An expert explains twisting the bottle and NOT the cork is the best way to open champagne

Wine expert reveals the common Champagne faux pas we’re ALL guilty of – from tilting a glass when serving to twisting the cork to ‘pop’ a bottle

  • Sam Caporn, a wine expert, explains why you have to twist the bottle instead
  • Expert also explains how to store it and enjoy the benefits of it once its open
  • A traditional champagne glass can also stop the flavour coming through 

From storing bottles under bright lights to tilting a glass to serve, a wine expert has revealed the most common Champagne faux pas.    

Sam Caporn, Aldi’s wine expert, based in London, told Femail about the bad habits we’re all guilty of and offered up her tips on the best way to store, open and serve Champagne. 

She said twisting the bottle, rather than the cork, is key to getting the perfect ‘pop’, and warned against storing Champagne under bright lights. 

Here, Sam shares more of her top tips. So make sure you brush up before your next party. 

A wine expert gives tips on how to open the bottle the correct way, but also how to store it and enjoy the benefits of it once its open. Stock image

Twist the bottle, not the cork 

‘Untwist the cage/muzzle counter clockwise and hold at a 45-degree angle, putting pressure on the cork to keep it from popping out. 

‘Always twist the bottle, not the cork. This will create the perfect pop’. 

How to store it 

Keep it chilled 

Sam advises you to chill the bottle before you open it and said: ‘If the bottle isn’t cold enough, the pressure inside it will cause the cork to release very quickly. 

‘Don’t over chill it though, as this will ruin the wine’s flavour. The ideal temperature to serve Champagne is 8-10°C.’

Sam said: ‘Keep all bottles away from bright light as they can suffer from light strike – a term used to describe bottles that have been exposed to ultra violet light, resulting in the transformation of amino acids into compounds which give off unpleasant aromas.

‘For long term storage, make sure the temperature is consistent. The perfect temperature for storage is ideally around 10°C to 12°C, and a consistent temperature is imperative so avoid storing bottles in the kitchen, garage or shed, as they will have variations.

‘Champagne and sparkling wines can be stored standing up. 

‘The reason we store still wines on their sides is to prevent the cork from drying out. However, the presence of carbon dioxide in sparkling wines means that they can be kept both vertically and horizontally.’

The wine expert gives advice on the best glass to keep your Champagne fizzy. Stock image

The wine expert gives advice on the best glass to keep your Champagne fizzy. Stock image 

Don’t tilt the glass  

‘It’s a common misconception that the correct way to serve is to tilt the glass. The best way is to pour straight into an upright glass (fill it to about a third full), wait for the mousse to die down and then top up.’

While Sam also said: ‘Always hold the glass by the stem; if you hold it by the bowl it’ll warm the wine, and nobody wants warm Champagne.’

Flute, coupe, or tulip? 

‘Most typically, you’ll see fizz served in a traditional Champagne flute which is great for giving those all-important bubbles some “oomph”,’ says Sam.

‘However, despite looking fantastic, the tapered tops on these glasses can trap some of the aromatics meaning that the drinker misses out on some of the Champagne’s flavours.

‘A coupe glass, which was favoured back in the 1920’s, has similar issues. The shallow bowl means that bubbles do not develop as well, and the large surface area exposed to air means both bubbles and aromas dissipate quickly.

‘What people often don’t know is that tulip glasses give the ultimate Champagne enjoyment as they start off like a flute, then taper out, and then come in again so they release more aromatics than the usual flute. They help to maintain the fizz, and they look stylish and premium!’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk