Practical tips for drinking sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wild drink. It combines with different occasions - with the beach, with a more elaborate dinner or with a happy hour with friends. In addition to being flexible when it comes to harmonization.The best way to find your favorite sparkling style is to try it. We talked with Maurício Roloff, from the Brazilian Wine Institute (Ibravin), about the ABC of sparkling wines and separated some tips for those who are improving the palate.
First, open the bottle
The easiest way is to hold the bottle with both hands, placing one on the cork and the other on the base of the bottle. The easiest thing is to twist the bottle, not the cork. So you need to use less strength in the task. Leave to twist the cork only at the end, when it is almost out, to control the noise of the popping. The formal etiquette asks for the opening of a sparkling wine to happen without making a noise, or as little as possible, and would also say not to shake the bottle. The important thing is to guarantee a good experience, and a little noise attracts attention and invites people to share a toast, so it’s not all bad.
The best sparkling wine is the one you like
Pay attention mainly to categories of sweetness (dry / medium-dry / sweet), preparation method (Charmat / Traditional / Moscatel) and price (the one that fits in your pocket). By identifying your favorite parameters, it becomes easier to make the right choice. When in doubt, write down the labels you liked best.
Always drink ice cream
The lighter the sparkling wine, the colder it must be. To set the temperature (ideally between 6 ° C and 10 ° C), use an ice bucket or ice bag to cool the bottles (see our accessory hotlist here). Place the sparkling wine on a lot of ice and a little water (until it covers the label) inside the container for 20 minutes before serving.
Refrigerator only as a last resort
The refrigerator is not wine-friendly. The temperature is irregular, there is chatter and the aroma of the food can impregnate the bottle or the cork and disrupt the tasting. Also avoid using the freezer, as it can freeze the cork.
Store the sparkling wine in a cool place
The rules for preserving are the same as for a wine: the bottles must be kept in an airy place, with a cool and constant temperature (around 15 ° C is ideal), without incidence of light. Most of the sparkling wines available on the market are made to be drunk soon, so only stock bottles at home if you are in the habit of tasting often or are already planning to consume.
Bottle lying or standing?
It is best to leave the bottle lying down, so the cork is always in contact with the drink, with less risk of the cork drying out and allowing air to enter the bottle. But this rule applies mainly to bottles that will remain stored for a long time, which is not the case for most sparkling wines.
The cup makes all the difference
There are bowls that favor the expression of perlage (as we call the formation of bubbles in the bowl - you can already write that term down). Others, not so much. In general, crystal glasses are best for more specialized tasting. Glass pieces are not a problem, as long as they are transparent. Colored goblets are good only in relaxed situations, where there is no intention to seriously analyze what you are drinking. And one of the latest fashions in the sector are colored acrylic bowls. They allow a very informal tasting, ideal for situations such as the beach or pool, picnics and meetings with friends.
There was sparkling wine left in the bottle, now what?
Sparkling wines are more difficult to maintain with quality after opening than other wines, basically due to the rapid loss of gas in the bottles after opening. There are some special caps that seal the neck to hold the bubbles (perlage), but they do not guarantee a very long survival. The maximum storage time after opening is from one day to the next. This does not mean that what is left should go down the drain. The rest of the bottle can be used to replace white wines in recipes.
And if you still don't know where to start, we've separated a list with 15 labels to get to know Brazilian sparkling wines.
Sparkling Ice Variety Pack, 17 Fl. Oz (Pack of 12) - Packaging May Vary







