Where there is to celebrate, there is champagne. It’s the ultimate drink that is often the star of celebratory toasts, but sometimes, it’s the pop of cork that fills the air with excitement. But, despite the high spirit that champagne spraying brings, there is a question that often comes up:
Is champagne sticky?
Champagne can be sticky because it has sugar. It’s made of grapes, which naturally have sugars in them. However, while it contains sugar and is generally sweet, some champagnes are dry. So, the debate on whether champagne is sticky or not depends on the style of wine.
Below, we’ll guide you through the art of spraying champagne, its origins, and how to get that picture-perfect bubbly pop.
Is Spilled Champagne Sticky?
It can be sticky when spilled. But you need to consider the style of champagne you spray.
Champagne styles such as Brut and Extra Brut are bone dry, which means they have minimal to zero sweetness. These sparkling wines almost definitely aren’t sticky. But champagne styles like Demi-Sec usually have more residual sugar, which makes them stickier.
That said, while sparkling wine contains sugar, the carbonation creates tiny bubbles that can help keep it from being sticky on surfaces.
If You Spray Champagne Will It Be Sticky When It Dries?
Champagne is almost always sticky when it dries. If you’re not in the mood for cleaning your floors, carpet, and other surfaces, spray champagne outdoors.
Why Do People Spray Champagne Everywhere?
You might think it’s a waste of good champagne. But for many sports enthusiasts, spraying champagne is a symbol of victory. It’s been quite a tradition in many race sports. But now, not only is spraying champagne a common thing in the sports arena, but it’s also at almost all celebrations.
Spraying champagne is another way to say congratulations. You’ll see champagne being sprayed on graduation days, birthdays, weddings, parties, New Year’s Eve, or just any event that calls for it.
Technically, champagne bottles need to be opened so you can hear the bubbles whisper. But in popping the bottles, you don’t drink champagne. Think about doing celebratory toasts in the real world, except that the champagne is shaken up and popped open to be sprayed all over the place.
Where Did Champagne Showers Come From?
Just like the discovery of bubbles in champagne (thanks, Dom Pérignon!), the cool origin behind champagne spraying is actually by accident.
Given their frothiness, when the champagnes of Dom Pérignon’s abbey of Hautvillers in the Champagne region were found to be explosive due to the sugary second fermentation in the bottles, they were stored in thicker champagne bottles to avoid them from exploding en route for importation.
This cherished tradition in car racing sports can be traced back to 1967 when American race car driver Dan Gurney won the 24 Hours of Le Mans onboard the Ford GT with A.J. Foyt. He was handed a sun-warmed bottle of Moët & Chandon on the top of the podium.
Spirits were high at the time, so instead of drinking the champagne, without thinking about it, Durney swished it around and drenched his teammates.
The iconic moment was captured by photographer Flip Schulke and the champagne spray has since become a tradition in many racing sports, especially in Formula 1 racing.
How To Pop a Champagne Cork Properly
Popping a bubbly, no matter the celebration is a wonderful way to spice it up (if you don’t mind the mess, of course!). But do you know the proper way to spray champagne and create an exciting fountain?
If not, follow our step-by-step guide for safe popping a bubbly!
- So first, choose your champagne. Make sure it’s one that you like, but the best champagne to pop is cheap champagne since it will go to waste, anyway. We recommend Brut champagne for the traditional vibe, and so it won’t be very sticky. You can also opt for the sweeter Doux or Demi-Sec champagnes.
- Now, open the bottle. A twist-top bottle is easier to open.
- Then, put your finger on top and go rogue with it as you release the pressure. It’s important to move your thumb or finger slightly to create a small opening on the bottle. The way you do this is similar to how you would put your thumb over a garden hose.
- Cover the opening with your thumb and shake it up again. Enjoy the rest of the celebration!
Tip: Don’t shake and open the champagne bottle at the same time. Doing so may cause the spray to fall off, leaving you with little to no explosion at all.
Another tip is to keep the champagne bottle slightly tilted at a 45-degree angle and away from you and everyone. And make sure not to spray your photographer!
Get a Picture-Perfect Bubbly Spray!
Once you release the bubbly from the bottle, there’ll be no more second take, unless you do it for a photo. You can buy multiple bottles of cheap champagne so you can have several takes. Getting that picture-perfect champagne spray may require some trials.
One of the first things you should do is wait to shake the bottle before you’re ready to take the photos, otherwise, you will lose the force of the spray too quickly.
It’s also important to choose the ideal location. Remember, champagne is sticky. You don’t want to spray champagne when it hits surfaces like your carpet, upholstery, walls, and floor. Instead, pick an outdoor location with nice surroundings.
Once all is set, open the bottle, shake it up, and spray. Don’t forget to let your photographer know when you’re ready.
FAQs
Why Is Champagne Sticky?
Champagne is sticky because it contains sugar. The grapes have natural sugar in them, making champagne sticky. There’s also the additional sugar winegrowers use to balance out the taste of the wine, which adds to the stickiness.
What Champagne Is Best for Grad Pics?
The type of champagne doesn’t really matter, especially if it’s just for photos. You may go with an inexpensive bottle from champagne brands like André and Corbel. Buying multiple bottles of cheaper sparkling wine brands allows you to do several takes.
Key Takeaway
Champagne can indeed be sticky due to its sugar content. Regardless, no one can deny the excitement and joy that it brings to any celebration, whether it’s served in elegant flutes or shaken and sprayed up in the air.
If you have more questions about all things champagne, don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll be more than happy to help. Cheers!
