Yahoo Lifestyle The Safest, Easiest Way to Open a Bottle of Champagne, According to an Expert
It was supposed to be a classy moment—a little celebration, a pop of Champagne, maybe a toast. Instead, it turned into an ambush.
I carefully peeled back the foil, twisted the wire cage, and, with all the confidence of someone who had definitely done this before, gripped the cork. One slight twist, and—BOOM! The cork rocketed out of the bottle like it had been waiting its whole life for this moment.
I watched in slow motion as it hit the ceiling with a thunk, ricocheted off at an impossible angle, and—before I could react—smacked me right in the middle of my forehead. A direct hit.
The room went silent. Then laughter erupted as I stood there, dazed, holding the bottle like I’d just survived a battle. It was a dramatic victory, if not for the throbbing on my forehead—but it was really funny!
Lesson learned: I don't actually know how to open a Champagne bottle and that's a bit of a problem, because I have a lot to celebrate in the upcoming months.
Luckily, I ran across a post from Champagne educator (yes, that's a thing) Kyla Kirkpatrick (@thechampagnedame), who shared her expert method for opening a Champagne bottle swiftly and safely. I can't wait to give it another try for Valentine's Day.
Related: 10 Great Affordable Bottles of Bubbly
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The Absolute Best Way to Open a Bottle of Champagne, According to an Expert
"Something that makes me very anxious is watching other people open a champagne bottle," Kyla wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. "There are a few golden rules to doing this safely. Watch closely."
With my Champagne history, you can imagine that I was paying close attention to this video.
Opening a bottle of champagne safely (and without a forehead attack) is all about control. Here’s how to do it like a pro:
1. Chill out. First, make sure your Champagne is cold—warmer bottles build up more pressure, making the cork more likely to pop unexpectedly.
2. Prep the bottle. Find the tab on the wrapping on the neck of the bottle and remove it (keep the metal cage in place). Arrange the bottle so the twisting tab for the cage is lined up to the right side of your body, holding the bottle upright. Place your thumb firmly on the top of the bottle and wrap your fingers around the neck. You can hold the bottle in the air or place it on the table, if you'd prefer, but never put it between your legs to open it. (Sounds silly but I think we've all seen people do that.)
3. Loosen the cage. Still holding the bottle upright, give the tab on the cage six twists to loosen the cage a bit from the neck of the bottle.
4. Get the right angle. Now, put one hand firmly on the base of the bottle and shimmy your other hand to the neck. Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself, guests and anything breakable (like drinkware or windows).
5. Twist the right thing (and it's not the cork). Keeping a firm grip on the cork, slowly twist the base of bottle (not the cork). After one or two twists, the cork should ease out of the bottle with a soft sigh—not a loud pop, which was news to me. I guess I've been watching too much TV.
Now, the cork is out and you can pour and celebrate- no injuries or broken household items to contend with!
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