Ice Cold Champagne

Ice cold Champagne is a favorite for celebrating special occasions and during the holidays. A bottle of bubbly is perfect for toasting friends and family any time of the year. Read on to learn more about how to serve an ice cold bottle of your favorite champagne.

Enjoy cold champagne!

There is an art to opening a bottle of Champagne. While many people think the goal of opening a bottle of bubbly is to shoot the cork across the room with a loud "pop," others feel that saving each drop to savor is more important. If you've never opened a bottle of Champagne before, here are a few tips to make it a memorable, not a dangerous, experience!

Always serve Champagne cold. Place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving it. Never place it in the freezer to speed up the process.

Before you open a bottle of champagne, it is important to have the correct glass for the occasion. Champagne flutes are ideal for serving this beverage. The design of the glass reduces the surface area of the beverage, which helps to retain the maximum amount of bubbles. It is also esthetically pleasing viewing the bubbles within the glass.

A wire cage covers the cork on a Champagne bottle. This needs to be removed first. Gently twist the metal loop at the base of the cage until it expands and is easily removed. Discard the cage.

The bottle should be pointed at a 45-degree angle away from anyone in the room, including the individual opening it. People who are worried about a wayward cork may cover the cork end of the bottle with a clean towel.

• Hold the base of the bottle with one hand and press upward with your thumb on the cork with your other hand.
• Turn the base of the bottle a quarter turn and push on the cork again.
• Continue this process, slowly easing the cork out of the bottle.
• Don't grab the cork and twist it. When done correctly you should hear a rush of air or a small "pop." The champagne shouldn't be gushing out of the bottle.

Carefully pour the bubbly beverage down the side of the glass and gently turn the bottle slightly with your wrist when you're done with each glass. This will ensure you don't waste even a single golden drop.

Savor Champagne, but do not allow it to become warm. Hold the glass by the stem, not in the palm of the hand. Sip and enjoy!

To have the name Champagne on the label, the bubbly must come from Champagne, France, otherwise, it's called sparkling wine. There are many quality Champagnes from France available on the market to please the palate, but there are also many sparkling wines that are just as delicious.

The following is a wide sampling of favorite champagne brands available, from most expensive to the least expensive:

• Philipponnat – 1998 Clos des Goisses, $230
• Henriot – 1995 Cuvee des Enchanteleurs, $170
• Piper-Heidsieck – 1999, $250 and up for this rare vintage
• Moet and Chandon – 2000 Dom Perignon, $155
• Louis Roederer – 2002 Cristal, $289
• Gosset – 1998 Celebris, $120
• Marcel Hemard – 1995 Origine Grand Cru, $125
• Laurent-Perrier – Grand Siecle, $110
• De Venoge – 2000 Brut Blanc de Blancs, $60
• Pol Roger – Brut Reserve, $42
• Moet and Chandon – Imperial, $40
• Nicolas Feuillatte – Brut Extrem, $40
• Drappier – Carte d'Or Brut, $40
• Henriot – Brut Souverain, $35
• Rene Florancy – N.V. Premier Cru, $27

If you haven't included ice cold Champagne in your celebrations before, now is the time to try them! There are many types of champagne on the market that will fit any taste and budget. Try a bottle of ice cold champagne at your next special event and celebrate in style!

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