We have teamed up with Moet & Chandon to give you expert advice on how to drink champagne to make it taste even better…
The Best way to Serve Champagne
The traditional (and most trendy) method of serving champagne is through the use of Champagne coupes. They look glamorous and are perfect for showcasing stream of bubbles, but the larger surface areas causes liquid to lose its bubbles very quickly, resulting in the champagne going flat after a short time.For a perfect serving of champagne, Moet & Chandon recommend using ‘tulip glasses’. The flute is a wider style which slows down the loss of CO2, creating an intense champagne and enhances the fragrance on the nose. I
The correct temperature to serve champagne
Moet & Chandon should be served at a recommended temperature 8˚-9˚C/46˚-48˚F. The best way to achieve this is by filling up an ice bucket with one-third water and adding ice cubes to the top. Allow the bottle to chill for at least 15 minutes to achieve the recommended temperature and then serve.
The best way to open the bottle
Did you know a bottle of Moet and Chandon is opened every second around the globe? That’s 3,600 bottles and hour or 86,400 a day! But do they open it correctly? The trick to opening a bottle correctly is to grasp the base of the champagne firmly with one hand whilst using the other hand to hold the cork. Slowly twist the bottle’s base away from the cork to slowly ease the cork away from the bottle until removed. By twisting the bottle instead of the cork you will have more control as well as reducing the chance of a loud pop and instead more of a hissing sound.
How to hold a glass of champagne
When drinking champagne you should always hold the glass by its stem and not by its bowl. By holding it by the ‘bowl’ your hand will warm the champagne up too quickly, causing it to increase in temperature. Plus you will look far more sophisticated if you hold it correctly!
The correct way to store champagne
The correct way of storing champagne depends on how soon you’re planning on drinking it. If you are planning to open a bottle to enjoy within 3-4 days, it is perfectly fine to store in a fridge due to the short period of time. But if left for longer the cork can dry out, causing the seal between the cork and the bottom to loosen, and resulting in the champagne oxidising quicker, changing its aromas. Instead, keep at around 70% humidity, lying horizontal and avoid light. If possible store in a cellar but if absent a kitchen cupboard works just as well.
The perfect amount of champagne
The ideal serve when pouring champagne is to fill your glass between one-third to two-thirds full. This is enough to enjoy, with limited chance of spillage and reduces the chance of the champagne warming up too quickly.
How to keep champagne fresh between pours
When you have finished pouring the champagne, make sure you find a good champagne stopper to clip onto the top of the bottle. Not only will this keep the fizz of the champagne but it will hold in the delicious flavours. Warning: A stopper will keep your champagne fresh for around 1 day, after that bottle tends to lose a lot of flavour..
How much champagne should I buy?
The answer to this depends on the bottle (and how kind you are with each serving!) however a general guide for you to follow would be:
- Moët and Chandon Minis are 20cl and serve approximately 1.5 (more generous) glasses of champagne
- A standard 75cl bottle of champagne serves approximately 6 glasses of champagne
- A Magnum of champagne holds 1.5l/150cl and serves approximately 12 glasses worth of champagne
- A Jeroboam of champagne holds 3l/300cl and serves approximately 24 glasses worth of champagne
What foods to pair with your champagne
A misconception with champagne is that it should always be drunk with caviar, cheese and at fine dining restaurants, however this couldn’t be any more wrong. Although yes, you can enjoy with those traditional dishes, you can also enjoy with fried chicken, hot dogs and even fries. The oils, salts and fattiness of the hot dogs or chicken, combine with the champagne to bring out the fruitiness and freshness of the champagne – Perfect for a summer BBQ!
Is it ok to add ice to champagne?
Add ice to champagne? – “No!” Most of you are thinking! However thanks to the innovation of Moët & Chandon’s Cellar Master Benoit Gouez this is possible and it tastes great! Moet are the first to create champagne which is specifically designed to be enjoyed on the rocks. Their latest release Moët Ice imperial has a specially curated heavier composition which 3 ice cubes perfectly complement to bring out an intense flavour, even as the ice begins to melt – giving you a truly refreshing champagne experience. Tip: This is only for Moet Ice imperial, adding ice to a normal champagne will dilute it and ruin the flavour
Purchase your Moet & Chandon
Summer is on its way and coming round fast! And what’s better than sitting outside and having a BBQ with a nice cold glass of champagne. We already have our bottle of Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial, a fruity, radiant and refreshing champagne ready for the summer months.
To find out more about Moet & Chandon’s champagne collection click here…
Have you got your bottle of Moet & Chandon already? Tell us which one is your favourite in the comment box below…
