How To Open Sparkling Wine Like A Sommelier

An alternative method

If you’re reading this and have already removed the cage from your sparkling wine bottle, the following tip can help you avoid that dreaded “oh no” moment. And don’t worry, you won’t need to try to reattach the cage. Instead, grab a cloth napkin or a bar towel. Once you have your linen, place the bottle upright on a table and drape the towel over the cork. It should resemble a child dressed as a ghost for Halloween, with the sheet covering their head. In this scenario, the bottle is the costumed child, and the napkin is the ghostly sheet, with the center positioned directly over the cork.

Hold the bottle by the neck while maintaining your grip on the linen throughout the process. Then, twist the cork while keeping it covered with the towel. Underneath the cloth, gently twist the cork side to side while pulling upward. This combination of twisting and pulling will eventually release the cork without any mess. The benefit of using the towel is that if the cork does escape despite your precautions, the linen will catch it and prevent it from flying across the room.

Some other tips to keep in mind

There are several steps you can take to reduce the problems that often arise when opening sparkling wine, particularly the risk of it spilling everywhere once the cork is removed. First, if your bottle has been shaken, it's important to settle it down a bit. A simple solution is to place it in the freezer for about half an hour. The cold temperature helps to decrease the built-up pressure inside the bottle, which in turn lowers the likelihood of the cork shooting off. Additionally, the familiar popping sound associated with opening sparkling wine will be quieter due to the cold, so keep that in mind.

Next, ensure you hold the bottle correctly. Many people instinctively tilt it downward, which is exactly what you want to do. Holding it at about a 45-degree angle directs the pressure against the neck of the bottle. This allows the gas to escape more smoothly when you open it.

If you hold the bottle upright instead of at an angle, the pressure will forcefully escape from the top, which can cause the cork to launch off with enough force to damage a chandelier. Always remember to tilt the bottle before removing the cork. This simple action will help you avoid mishaps and keep both your chandelier and your sparkling wine safe, bringing you one step closer to becoming the sommelier you've always aspired to be.