Serving Sparkling Wines

Whether you're celebrating with a sweet Moscato d'Asti or a dry Prosecco, keep these tips in mind for serving and storing your favorite sparkling wine.

Instant Chill
When friends bring over room-temperature bubbly, and you're thirsty for a pre-dinner toast, soak the bottle briefly in a bucket of water cooled with two trays of ice cubes. Don't cheat by putting it in the freezer: The temperature drop will alter the wine's flavor.

Safe Pop
After removing the foil from the neck of the bottle, place a napkin or dishtowel over the cork. Tilting the bottle, grasp the cork, and pull it out slowly. Always point the bottle away from people. Pressure builds up differently inside each bottle, so use caution with each one.

The Right Glass
Choose a tall champagne flute with a tapered mouth for a slow and controlled release of the bubbles. The narrow tulip shape makes the wine feel softer on the palate and preserves its aroma during a long meal. One bottle of spumante will fill about eight champagne flutes.

Save the Bubbles
When serving a spumante, pour an inch of wine into the glass, wait for the foam to settle, and then top off the glass to between two-thirds and three-quarters full. The initial pour "protects" as many bubbles as possible so they don't burst before you sip. Tilting the glass as you pour has the same fizz-saving effect.

Fridge Storage
When storing sparkling wine in the refrigerator, keep it on its side to prevent the cork from drying out. Buy a specially designed champagne stopper to reseal an open bottle. It will lock in the bubbles more effectively than a regular wine stopper will.