This holiday season, it’s likely you’ll be popping a bottle or two of sparkling wine. So we’ve put together a checklist of how to best enjoy your bubbles and mistakes to avoid.
The last thing you want is exploding bottles, warm champagne or flat fizz.
Mistake # 1: Not having enough Sparkling Wine
Underestimating how many bottles of bubbles you will need when entertaining over the festive season. As a thirst-quenching aperitif a bottle of sparkling wine quickly disappears when pouring arrival drinks. If you pour the average flute to the top it equates to 200mls, so a 750ml bottle will barely serve four guests each a glass of fizz.
Recommendation: Double the bubbles! Or stock up on Magnums
Mistake # 2: Serving Temperature
Serving your champagne or sparkling wine too warm can be unpleasant to drink, not to mention a little dangerous. If it isn’t cold enough, the pressure inside the bottle will cause the cork to release very quickly. That’s when you get a geyser and a dangerous projectile.
Recommendation: Open the bottle when it is chilled below 4 ° you can also store your bubbles in ice and water before serving.
Mistake # 3: Using a teaspoon to store your bubbles
It is a myth that placing a teaspoon in your champagne bottle will preserve the fizz. Stanford University undertook a study and confirmed that it makes no difference to preserving bubbles, in fact it can decrease the effervescence.
Recommendation: Use a Champagne stopper when storing your bottle
Mistake # 4: Opening the bottle
There is nothing better than the sound of Champagne cork pop. However, it can also be a dangerous missile if the cork gets flicked out. Some bottles of bubbles can be lively especially if it hasn’t had time to settle in transit.
Recommendation: Before opening allow the wine to be settled standing upright. Hold your hand over the cork and twist the base of the bottle.
Mistake # 5: Thinking Australia Sparkling Wines aren’t as good as Champagne
While Champagne is steeped in tradition and the epitome of marking a celebration. Australian sparklings offer noteworthy alternatives that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning palates. In fact Aussie sparkling have beaten Champagne in top European tastings.
Recommendation: Support your Australian producers and save money. Look out Methode Traditional and cool climate wines.
