Myth: Put a silver spoon in the neck of an open Champagne or sparkling wine bottle. This will maintain the bubbles. Is it a myth or fact?
Putting a spoon in a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine is believed to help prolong the "bubbliness" of the champagne. It is a myth.
When a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine becomes warm, bubbles – carbon dioxide (CO2) - will force themselves out, going flat very quickly.
Use an ice-bucket before and after serving a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine. The most important thing is to always keep it very cold at all times. The key to preserving as much of the bubbles is to also keep the bottle very cold and to immediately seal it after pouring a glass or more.
Even if you do not cap the Champagne or sparkling wine bottle, it will retain the bubbles longer when it is cold. Having said that, it is recommended to use a champagne stopper to keep the carbon dioxide within the bottle and store the open bottle in the fridge. This could keep the Champagne or sparkling wine fresh for up to three days.
There are many gadgets on the market that promise to save the bubbles from budget-friendly ones to super expensive ones. The best thing to do is purchase a hinged closure. There are many styles to choose from. From KLOVEO Champagne Stopper which is the number one seller in France and Italy to the ergonomic design of the Rabbit Wine Champagne Sealer in stainless steel to the Cilio Champagne sealer, it is designed for storing opened Champagne or sparkling wine bottles flat.
Using a Champagne Stopper
There are many fancy Champagne stoppers in the market, most are budget-friendly and range from US$10-US$30. When selecting a Champagne stopper, go for one that comes with an inner rubber ring and has two hinged side flaps to firmly grip the bottle. What you want is to save the bubbles for as long as you can.
It is important to have a stopper that fits perfectly to the neck of your specific bottle. In an ideal world, this would be one made by the producer of the Champagne or sparkling wine that you are drinking. This is the ideal situation but many of us do not have that luxury.
Here are a few examples of some Champagne or sparkling wine stoppers you may want to consider. From left to right, KLOVEO is the number one selling Champagne stopper in France and Italy, the ergonomic design from Rabbit, the Cuisinart stainless steel Champagne stopper, and the Final Touch stopper.
When using a Champagne stopper, it is best to store the bottle upright to avoid spilling. If you do have space to lay the bottle flat in the fridge, try the Cilio Champagne sealer. It is designed for storing open Champagne or sparkling wine bottles flat in the fridge.
Something to keep in mind, the Champagne stopper works well with standard Champagne bottles, but not all sparkling wine bottles.
Transfer to a Smaller Container: True or False
In a previous article, we discussed the transfer method where you transfer the remaining wine in a larger bottle to a smaller one to effectively prolong the freshness of the red and white wine. This method is not recommended for a Champagne or sparkling wine. In the transfer process, bubbles (CO2) would be lost. This makes an open bottle go flat faster.
