How to get the most out of your bottle of Champagne

When Rebecca Shapiro from the Huffington Post sat down with a sixth-generation winemaker, Elise Losfelt, she unearthed some helpful tips about how to better enjoy your bottle of bubbly.

The type of glass
If you have ever been to Champagne, you will notice that standard champagne flute is not the preferred vessel. Instead, a white wine glass is a great option as the tapered shaped allows the wine to breathe and therefore express all of its aromatic glory.
Don’t be tempted to unearth grandma’s traditional champagne coupes. You know, the ones they say are modelled on the, ahem, best assets of Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife, Josephine as the wider surface area means that all of that glory is released and lost too quickly.

Don’t stress over the menu
There is no need to get yourself into a tizzy with what to serve with your beautiful bubbles as champagne is one of the most versatile beverages, even pairing effortlessly with salty and fattier foods.

Avoid high velocity cork injury
Place your thumb on top of the cage, untwist but keep the wire frame on the cork and twist the bottle away from the cork using your hand around the bottom of the bottle instead of trying to relase the cork away from the bottle. Aim for a barely audible ‘pssst’ rather than a loud ‘pop’. If that doesn’t bring you enough joy then get out a knife and sabre the bottle, it’s not as hard as it looks and it’s a lot more fun.

No need for greed
We know you’re thirsty but champagne is best enjoyed chilled so instead of pouring that luscious liquid to the top causing it to quickly warm, go for around one-third of the glass and fill up the glass more often.

Your Champagne wants you to drink it
Most of us have had a champagne bottle in the fridge for month for that special occasion that never materialises but unless you’re planning to consume Champagne within 3–4 days, store the bottle in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to drink it. This will prevent the cork drying out due to the humidity in the fridge which in turn will cause the champagne to oxidise and lose its deliciousness.

Why wait for a special occasion, just crack it open
In true French style, the doyenne of the bubbly suggests the following: “Don’t overthink Champagne – just enjoy it,” Losfelt says. “And if you have a bottle of Champagne in your refrigerator now, don’t wait for a special occasion…You will see that by opening that bottle, the special occasion will come to you.”

Excellent advice, pass me that sabre…