Five, Four, Three, Two, One…Happy New Year!

No doubt this past year has been a whirlwind, as are the holidays! While you’re getting ready for festivities to welcome in The New Year with family and friends, here are a few recommendations for and pointers about sharing that special bottle of Champagne:

• Chill the bottle in a bucket of ice and water for 15-20 minutes, or in the fridge for about three hours (oftentimes a warmer bottle of Sparkling is likely to bubble and spew quite fast as it is opened).
• Hold the bottle away from you at a 45 degree angle; make sure it’s not pointed at anyone or anything fragile.
• Peel away the lovely foil wrapping.
• Carefully remove the metal “cage” around the cork, while at the same time holding the cork with the palm of your hand.
• Etiquette hack: to masterfully open the bottle, twist (slowly) the actual base of the bottle, not the cork (nor the neck of the bottle). Voila, nary a sound nor a spray!
• After opening, let the bottle settle for a moment or two.

Next, a little about pouring…

• Angle the bottle while gently pouring a little Sparkling at a time down the side of your glass, to avoid the bubbles spilling out and over –  which can easily happen if you’re pouring straight down into the middle of the glass.
• Top it at about two thirds high to be able to take in the Champagne “perfume,” and so that it doesn’t get too warm.
• Ideally, keep the bottle submerged in the ice bucket or in the fridge with a Champagne bottle stopper (it has a rubber ring and two hinges that latch onto the bottle to keep it airtight, ensuring the bubbles stay in). Note: a Champagne bottle stopper also makes a great host gift!

Now about the glass…

• Hold your glass by the stem so as not to warm the Champagne.
• DYK: the tulip shaped Champagne glass is optimal for maximum benefit to hold the Champagne’s bubbles and fragrance. However, the flute shaped glass does prolong the bubbles, and a regular white wine glass does help to preserve the scents. The coupe shaped glass is festive as well; note that the bubbles can fizzle quickly.

Five, four, three, two, one…Happy New Year!

• When your host makes the toast, raise your glass and welcome 2023! Cheers to you!

“May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.” – Irish Proverb