Celebrate with Champagne
It’s the holidays once again, and what better way to usher in the New Year than with some champagne! Here’s a simple guide on how to select, serve and store champagne this festive season.
Choosing a champagne
Just like wine, champagne is made from a blend of grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Champagnes come in a variety of formats, from sweet to dry. If you’re looking for a crisp, dry taste, look for “brut” on the label. If you’re looking for something sweeter, search for “sec” or “demi-sec”.
Most champagne houses pride themselves in a certain style. When you find a champagne you like, you can be sure that the taste will be the same for all bottles.
Best served chilled
This bubbly drink is ready to be consumed the moment it hits the stores. However, if you’re looking for a better drinking experience, place it in an ice bucket 40 minutes before serving.
Champagne is sensitive to temperature and light, so store it in a cool, dry place where there are no temperature fluctuations. Never ever put ice into your champagne and don’t place it in the freezer!
Remove the cork without the “pop”
You shouldn’t be popping the cork and spraying your companions unless you really want to celebrate. There’s a powerful 90 psi of pressure behind the cork, so be careful when you’re opening the bottle — you wouldn’t want to give someone a black eye!
When opening champagne, remove the foil and wire, and tilt the bottle at a 45 degree angle. Twist the bottle (not the cork), and it should release with a gentle thud.
Serve with style
Champagne and sparkling wine should be served in a flute. This will allow the bubbles to rise to the top, giving the drink a more intense flavour. Serving it in larger glasses will make the bubbles disappear more quickly.
Pour slowly to avoid the champagne from overflowing. It’s best to first pour a little for everyone, and then top it up once the froth settles.
Appetisers or dessert?
Apart from the cliched champagne and caviar, you can also pair champagne with many different appetisers and desserts. It works well with all kinds of flavours, which makes it the perfect drink for the holidays.
Make celebrating with champagne a little fancier and enjoy some Brut champagne with strawberries, either in the glass or on the side – you choose!
Champagne leftovers
Leftover champagne, is that even possible? Yes, storing champagne is simple. A popular trick for storing champagne is to drop a spoon down the neck of the bottle, but this method only works for 24 hours.
We suggest using a champagne bottle stopper to preserve the bubbles. <is this device sold in-store? If yes: You can pick one up at your nearest First Choice Liquor store.> Keep it in the fridge so it’ll be chilled and ready for your next drink.