A bit of the bubbly, part 1

It's nearly New Year's Eve and that means that it's time to break out some bubbly!

Here are some fun facts to get you in sparkling shape for tonight from our friends at drinkwine.com:

Chill Sparkling Wine:

• 1/2 hour in refrigerator - top milk shelf is the coldest spot
• 15 minutes in ice bucket with ice and water (or in freezer)
• 10 minutes in ice bucket with ice, water and salt (salt makes ice melt faster, making it colder; remember this from making ice cream?)

Temperature and Opening:

• Ideal temperature is 42 degrees or the temperature you prefer
• Open chilled bottle carefully pointing the cork away from your and others.

Glassware:

Champagne flutes are ideal for showing off the bubbles in a sparkling wine, but you do not have to have exactly the right glass to enjoy it. The flavor does not change if drunk from a regular wine glass. In fact, that's what many wine makers use for their technical tastings.

Other information:

Sparkling wine glasses do not need to be chilled - the wine does.

Sparkling wine can be stored upright. The pressure in the bottle creates a hundred % humidity in the head space and keeps the cork moist.

Read more on drinkwine.com's site here...

Read Part 2 of this blog about sparkling wines here...


Visit my Traveling Vineyard site at http://www.travelingvineyard.com/guide/morethanatasting to browse our great selection of holiday offerings, or contact me to book a tasting in your home and try before you buy!