With what and how to drink champagne and other sparkling wines

To date, a special tradition has developed all over the world - not a single celebration is complete without champagne. It is impossible to imagine the New Year, a romantic date, wedding festivities or the birth of a child without drinking this delicious drink. A bottle is broken on the side of the ship for a successful starting voyage, and any undertakings in business or career are “washed” with sparkling wine for the further success and development of the company. Therefore, it is not surprising that champagne is considered one of the most festive alcoholic drinks, without which it is difficult to imagine any solemn event. Sparkling wine creates a warm atmosphere, cheers up and brings joy to the whole company due to its tenderness of taste. And the fact that champagne belongs to low-alcohol drinks gives it nobility and sophistication. As you know, sparkling wine is considered a real work of art, and it is extremely difficult to understand it well. And if you are not a true connoisseur, do not worry, we will teach you the basics of etiquette and in this article we will talk about how to properly serve champagne and hold a glass, as well as what it is recommended to drink it with.

Still: champagne or sparkling wine?

Champagne has been valued at all times and experienced its real heyday in the distant 18th century. Professionals have long mastered the technology of making sparkling wines with the correct proportions and aging, and have also distinguished various types and types according to their special properties. Important characteristics include the year of production and the variety of grapes used, the features of the technology used and the amount of sugar in the wine. By the way, it is the last criterion that determines the taste of the drink, and, therefore, allows you to choose the ideal snack for a specific type.

The noble name "champagne", however, can only be applied to wines that come directly from the Champagne region in France.

Any other drink, despite all its sophistication and refinement of taste, belongs to sparkling wines. Although in our time it is customary to call champagne any alcohol with bubbles. But in order not to be considered an ignoramus in society, let's talk about the general rules of etiquette regarding the serving and drinking of this drink.

Serve

Without a doubt, champagne is customary to serve chilled. You should take care of this in advance and put the bottle in the refrigerator or a cool place. The ideal temperature for sparkling wine before serving should be approximately 10-12 degrees. Note that hypothermia can not only lead to a loss of aroma and pleasant aftertaste, but also cause toothache, which is likely to spoil the mood for the whole holiday.

A classic example of serving is to dip champagne into a bucket of ice and water. However, experienced sommeliers note other, most advantageous ways. For example, in high society, they first fill a bucket with cold water, then add ice cubes. The bottle is lowered into the water only after the container with floating pieces of ice is placed on the footboard. The installation is rolled up to and left there for the entire period of the event.

We open

Champagne should be opened very carefully, as they say, with a quiet hiss, and the usual loud clap, for the record, only leads to the volatilization of the most valuable components of the drink - carbon dioxide bubbles. We hold the vessel with the contents in our hands at an angle of 45 degrees, then we take the cork and scroll the bottle. This method will ensure an easy and reliable exit of the cork from the neck.

We hold

Prepare in advance perfectly clean high glasses with long stems from transparent smooth glass. It is necessary to pour sparkling wine carefully along the wall, preferably in two passes, to allow the foam to settle. Champagne glasses are usually three-quarters full.

When in polite society, it is especially important to know how to hold a glass of champagne. Take a glass with a pre-chilled drink in your left hand and drink in small sips, trying to catch all the notes of refined taste. Remember: if you put a glass on the table, then taking it again is a sign of bad taste. The well-known main rule is that a wine glass is taken by the stem, and not by the main body, since sparkling wine can lose its richness and sparkling from the warmth of the hands. If the event started, for example, in the hall, leave the glass there, as in the ceremonial hall you should be offered a fresh drink.

What not to drink champagne with

In order not to violate the true taste of a noble drink, when compiling a menu, you need to understand what champagne is drunk with. According to etiquette, sparkling wine is served during the solemn part of the holiday, as. Desserts, warm and cold snacks, as well as main courses are most suitable for champagne. However, first courses, for example, are in no way compatible with alcohol, and there are exceptions among those listed.
It is undesirable to use the following products for snack dishes:

• onions and garlic, the smell of which distracts from the fragrant aroma of alcohol;
• red meat and salted fish;
• oriental sweets, as their specific taste will not allow you to enjoy the sophistication of champagne;
• chocolate, a rare exception is the white version of this product.

What to drink champagne with

You can find out what champagne is usually snacked on in order to emphasize its sparkling and aroma, following the same etiquette. You will find many different options for snacks, but in our opinion, sparkling wine will perfectly reveal its taste in combination with products such as:

• seafood that will complement the drink with a touch of salinity;
• , preferably ripe strawberries or sweet berries;
• cheese, which will add spice to the wine;
• salads seasoned with vegetable oils and emphasizing freshness;
• and for a couple.

To ensure that the holiday goes perfectly and all the guests are satisfied, we recommend entrusting the preparation of the menu to an experienced sommelier. The specialist will select the best dishes for your champagne, based on deep knowledge of the production technology of a particular sparkling wine and the presence of sugar in it. After all, as mentioned earlier, the taste of champagne, and, therefore, the further choice of suitable snacks directly depends on the amount of sugar it contains.

Adhering to all the rules described above, you will certainly look worthy in the eyes of others, and your event will be held at the highest level!