How to open sparkling wine

Your friends are coming over or you’ve been invited to a party and all of a sudden you find yourself with a bottle of cold sparkling wine in your hands. People around you are thirsty and are watching you open the bottle. The person you want to impress is among them and you want to look as cool and smooth as possible.

This is how a Sommelier does it: no pop, no wine spilled, no sound, just a little wizz.

Make sure the bottle is cold, nobody likes warm sparkling wine. Remove the foil, don’t worry no risk of explosions here as the cork is held by its cage The cage has a little pin, you are going to rotate that until it’s untied (usually 6 times), hold the cork with your other hand Hold the bottle from the bottom and the top at the same time so that you’re able to rotate it.

Incline the bottle at a 45 degree angle, this way the pressure will have more surface to hit While holding cork and cage at the same time, rotate it.

Be prepared to feel the pressure of the cork, push against it. We don’t want to hear the pop for this exercise (which is also what we’re taught in Sommelier school) so let the cork release slowly. This is a great time to talk about the bottle if you want to look extra cool.

Then, once it’s almost out, you’ll want to hear a little wizz, not a pop.

Then, grab the first glass and pour it. Extra tip: pour sparkling wines like you’re pouring a beer, incline the glass so you don’t have to wait for the bubs to go away to pour a full glass.

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