Bubbles of Trouble

Saturday was spent ensconced at the International Wine Center studying the sparkling wines of the world. Among the points discussed was the need for safety when handling sparkling wine.

The production of sparkling wines involve two fermentations. The first is as a still, base wine. The second fermentation, which takes place either within a bottle or a tank, produces a large amount of CO2, which is captured by not permitting it to vent out, as is done with the vinification of still wines.  Accordingly, the finished wine can be under as much as 5-6 atmospheres of pressure.

Sparkling wines are generally bottled in heavy glass and closed with a mushroom cork, which is much sturdier than a regular cork, to accommodate the wine’s extreme pressure. To further ensure that the cork remains in place, a wire cage or muzzle is placed around it. The foil, a holdover from olden days used to disguise the fact that the bottles weren’t topped off after disgorgement, is now merely decorative.

When opening such wines, it is imperative that one hold onto the cork throughout the entire process, especially once the muzzle is removed. The class instructor even advised that a towel be placed on both ends of the bottle, when opening, to keep one’s hands protected from direct contact with the glass, should it shatter. She, in fact, had previous experience with just such an incident.

Attending a wedding on Saturday night, I chose to continue the day’s theme and ordered a glass of sparkling wine. After the bartender poured me a glass of Perrier, the order for wine and not sparkling water was reiterated. The response was that they didn’t have sparkling wine, only Champagne. Of course, in actuality, they only had sparkling wine, not Champagne. Regardless, I had him continue with my order.

The bartender grabbed a new bottle of sparkling wine and removed the wire cage, setting the bottle down on the table. He then proceeded to  pour me a glass from an already opened bottle. Not surprisingly, the cork from the unattended, half-opened bottle popped under pressure and went flying. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Sparkling wines are quite festive and should be enjoyed, but as with everything, a level of caution is needed. Perhaps a new warning label is necessary? Caution: Contents Under Pressure, Open with Care.

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