We all associate bubbles with champagne yet when it was first created the bubbles were actually a mistake. Over time the sparkling wine started to grow in popularity and was soon declared a favourite of the noble and wealthy especially in the French courts of the 16th century. Today champagne is commonly associated with celebration and affluence and has its own set of rituals and customs to ensure it is enjoyed at its best.
Over the last fifty years the traditional champagne coupe has been replaced with the more common flute. Champagne is a completely unique drink and it has its own unique glass designed and shaped specifically to ensure the drink is consumed at its best. The long stem of the flute serves the same purpose as the traditional wine glass. Holding the stem rather than the body of the glass will stop body heat warming the drink. The tall thin design of the flute is also to keep as many bubbles as possible by exposing as little of the drink to the air. Because it’s often drunk at parties the slim design means more glasses can fit onto a serving tray. Rumoured to be modelled on the shape of Marie Antoinette’s breast, the more traditional champagne coupe is normally used to create a champagne fountain. Using crystal champagne glasses will produce more bubbles because the texture is slightly rougher than traditional glass. Although champagne should always be served chilled, the champagne glasses should never be chilled before use.
Champagne is normally consumed on special occasions or for celebrations so is always best enjoyed however the celebrator chooses. The primary directive of the champagne flute design is to keep your champagne sparkling and bubbly. Although only sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France may call itself champagne, most sparkling wines will offer the same sparkle and air of opulence.
I like drinking wine straight from the chiller while relaxing. I also enjoy seeing people open the champagne during celebrations especially on victories of F1 racings or other sports events. I think this has become the way for our current culture on how to drink it