Better to break the champagne

You bought a bottle of champagne for tonight and you wonder how to open it, making a good impression? It's time to get down to business!

Discover our selection of champagnes from winemakers

Sabrer or Sabler le champagne ?

Don't confuse these two terms!

"Sabler le champagne" means to taste the champagne during an event. The origin of this expression comes from the time when the bottle of champagne was put in wet sand to keep it cool.

"Sabrer le champagne" means to open the bottle with a sharp blow with a sword. This expression comes from a Russian tradition where the Tsar's officers opened the champagne bottles with great pomp. If you want to try to saber a bottle of champagne, make sure the champagne is very cold. Then, look for the bottle's thread on the neck (this is the joint between the two parts of the bottle). With a saber "lighter" or a long knife, give a sharp, sure and fast blow on the edge following the thread.

It is also possible to saber the champagne with a spoon or the base of a flute. But here, we wish you good luck because it requires much more practice...

Traditional method

If you don't want to risk sabering and make a flop, there is the traditional method of opening a bottle of champagne. Here are some basic rules to follow:

1. Avoid shaking the bottle before opening;
2. Tilt the bottle at 45°, release the loop of the cap;
3. Rotate the cork slightly by holding it firmly by its upper part and uncork it gently by turning the bottom of the bottle.

Good to know: The more noise there is when opening the bottle, the more you give up the flavor of the champagne! And be careful: an uncontrolled champagne cork can reach a speed of almost 50km/h!

Have a happy holiday!

Shamini for Les Grappes