How to Open Bottles of Champagne

Open champagne carefully to prevent injruies.

Champagne is a sparkling wine, but the cork on a champagne bottle is removed differently than other wines. The entire cork remains inside the bottle of most wines, while the top part of the cork remains exposed on champagne. A wire cage helps hold the champagne cork in place; after careful removal of the wire, the cork can pop out of the bottle at any time. Coaxing the cork out of the bottle gently and carefully will prevent any accidents from occurring. Does this Spark an idea?

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Knife
Kitchen towel

Instructions

- 1
  
  Remove the foil packaging from the neck of the champagne bottle. Usually you pull a tab on the foil, but you might have to cut around it with a knife and then peel it off the bottle.
- 2
  
  Cover the cork with a towel because the cork can release from the bottle while you remove the wire. Untwist the wire cage tab from around the cork while you continue to hold the cork. Remove the wire and discard it.
- 3
  
  Point the champagne bottle away from you, anyone in the room and anything breakable. Hold onto the neck of the champagne bottle with one hand. Hold the champagne bottle at a 45-degree angle. Always place your strongest hand at the top of the bottle to help prevent the cork from flying out of the bottle.
- 4
  
  Hold onto the cork of the bottle with your other hand. Place a towel over the cork while you hold it firmly to help prevent it from flying across the room.
- 5
  
  Twist the bottle while holding onto the cork. Continue to twist the bottle gently until the pressure builds and the cork pops out. Twisting the cork can cause it to break or crack.
- 6
  
  Listen for a hissing or popping noise indicating that the cork has released. Continue to twist the champagne bottle after you remove the cork to prevent foam from pouring out of the bottle.