SPARKLERS – For many people, sparkling wines represent celebration and luxury, but we must not forget how versatile this drink can be on special occasions and also in our everyday lives. It’s a noble drink that should be consumed in a noble manner…
I am pleased to share that my new article has been published in the December 2025 issue of Algarve Plus Magazine in Portugal.
The magazine is readable online or downloaded for free here.
Or read my whole article here:
Sparkling Etiquette
For most people, sparkling wines still represent celebration and luxury. At the same time, we must not forget how versatile this drink can be, accompanying not only our celebrations but also our everyday lives.
We open a bottle of sparkling when we want to share our joy with others over something special, unique, or a rare piece of good news or event. We drink these wines on New Year’s Eve, at family celebrations, and at weddings, but we also enjoy watching Formula 1 drivers spray each other with the sparkling beverage in their victory euphoria.
Sparkling on weekdays
Sparkling wine is an excellent cocktail ingredient, a sophisticated welcome drink, a perfect accompaniment to everyday celebrations, a noble drink for parties and family gatherings, and, last but not least, it can make many delicious menus even more mouth-watering.
It is no coincidence that in Western European countries, according to sparkling drinking traditions, it is natural to drink a glass of sparkling wine as an aperitif before a meal or in the afternoon instead of beer.
Sparkling wine is an excellent aperitif, refreshing the taste buds and preparing them for gourmet dishes. It is also suitable for accompanying an entire meal – naturally with a sparkling that matches the dishes.
Bubble lovers can visit champagne bars to indulge in their pleasures, the most famous of which in the Algarve is perhaps the Mirador Champagne Bar, a unique terrace bar located at the top of the cliffs of Falesia Beach.
Best served cold, but don’t shock it
Of course, there are unwritten rules for drinking sparkling wine that are definitely worth following. Perhaps the first and most important of these is that it should be served cold, at a temperature of between 6-8 °C. When chilling, it is important not to shock the bottle, so never put a bottle at room temperature in the freezer, because the sudden cooling will make the bubbles more “aggressive.” The most ideal – and most elegant – way to chill sparkling wines is in an ice bucket filled with a mixture of ice and water. It is also worth storing it in the ice bucket after opening to maintain the desired temperature.
Discreet hissing instead of popping
It is also worth exercising a little caution when opening the bottle. Popping and shooting out the cork is only appropriate in exceptional cases, but fortunately, more and more people today appreciate the quiet but intense hissing sound of opening a bottle. If we hold the champagne bottle by its base and cork and twist the bottle itself instead of the cork, we can open our sparkling with less effort and in a very elegant manner.
Flute instead of goblet
Like most drinks, sparkling wine has its own special glass. Champagne glasses are flute-shaped (champagne flute) or tulip-shaped. These long, thin glasses allow the bubbles to sparkle more beautifully. In good quality sparklings, the bubbles are small and the effervescence is long-lasting. It is important to know that glasses should only be filled to 2/3 capacity. Firstly because it is not elegant to fill a glass to the brim, and secondly, because we have to be careful when filling the glass due to the effervescence. Thirdly, to prevent the wine from warming up during a garden party, for example, it is better to fill the glass less and refill it with fresh, cold sparkling when it is empty. The wide-rimmed goblet is therefore a thing of the past! According to legend, Madame Pompadour had her court craftsmen model the first champagne glass on her own breasts (it was not yet flute-shaped…).
The rim of a true champagne glass curves slightly inward so that the delicate aroma of the drink is concentrated in the glass. The most professional champagne glasses have a tiny, invisible Mousseux point engraved in the bottom. This creates a slight surface tension, causing the bubbles to concentrate there and burst onto the surface of the glass in a spectacular cascade.
Teaspoon – just a myth
It is customary to put a teaspoon in opened bottle to help preserve the sparkling freshness of the drink. Unfortunately, I have to disappoint everyone, because this trick only works in the very short term: a teaspoon cannot work miracles. It merely reduces the volume of the bottle opening, allowing the bubbles to escape over a smaller surface area. To properly reseal sparkling wine bottles and thus preserve the carbon dioxide, a champagne stopper is the most suitable option. Of course, the best thing we can do is to finish the bottle once we have opened it.
Don’t swirl it!
Tasting sparkling wines is very similar to tasting still wines, with the main difference being that you should not swirl the drink in the glass too much, as this will cause the bubbles to dissipate more easily. When tasting, pay attention to the color, the bubbles (the effervescence, or sparkle), the aroma, and the taste. The bubbles are revealing: the smaller and rounder they are in the mouth, the more mature the sparkling is. Many people dislike sparkling wine precisely because of the bubbles, but they are missing out on fantastic flavors in their lives. It is recommended to taste sparkling wine slowly, in small sips, so that the bubbles do not “attack” you.
As with wine glasses, champagne glasses should only be held by the stem, not the bowl, partly because fingerprints spoil the magnificent sight of the bubbles, and partly because the contents of the glass warm up quickly from our hands.
There is a sparkling wine for every occasion
For all these reasons, it is worth considering carefully what occasion you will be drinking the sparkling wine on before purchasing it. For friendly conversations and lighter, more relaxed occasions, a tank-fermented sparkling or one that has been aged in the bottle for a shorter period of time is perfect. For an aperitif or to accompany a meal, or even for larger celebrations, it is worth choosing a more characterful one, such as a vintage bottle-fermented sparkling wine.
Sparkling pyramid and other interesting facts
- As far as foaming is concerned, the colder the wine, the less it foams. If you tilt the bottle when opening it, you can avoid excessive foaming.
- It is worth knowing that there is a pressure of approximately. 5-6 bar in the bottle when it is opened, which, compared to the 2.5 bar in car tires, gives a good indication of the forces released when the cork is removed.
- Sparkling wine with a cork should not be stored for more than five years, because after that time, the cork ages and the drink loses its carbonation, which ruins it. This wine was long known as the coronation wine because, for a long time, it was exclusively available to French kings, the monarch and his court.
- It is typical at larger and more formal events to stack the glasses in a pyramid shape and pour the drink from the top glass down, filling all the glasses level by level. This custom, which is very widespread today, dates back to the time of Napoleon, when the famous military leader returned from his trip to Egypt and was celebrated with a champagne pyramid.
My recommendations for tasting from Portugal:
Dom Ponciano Grande Reserva Natural Bruto by Dom Ponciano
This espumante from the Vinho Verde region presents a citrine yellow color with fine bubbles and a persistent cord. Its age is revealed in its golden color and deep aroma, with notes of cooked apple, dried flowers, and a light touch of walnut. Full body supported by fine acidity, creamy palate, and a long, classy finish. Ideal with roasts, red meats, suckling pig and cheeses.
Giz Cuvée de Noirs Late Release Brut by Luís Gomes
An excellent sparkling wine that reflects the unique quality of Bairrada, produced from the emblematic Baga grape variety. On the nose, it stands out with captivating aromas of cottage cheese pie, apple pie, and toasted almonds, accompanied by a subtle touch of sweet fruits. On the palate, it shines with its creamy texture and pronounced freshness. Its minerality and balance are evident, and each sip invites a deeper tasting. Ideal for special occasions, but pairs perfectly with lighter dishes, such as seafood, cheese, and grilled fish.
Ilha do Pico Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs by Adega Vitivinícola da Ilha do Pico
A great sparkling wine from the Azores, produced with the local Arinto dos Açores grape. Very fine and persistent bubbles. Notes of seaweed, iodine, and salty air mingle with some breadiness resulting from the long aging with free yeasts during the 48 months in the bottle. Upon tasting, the bubbles are very elegant, balancing and embracing the wine’s refreshing natural acidity. It finishes long and with a salty sensation. Perfect as an aperitif and to accompany seafood dishes.
This citrus-colored espumante from the Távora-Varosa region was produced from mostly Touriga Nacional and Malvasia Fina, with a bit of Cerceal. Rich and complex aromas on the nose, with notes of brioche and peanuts, cereal, and apple. On the palate, the wine presents a medium level mouthfeel, consistent mousse, good creaminess, and a long finish.
Ninfa Blanc de Noirs Reserva by João M.Barbosa Vinhos
The wine’s slightly salmon color comes from the Pinot Noir grape, which was growing in the Tejo region, in a Mediterranean climate with Atlantic influence. This is a complex and elegant sparkling wine, with very fine bubbles and enveloping mousse. Excellent with light meals, roasts, or even desserts.
Milésime Brut Nature by Quinta d’Aguieira
This sparkling wine from the Bairrada region presents citrine color with golden reflections. On the nose, it reveals an aromatic complexity marked by notes of dried fruits, brioche and toasted bread. On the palate, it is equally complex, with a pleasant volume and distinct freshness. The fine, persistent bubble intensifies the sensation of freshness and provides a long finish. It is an excellent choice for light dishes, from scallops or lobster. But also pairs perfectly with duck breast or sweet desserts such as the Panna Cotta.
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