Uncorking Champagne with Confidence

Opening a bottle of Champagne is always a festive occasion. But some of the joy can fizzle away if you can't open the darn bottle, or if it explodes like a firecracker on you, spilling Champagne all over the place. Keep these pointers in mind and you'll become a real pro at opening Champagne bottles in no time at all.

• Don't open a new bottle of Champagne right away. If you can, let it rest for a day to let the carbonation calm down. If you must open it soon, put it in the fridge for three or four hours (or, if you're in a real hurry, put it into the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes).

• Never use a corkscrew to open a bottle of Champagne (except if your bottle is more than 20 years old, the cork has been broken, and there is no danger of a forceful explosion of carbonation flying out at you).

• Anyone can make a loud pop when opening a bottle of Champagne by just yanking the cork out. Your goal is to remove the cork so that only a gentle sigh or hiss is heard, rather than a loud pop. Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle, pointing away from everyone, with a towel wrapped around the bottle if it's even the slightest bit moist. Then twist the bottle with one hand, while you push down on the cork with the other. When you feel the cork starting to emerge from the bottle, push down against the cork with some pressure, as if you don't want to let the cork out of the bottle. The cork then emerges slowly with a hissing or sighing sound rather than a vulgar pop.

Sometimes, a Champagne cork is so tight that you can't budge it. In most cases, running the cork under lukewarm water for a couple of minutes loosens up the bottle's grip on the cork. Another trick is to wrap the cork in a towel and twist it. The friction of the towel rubbing against the cork often loosens it.

In very desperate cases, when even water or a towel fails to loosen the cork, you can use one of three devices to tackle the tough ones: Champagne pliers, the Champagne star, and the Champagne key. Your local wine shop should have these for sale. Just place the pliers, star, or key around the cork and gently twist off (making sure the bottle isn't pointed toward anyone or anything breakable). In a pinch, a regular pair of pliers or a nutcracker can do the job (at the sacrifice of a bit of romance).