If you would like to celebrate with a bottle of bubbly, then you may be interested in learning how to open champagne. It is often used to celebrate holidays such as New Year's or events such as weddings, graduations, and marriage proposals.

When it comes time to pop the cork, you will want to do so with ease. The main objective is to avoid spilling too much of the champagne and controlling the cork. You will also want to ensure that the cork does not pop off and fly into the room. This could cause injury to someone or damage to your surroundings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZss_tuoawg

• As with all things, it pays to be prepared when you open a bottle of champagne. Here are three necessities.

1. Chill the bottle ahead of time. It should be about 45° Fahrenheit. Either a half-hour in an ice-bucket, or around three hours in the refrigerator should do the trick—any longer could ruin the taste.http://www.chiff.com/a/open-champagne.htm
2. Have a dish towel on hand. The proper way to open champagne does not call for corkscrew.http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/open/
3. Be sober. The chances of injuring your guests with a flying cork and spritzing half the contents of the bottle on the floor will be far lower.

• Just about every bottle of champagne or sparkling wine will be wrapped in some kind of a foil wrapper.

1. Most bottles of champagne will have a tab so that you can pull it to speed up unwrapping.
2. Simply pull the tab to remove the foil from the bottle.
3. Discard the wrapping.http://www.chiff.com/a/open-champagne.htm

The wire cage around the cork has kept it in place from the time it was packaged.

1. At this point, and particularly with an old bottle, anything is possible. Keep the bottle upright and a finger or thumb atop the cork just in case.
2. Unscrew the wire at the base of the cage and continue to loosen it until you can remove it without dislodging the cork.
3. Discard the wire cage.http://www.chiff.com/a/open-champagne.htm

• You do not want a cork to fly towards your guests, nor towards you. Hold the bottle upright and at a slight angle away from you, at about 45 degrees, with plenty of room between you and the crowd. To avoid a potential mess, place a dishtowel over the top of the bottle.http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/open/

The goal when opening champagne is to emit a sigh, not a loud pop, so most of the carbon dioxide remains in the bottle.

1. Use one hand to hold the bottle securely and the other to hold the cork, which is now wrapped in the dish towel.
2. Keeping the cork secure in one hand, slowly twist the bottle.
3. Some say twist the cork, but many experts agree that twisting the bottle gives you more control over the cork.
4. You will feel pressure on the cork, but keep it steady as you continue to twist the bottle.
5. You should hear a sigh or very soft pop when the bottle opens. Use the towel to wipe the neck of the bottle and pour immediately.http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/open/