Champagne corks

[AllYourBase]

If you were to fire the cork off a regular bottle of champagne (ie not shaken or the like) - how far would it travel?

The reason I ask is that I was wrestling with a bottle last night and eventually went into the garden as I was worried about the spillage. I couldn't keep hold of the cork but couldn't see how far it had travelled - could it have cleared the row of houses behind mine?

[Pinotage]

30 - 40 feet

They are very dangerous and people have lost eyes by being hit with a Champagne cork.

The best way to open Champagne is:-

Chill the bottle

Remove foild from neck and loosen the wire cage

Put a tea towel over the neck and grasp the cork - leaving the wire cage should give you some grip

Holding the base of the bottle with the other hand, gently twist the bottle holding the cork firm.

The cork should come free with a tiny sigh, but if the pressure is too great, e.g. if its been shaken, the the tea towel willprevent it flying away and causing harm or damage.

[Artemis]

Well done Pinotage. This is absolutely the correct way to open a champagne bottle. No waste, which is very important because of the price.