Thankfully, that night I was at a rather prestigious event and servers took care of that sort of thing. Phew! However, I knew then that this would happen again and damnit, I was going to be prepared for the next time. The following day, I purchased 3 (very inexpensive) bottles of sparkling wine from my retail store and carefully practiced opening them. Here's the secrets:Make sure the bottle is cold. Sparkling wine is best when served cool (45 to 55 degrees). The best way to chill sparkling wine is to place the bottle in a bucket filled half with ice and half with cold water for about thirty minutes or chill the wine in the refrigerator for a good three hours. The temperature of the wine is also important because if warm, the cork is much more volatile and has been known to shoot off simply by removing the wire cage. If the wine is cold, the CO2 in the bottle is in a more controlled state.
Dry the bottle off if needed and remove the foil covering the cork.
To avoid the cork launching across the room, place a cloth napkin over the cork and wire hood. Do not remove the wire hood from the cork. Grasp the neck of the bottle over the napkin with your left hand and place your thumb securely over the top of the wine cork. Tilt the bottle away from yourself and others, bracing the bottom of the bottle against yourself.
With your hand securely over the top of the bottle, pull down the wire tab that secures the hood; untwist the tab with six turns counter clockwise and loosen the wire hood so that it does not catch on the lip of the bottle. However, do not remove the wire hood and do not let go of the cork. The wire hood provides a good grip. Still grasping the cork and wire hood over the cloth napkin, slowly twist the tilted bottle - not the cork. Twisting the cork could cause it to break and exploding into pieces. Not a good thing nor fun to clean up.
As you turn the bottle, the pressure of the bubbles will push the cork out. Keep a firm grip on the cork and GENTLY let it ease itself out of the bottle. Try tilting the edge of the cork closest to you to allow the gas to escape slowly off the side. Despite what is portrayed with sparkling wines, the cork should come out with a sigh, not a loud pop.
Pour and Enjoy!
Remember:
Never use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine. Not only is this stupid but you more likely loose an eye doing it. Puncturing the cork with a corkscrew will ferociously force the cork from the bottle.
If you're having trouble loosening the cork, run the neck of the bottle under hot water all the while maintaining a firm grip of the cork.
With a proper reclosure, your sparkling wine will stay fresh for three days in the refrigerator.
