New Year's Eve tips to avoid champagne explosion, according to wine expert
Tonight, thousands of Scots will crack open the bubbly to mark the arrival of a new year. But raucous celebrations and incorrect pouring techniques will see many face champagne explosions as revellers struggle to handle the sparkling treat.
According to a top wine expert, Hogmanay revellers should follow a few simple steps to bust out the bubbly without spilling a drop. Research conducted by Aldi has revealed that Brits waste around 426,100 litres of sparkling wine every year, the Mirror reports.
That's the equivalent of a whopping 568,134 bottles and more than 2,000 bathtubs full of bubbly, all due to lack of confidence in opening a champagne bottle.
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In a bid to cut down on wastage during the New Year's celebrations, the supermarket has joined forces with renowned wine expert, Mistress of Wine Sam Caporn, to share some simple tips for opening a bottle with minimal mess.
How to open your sparkling wine
Firstly, remove the muzzle from the bottle and immediately place your hand over the cork to prevent it from flying out if you're opening a particularly fizzy drink.
Next, grip the bottle tightly in the palm of your hand, tilting it away from your body. Keep the cork steady with one hand while twisting the bottle, not the cork, with your other hand. Turn the bottle gently until the cork comes loose easily.
To achieve a classy opening, aim for a soft sigh rather than a loud pop from the cork. If you are struggling to remove it from the bottle, covering it with a tea towel can provide extra grip while helping you to maintaining control.
Forget the flute and coupe - a tulip-shaped glass is the best choice for your bubbly according to Caporn. While this might be an unexpected choice for some, the glass keeps the fizz lively while allowing you to fully appreciate the drink's aroma.
Pour your bubbly with a tilt and a gentle hand to avoid creating a frothy mess. Aim for a similar angle and intensity to the technique that you'd use to nurse a beer into a glass without a large head. If your fizz starts to bubble over, stop pouring for a bit before continuing.
How to store your fizz
If there's any champagne left after your celebrations, make sure that you store it using a proper stopper to keep it sparkly for the next day. You can safely dismiss the the old wives' tale about sticking a spoon in it, silver or not - this is not a reliable method!
Budget-friendly bubbles
If your New Year's resolution centres around saving money, cheaper champagne alternatives are available to cut costs without sacrificing taste.
Cremant is a hot festive favourite, with one supermarket chain reporting a spike in sales of its Cremant du Jura over the holidays. To help savvy Scots satisfy their taste for the popular wine, Aldi is slashing the price of its Cremant de Loire from £8.99 down to £4.99.
The promotion has been dubbed "the slashed-price steal of the season" by The Times' esteemed wine critic Jane MacQuitty - but it only runs until December 31. In anticipation of a mad scramble for the deal, Aldi has set a two-bottle limit per customer.
With such an irresistible offer, Aldi is bracing for a shopping frenzy and has set a two-bottle limit per customer. This comes after the promotion was dubbed "the slashed-price steal of the season" by none other than Jane MacQuitty, the esteemed wine critic at The Times.
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