How to Open a Champagne Bottle

Co-authored by Murphy Perng

Last Updated: November 30, 2024 Fact Checked

VIDEO

Opening a champagne bottle is a powerful celebration ritual. The effect is grand, but the act of opening the bottle can be tricky if you haven't done it before. You'll need to twist the bottle, hold the cork, and gently push the cork out of the bottle. Make sure to keep a firm grip on the cork unless you want a champagne shower! Aim for a "sigh," not a "pop."^{[1]
X
Research source}

Easy Way to Open Champagne

Take off the foil and metal cage. Then, hold the bottle at a 35-45° angle, pointing it away from others. Twist the bottle with your dominant hand as your non-dominant hand holds the cork steady. Once the cork is almost out, either pull it out or use your thumb to pop it out.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Opening the Bottle

Download Article

1
Remove the foil and the metal cage. First, tear off the foil wrap that covers the cork. Then, untwist the wire loop to loosen the wire cage that protects the cork. Be gentle and take your time. Keep a thumb on the cork to head off an accidental pop.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Do not remove the wire cage until you are about to open the bottle! Otherwise, you may risk the bottle uncorking before you are ready. The cage is there to protect the cork.
2
Hold the bottle properly. Grip the body of the bottle in your dominant hand at a 35°-45° angle and point it in a safe direction. Wedge the bulbous end of the cork deep into the palm of your non-dominant hand.
- Support the base of the bottle against your hip. If you're holding the bottle in your right hand, use your right hip or the right side of your torso.
- Consider holding the cork with a kitchen towel. This can help you apply friction, making it easier to catch and contain the cork as it pops out of the bottle. The towel may also protect against a spill.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
- If you don't hold the bottle in the correct angle aimed at a safe direction, you might end up hurting someone due to the sheer amount of pressure inside the bottle.
Advertisement
Slowly rotate the bottle back and forth with your dominant hand. Keep holding the cork steady with your non-dominant hand. As the cork turns, gradually increase the distance between your hands until your dominant hand is midway down the bottle.^{[4]
X
Research source}
4
Pop the bottle. Decide what effect you're trying to achieve. If you're indoors or around a lot of people, make sure to take out the cork gently to avoid damage. If you want the dramatic effect of a champagne shower, then you can open the bottle with a mighty pop and send the cork flying high through the air. If you are opening champagne for a classy occasion: aim for a "sigh," not a "pop."
- Opening gently: Slow down your twisting toward the end, once the cork is almost out. Grasp the cork firmly. Press your thumb up from beneath the lip of the cork until it slides smoothly out of the bottle. Keep your grip on the cork, and "catch it" so that it doesn't fly away. Try to do it so gently that the cork doesn't make a popping sound.
- Popping dramatically: Use your thumb to push the cork out from beneath the lip. Shake the bottle to stir up the carbonation, if you want a bit of a mess and a lot of added effect. Aim the bottle away from yourself, your friends, and any breakable items in the near vicinity. Avoid trying this method until you're comfortable opening a champagne bottle gently!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Following Champagne Etiquette

Download Article

Store in the refrigerator, a cooler, or an ice bucket. Give it at least a few hours to ensure that the contents are completely chilled.^{[5]
X
Research source} Not only will this improve the taste, but it will make the bottle less likely to spray champagne everywhere.
2
Open carefully in formal settings. Keep a firm grip on the cork so that it doesn't fly away unexpectedly. Slowly twist the bottle—not the cork—until the cork is almost out of the bottle. Listen for the almost inaudible "sigh" of the cork coming loose. Then, pull it out delicately using entire palm of your hand. Hold the cork over the opened bottle for a few seconds to make sure that the foam doesn't bubble over.
- If you are serving champagne as a waiter or a caterer, it is usually considered proper etiquette to open the bottle as unobtrusively as possible. Do not spray, and do not let the cork fly. Practice until you can do it without so much as a "pop."
3
Avoid shaking the bottle. Champagne is a carbonated beverage stored under pressure. When you shake the bottle, you build up that pressure to dangerous levels. Opening a highly-pressurized champagne bottle will unleash a mighty spout of champagne and send the cork flying forward at high velocity.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Opthamologists
Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research

Go to source}
- If you do accidentally shake the bottle, let it sit still for an hour or two so that the contents have time to settle. The CO₂ will absorb back into the drink more quickly if the champagne is cold.
4
Pour slowly. Champagne is carbonated, and the bubbly liquid rises quickly when poured into a glass. Don't spill and waste champagne – especially if you are serving someone else!
- Hold the glass upright. Do not slant it to pour.
- Fill a third of each glass with champagne. Then, top up the servings once you've poured a bit for everybody.
- Do not touch the spout onto the rim of anyone's glass. Champagne is often stored in cellars, and in some circles it is considered poor etiquette to risk dirtying someone's glass.

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about champagne, check out our in-depth interview with Murphy Perng.

References

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How many glasses of champagne make a bottle?

Murphy Perng
Certified Wine Consultant
Murphy Perng is a Wine Consultant and the Founder and Host of Matter of Wine, a business that produces educational wine events, including team-building experiences, networking events, and private parties. Based in Los Angeles, California, Murphy has served as a Wine Educator for clients such as Google, Buzzfeed, Tiktok, Snapchat, and Equinox and been featured on National Geographic and The Somm Journal. Murphy possesses her WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 Advanced Certification.

Murphy Perng

Certified Wine Consultant

Expert Answer

There are about 6 glasses of champagne in a single bottle, but this really depends on how large you want your pours to be.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How do you open champagne without it exploding?

Christopher Lucchese
Certified Sommelier
Christopher Lucchese is a Certified Sommelier affiliated with Home Somm, a Los Angeles, California-based business that does private wine tastings, education and paired wine dinners. Christopher was also a Sommelier for Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak, a Michelin-rated restaurant for three years. He is a Level 4 Diploma Student with the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust). He is also a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and has trained with the Wine Scholar Guild and The Culinary Institute of America. He took two semesters at UC Davis for winemaking, viticulture and enology.

Christopher Lucchese

Certified Sommelier

Expert Answer

Cut the foil off the bottle and then place your thumb on top of the cork while you remove the wire cage. Use your thumb and index finger to guide the cork out of the bottle slowly. Once you start releasing the wire cage, the cork will come out quickly because of the pressure inside of the bottle.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

How much champagne should you consume in an evening?

Community Answer

If you are looking to make a good impression, don't drink more than 2-3 glasses of champagne over the course of the evening. If you are driving, limit yourself to one.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 14

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Read Video Transcript

Tips

The less sound the better. Ideally, a small hiss is all you'll hear. This means your wine was adequately chilled, and that you are not risking your precious beverage overflowing all over the ground!

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Do not pry the cork or use a corkscrew to open the bottle.

Thanks
Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
Do not let go of the cork as you pull it out. It can shoot out at high velocity. If the cork is aimed in the wrong direction, it might break a valuable object or seriously hurt somebody. Do not point the bottle at yourself or others while opening.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Do not let go of the body of the bottle as the cork is coming out. The bottle can shoot off towards the ground and break.

Thanks
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 9
Do NOT attempt to open a bottle which is not completely chilled. A warm or room-temperature bottle is more likely to pop and spray all over the place. Make sure you chill your champagne bottle before opening it.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 3