A glass of champagne is a spectacular way to celebrate a special occasion. The effect is great, but the opening of the bottle itself can be tricky. Many people do it extremely improperly. So how should you open a bottle of champagne to avoid spillage and other undesirable effects?

What shouldn’t you do? First of all, remember not to shake the bottle under any circumstances. Champagne is a carbonated beverage stored under pressure. Shaking the bottle makes the pressure dangerously high. The cork will definitely pop out with a bang. This may not only cause material damage, but also pose a serious threat to other participants of the party. Opening a highly-pressurized champagne bottle (after shaking it) is regarded to be a measure of your immaturity. Besides, you will lose a significant part of the contents of the bottle.

How to properly open a bottle of champagne? Champagne must be well chilled, to 6-8 degrees Celsius (42-46 degrees Fahrenheit), then it tastes best. First, remove the foil and the metal cage: tear off the foil wrap that covers the cork and untwist the wire loop to loosen the wire cage that protects the cork. Hold the bottle at approximately a 45-degree angle with one hand and the cork with the other hand. Slowly twist the bottle back and forth, trying to keep the cork still. This way you control the cork coming out of the bottle. Do this until you feel the bottle move more freely, and then you hear a characteristic hiss. If you suspect the bottle is shaken, open it with a napkin. If you lose control of the cork, the napkin will catch it. Once opened, the champagne should be immediately poured into glasses.