There is absolutely nothing more celebratory than a glass of champagne. The entire ritual, from the moment you pop the cork till the moment you pour, creates a level of excitement no other drink can match. With a variety of champagnes, MCCs and sparkling wines on the market from the sweet to the dry, there really is a bubbly for everyone. So why not take your champagne service to the next level?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to bring show-stopping sparkle to champagne service. Ever seen a champagne tower and wanted to try it? Wondering how to pop a cork with a saber? These may seem difficult to do but they are in fact much simpler than you think. Discover these tricks of the trade and transform your next celebration into an unforgettable soiree.
Add The Sparkle In Sparkling Wine
If you’re looking for something a little simpler, there are several easy things you can do to make your champagne more special. Instead of pairing your bubbly with hor d’oeuvres, you can incorporate those flavours right in the glass. For example, you can add sugar to the edge of the glass for a pop of flavour or chill your drink with frozen berries for pops of sweetness. Just remember to only use ingredients that complement the flavour profile of your bubbly. In general, this means fruit, candy or any other sweets.
How To Build Your Own Champagne Tower
One of the most impressive and awe-inspiring tricks of the trade that really brings the wow-factor to any occasion is a champagne tower. A glass of bubbly by itself is already a cause for celebration but when served in a tower it takes to a whole new level of style and class. At first glance, this may seem like a difficult and possibly messy affair but if you follow our step-by-step guide, you’ll see how simple it really is.
Step 1 – Stock Up On Coupe Glasses
To create a tremendous tower, you will have to use identical coupe glasses. Champagne flutes won’t stack as easily and when it comes to pouring your bubbly, it’s a mess waiting to happen.
Step 2 – Construct The First Level
To construct the tower, you need to create squares that get successively smaller as the tower rises, for instance, the first level can be four by four glasses followed by the next level of three by three, the next two by two and the final, a single glass that sits at the top. Make sure that each glass is as close to the other glasses as possible. If this is done correctly, you should have a diamond shape in the middle of every four glasses touching. Also, it is vital that you build the tower on a sturdy surface unless you want bits of glass all over the floor.
Step 3 – Complete The Tower
After completing the first level, move on to the next. Place the centre of each glass’ stem directly in the centre of the diamond created by the touching glasses on the lower level. Continue following this process untill you have your single glass sitting at the top of the tower.
Step 4 – The Pouring
For the final step patience is key. Pop the cork of your favourite bubbly or, for something even more spectacular, saber the bottle (we’ll explain this terrific trick below) and slowly pour the champagne into the top glass of your tower. Overflow the glass with champagne so that it trickles down into the glasses below until all the glasses are filled. It takes about one bottle of bubbly to fill 5 glasses.
How To Saber Champagne
Sabering a bottle of champagne is a neat trick that is sure to leave your guests awestruck. This method of serving champagne dates back to the times of Napoleon’s crusades. After every victory his army would celebrate by drinking champagne, using the easiest method at hand – their swords. Daring but really not that dangerous, all you need to pull off a sabrage is a saber or dull knife.
Step 1 – Chill Your Champagne
Make sure to chill your bottle of champagne before you decide to open it. Glass becomes more brittle at cooler temperatures so it makes it much easier to open. Simply pop the bottle in the fridge to cool or put in a bucket of ice for about 10-15 minutes.
Step 2 – Ready The Bottle
Once chilled, you must remove the wire fastener and any foil that might be over the cork. Next, you must Locate the seam on your bottle, this is the line that runs down the side and it’s also the weakest part of the bottle.
Step 3 – Pop The Cork
Hold the bottle firmly at a 45-degree angle with the top of the bottle facing away from you and your guests. Using your other hand, place the knife flat against the bottle with the blunt edge facing the lip. Run the blade along the seam and then in a quick and firm motion thrust the blade forward up the seam toward the lip of the bottle – viola!
If your sabrage was successful, the cork should break off and champagne will spill out the opening. Make sure to pour a little of you bubbly out before serving guests so that no glass shards get in their drink.
Get To Know Champagne Glasses
Before we can get into the details of our service tricks, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the different styles of champagne glasses we offer because some glasses are a better fit for certain feats. In general, you will find that the typical champagne glass features an elegant upright design with a narrow bowl to preserve carbonation and flavour – but there is more to it than that.
Champagne Flute
The champagne flute has a short to medium-length stem with a long, narrow, upright bowl. This shape helps to retain carbonation while the bead at the base prompts bubbles to gather and rise quickly. It is best suited for young sparkling wine or champagne, including Cava, Franciacorta, Prosecco, and Asti.
VINA CHAMPAGNE FLUTE
By Libbey
PERCEPTION CHAMPAGNE FLUTE
By Libbey
FORTIUS CHAMPAGNE GLASS
By Libbey
Tulip-Shaped Glass
Best suited for young or mature champagne, like Cava, Franciacorta, Prosecco and Asti, the tulip wine glass has a slim base with a wider bowl that narrows towards the opening. The bead at the base makes bubbles rise, while the wideness allows room for flavour complexities to open up. Its narrower top prevents excess carbonation from escaping while directing aromas towards the tongue instead of up the nose.
MASTERPIECE GOLD LABEL PROSECCO GLASS
By Luigi Bormioli
DIAMANTE CHAMPAGNE/PROSECCO GLASS
By Luigi Bormioli
ATELIER CHAMPAGNE FLUTE
By Luigi Bormioli
Coupe Glass
The vintage coupe glass is suited to sweet champagne, Cava, Franciacorta or Prosecco and can also be used to serve cocktails. It is a stemmed glass with a short, broad, shallow bowl. They were originally used during the roaring 20s to serve bubbly dessert champagne that was made with a heavy dosage of syrup. Its bowl enables the wine to come in contact with plenty of air and its unique shape allows you to create one of the most impressive champagne service feats – the champagne tower.
SPKSY COUPE GLASS
By Libbey
VINTAGE 1924 COUPE GLASS
By Libbey
PERCEPTION COUPE GLASS
By Libbey
Ready to ramp up champagne service? Then Core Catering Supplies is the best place to start. We have an impressive range of classic and contemporary champagne glasses, bar accessories and whatever you may need for your bar. As the exclusive suppliers of Libbey glassware in South Africa, we bring the world’s best to your door. Revitalise your bar with our collection of premium products.
