How to Open a Bottle of Bubbly

From Reader's Digest Magazine

It’s so simple – when you know how

The gas inside a bottle of sparkling wine is held at the same huge pressure as air inside a car tyre. Releasing that pressure can be risky, so here’s how to do it safely.

1. Ensure the bottle is cold; warm fizz can froth wildly when popped.

2. Keep a thumb on top of the cork at all times (in case it wants to pop itself) and just loosen – but don’t completely remove – the wire. It gives you more grip.

3. Hold the cork and wire in your weaker hand. Using the stronger hand, slowly turn the bottle. Use a serviette if your hand slips on the wet glass.

4. Gently ease the cork out – you want to hear a breathy phhht – the sound of a socialite discreetly breaking wind.

5. Once it’s open, you want to enjoy as many of the bubbles as possible, so use a tall, skinny flute-shaped glass, rather than the wide saucer shape you see in movies.

Max Allen, The Really Useful Pocket Wine Book