A guide to sparkling Wines: how to open, serve and pair them

Sparkling Wines are always a great choice, whether it's for a celebration or just a light lunch. Everyone can find their preferred style. Let Wine in Time give you some tips on how to open and serve them like a pro and how to choose the right glass for each style!

There are so many glass shapes, but which one is right for our sparkling wine?

Of course, you need to chill the bottle before serving to enjoy it even more. Not ice-cold, as that would overpower the flavors, but between 6-10°C for the best experience. If the bottle is at room temperature but you want to drink it as soon as possible, place it in an ice bucket half-filled with water and half-filled with ice. Quickly swirl the bottle around a few times and then let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Done! Now you can open it!

First, you'll need a few tools to make opening easier. Let's start with a white cloth for opening a bottle. Once you've removed the foil and are holding the cork and wire cage with your thumb while turning the tab (which is super important!), place the cloth over the cork. Then, grip the cork firmly with the cloth while opening. This way, the cork won't fly out but will stay in the cloth, and at the same time, the cloth will catch any wine that splashes out of the bottle, preventing it from getting everywhere. When you want to pull out the cork, you must first hold the bottle at a 45° angle to prevent the pressure from gushing out. Always twist the bottom of the bottle and never the cork! This way, you have much more control over the bottle.

Next, you should choose the right glass. There are four types of glasses commonly used for sparkling Wines:

• However, we do not recommend the coupe glass, which was popular in the 1950s, for a great champagne, as the bubbles disappear quickly.
• The large tulip glass is ideal for Vintage champagne or Franciacorta, as it allows more contact with oxygen, so you can better enjoy the complexity and aromas with good bubbles.
• The tulip glass is an excellent choice if you want to serve Prosecco or a rosé sparkling wine, as it will highlight the floral aromas in the glass.
• The most popular glass is the flute. It is frequently used for Cava, Crémant, and non-Vintage Champagne. The bubbles are particularly beautiful when viewed with this glass shape.

 

At Wine in Time , however, we prefer the large tulip glass or a White Wine glass to truly appreciate the aromas and flavors of each sparkling wine. The flute is usually too narrow, so the aromas don't reach your nose as perfectly as they would with a wider glass. If you don't have all these types of glasses at home, you can simply use a White Wine glass for all sparkling Wines. Now you also have the perfect explanation for guests as to why you don't serve sparkling wine in a flute!

When pouring sparkling wine, it's best to hold the glass at a 45° angle so the bubbles don't dissipate too quickly. Try filling one glass at a straight angle and another at 45°, and you'll see the difference. Always be mindful of the mousse, though; if you pour too quickly, you'll get wet! Just slow down, and you won't waste a drop.

 

Sparkling Wines used to be a typical aperitif, but that's changed for good reason! Bubbles can be served throughout the entire meal; you just need to find the right style to complement the dish. For an aperitif, it's best to serve a lighter style like Prosecco, non-Vintage Champagne , or Blanc de Blancs . For appetizers or seafood, our favorite combination is Blanc de Blancs, Franciacorta Satén, or a Cava with its freshness and citrus aromas. For the main course, you can experiment with Vintage Champagne , Franciacorta, or a Blanc de Noirs . In any case, there's always a perfect sparkling wine to suit every dish.

 

There's so much more to tell, but we hope this little guide is helpful if you're looking to enjoy a good glass of sparkling wine, whether it's Cava, Prosecco, Champagne, or an Australian sparkling wine . Browse our selection of sparkling Wines here , and don't hesitate to contact us if you need help choosing the right bottle!

 

Here are some recommendations for our best-selling sparkling Wines: