three hours in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in an ice bucket (silver or pewter look the nicest). Cut the foil and remove.

Wrap a towel around the bottle; this will help to keep the cork from flying away and to catch any Champagne that might spill. Hold the neck of the bottle while securing the top of the cork with your thumb.
Twist off the cage; it takes about six turns to undo it. Remove the wire cage while you are still holding the cork. Hold the bottle at a 45 angle. Hold the cork with one hand and the bottom of the bottle with the other; turn the bottle (not the cork) slowly and carefully. Release the cork gently, and pour the Champagne.
Use flute glasses that focus the aroma, rather than coupes.

Pour the Champagne down the side of the glass to give the champagne fewer "head bubbles."

Don't shake the bottle; it increases the internal pressure and the Champagne will have less "fizz" when you serve it.
Of course for the truely stylish, you can open it with a sword: hit the glass ring at the top of the bottle below the cork and the weakest point of the bottle seam - NOT for beginners!

7 comments:

Daniel said...

Of course you could just avoid the whole thing and have a Diet Coke. :-)

dafrca

Paul O'G said...

We need to have a serious discussion regardng your consumptions habits my good man...

MaksimSmelchak said...

Hi Tas, Dafrca and the YIAWWS Gang,

Happy New Years and all the best, gentlemen!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Daniel said...

Can I assume this discussion will take place over drinks?

:-)

dafrca

Paul O'G said...

There is another way to discuss things civilly?

Daniel said...

Well I like to discuss stuff over a plate of Sushi and some Diet Coke.... :-)

dafrca

Paul O'G said...

I do like sushi - but only accompanied with a cold Asahi beer and a warm saki!


An exploration of debauchery, vice and other reasons to be a man!

An exploration of debauchery, vice and other reasons to be a man!