True champagne is produced only in France's Champagne region.
Sparkling wine comes in several varieties--the best-known is champagne (which must be made in the eponymous region of France). With its celebratory associations, it can serve as the perfect drink for any adult party or bring a hint of playful formality to an otherwise mundane meal. When serving sparkling wine, the food and the glasses should tie in to the drink; some foods do not suit sparkling wine, and pouring it into chipped mugs can lessen its impact.
Instructions
1. Chill your sparkling wine in the refrigerator or a bucket of glass. Ideally, the wins should be chilled to 42 degrees Fahrenheit before you serve it.
2. Open the bottle just before before you are ready to serve your sparkling wine. Some wines benefit from being allowed to sit in the open air for a short period before you serve them, but sparkling wine can go flat if left open for too long. Point the bottle away from yourself and other people when you open it, as the cork may shoot off and could cause injury.
3. Pour the sparkling wine into your flutes or tulips, filling each glass approximately half to two-thirds full. You may then leave the opened bottle or bottles in a bucket of ice on the table so that each guest can refill his own glass--or, if you are serving only a few people at a small table, you may refill each guest's glass for him as he gets low.
Tags: sparkling wine, sparkling wine, before serve, each guest, your sparkling, your sparkling wine