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Make Your Glass of Bubbly Even Fancier

Camilla Salem — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:37:38 PDT

Champagne and sparkling wine are pretty fancy on their own, but if you're looking to make the moment even more special, we've got a few simple ideas for you.

Use berries: Drop a few fresh raspberries or blackberries in your glass for a fruity addition. The delicate champagne bubbles will get trapped in the berry, and you'll be left with a fizzy treat at the end of your drink. Pomegranate seeds are another great option, as they float really sweetly among the bubbles.
Make a champagne cocktail: This classic libation involves a sugar cube, bitters, and just a touch of Armagnac.
Play with interesting liqueurs: A bit of cassis transforms a glass of champagne into a kir royale. Play around with your favorite liqueurs, like St-Germain or crème de violette, to create memorable drinks.
Create a sugar rim: Get crafty with your champagne glass by using sanding sugar. Colorful sugar rims are unexpected and playful.
Make a strawberry garnish: A strawberry and a sprig of fresh mint can make a lovely garnish - one that makes any occasion even more celebratory.

How do you like to fancy up your glass of bubbly?

Choose a Brut Champagne to Save on Calories

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:55:34 PST

We'll be ringing in the New Year soon, and for many of us that means a champagne toast, or two, or three! While the average glass of champagne contains 91 calories, if you're watching your weight, try toasting with brut champagne. Brut is champagne speak for "dry" and signifies a lower sugar content, resulting in a glass of champers that only contains about 65 calories. And the drier the champagne, the better it tastes with salty and savory foods like low-calorie oysters and caviar!

Chill Your Champagne, Stat!

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

When you're celebrating the onset of 2012 tomorrow night, don't fall short on chilled bubbly. If you've got a warm bottle of Champagne and very little time to make it cold, we've got a fast solution for you.

Place your sparkler into an ice bucket or another tall plastic container. Add ice to the bottom and sprinkle the layer with a few tablespoons of salt. Continue to repeat layering ice and salt until the combination reaches the neck of your bottle; add cold water until it reaches ice level.

In a mere ten minutes, your bottle will be chilled. This method of chilling works much faster than simply sitting the bubbly in ice. Adding water increases the chilly surface area, and salt speeds the drop in water temperature (along with ice), making your sparkling wine frigid much faster. Have your own secret tip for chilling Champagne? If so, we'd love to hear about it!

Toast the New Year With the Women of Vintage Champagne Ads

Tara Block — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:01 PST

It's time to break out the bubbly! Even if you don't have any extravagant plans for New Year's Eve, there's no better way to ring in 2012 than with a Champagne toast. So this NYE, take an uber-glam cue from the ladies who've graced Champagne ads over the years. See the evolution of women in Champagne ads, from the vintage to the modern, and cling some glasses to the New Year!

The Perfect New Year's Sweet Treat: Sparkling Champagne Cupcakes

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:05:59 PST

New Year's is my favorite time of year, and Champagne is my favorite drink. So it's no surprise that when I came across a recipe for Champagne cupcakes last week, I nearly jumped out of my seat with excitement. These cupcakes have Champagne in the batter, in the pastry cream filling, and in the buttercream frosting. How much more exciting can this dessert get?

There are quite a few steps involved in this recipe, but I was able to whip up a batch in just a couple of hours. These would make an impressive addition to any New Year's party, or if you're planning a sweet night in to ring in 2012, cut the recipe in half and enjoy them yourself!

For more on these fabulously festive cupcakes, and for the recipe, keep on going.

A Primer on How Champagne Is Made

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:25:56 PST

Recently, while sipping a glass of excellent Champagne, I had a horrible realization. I know nothing about the way Champagne is produced! Sure, I can read the label, pair it with food, and select a decent bottle, but when it comes to the hard-core technique that is the Methode Champenoise, I know very little. Naturally, I decided to learn all about it and share the process with you:

It begins like any other wine making procedure: the grapes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay) are harvested, pressed, and the juice is placed in vats.
Next yeast is added. The yeast reacts with the sugar in the grapes, and this produces alcohol. This takes about six months. At this point, the wine is flat. Thus, begins the second fermentation process that turns it into bubbly.

Keep reading for the rest of the Champagne-making method.

Bring on the Bubbly With These Sparkling Cocktails

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:50:04 PST

It's time to get festive, and that means that bottles will be popping left and right! Champagne or sparkling wine is wonderful enjoyed on its own, but why not step it up a notch? Take a look at our recipes for cocktails that have just the right amount of effervescence to them.

Source: Thinkstock

Happy Hour: The Hummingbird

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:49:00 PST

During the holidays, I like to buy a big bottle of St-Germain, mostly because the bottle is so beautiful and I'm a sucker for great packaging, but also because I just love the delicate elderflower flavor. Made from hand-picked elderflowers, it's a delightful and unusual addition to cocktails.

St-Germain goes well with almost everything, from whisky to tequila, but The Hummingbird cocktail combines delicate champagne bubbles with sparkling water and a lemon twist. This refreshing cocktail won't leave you feeling tipsy after a drink or two, but it's still incredibly celebratory and perfect for the holiday season. Are you craving one yet? Keep reading for the recipe.

5 Reasons You Shouldn't Be Afraid of Opening a Champagne Bottle

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:17:35 PDT

At a viewing party for The Bachelorette last night, I was surprised to learn that many of the ladies in attendance don't like to open champagne. "It's scary," a friend said. "I'm afraid I'm going to hit someone in the eye!" another chimed in. Since I've opened more bottles of sparkling wine than I can count, I'm living proof that it's a safe act to perform on a regular basis. In fact, it's a task that everyone should master with confidence! To encourage you to open that bottle of bubbly, I've got five reasons you shouldn't fear the cage, or the cork. Find out what they are - and chime in with your thoughts in the comments - when you read on.

A Look at Moët & Chandon's Latest Champagnes

Susannah Chen — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:09:35 PDT

As sparkling wine enthusiasts, Katie and I couldn't turn down a rare opportunity to try some of Moët & Chandon's latest releases with the Champagne house's chef de cave Benoit Gouez himself. At a private tasting, we sampled a curated collection as Gouez talked to us about Champagne's evolving market. See what one of France's notable winemakers had to say about the American palate - and what we thought of his bubbly! - when you keep reading.