Correct way to pour champagne?

[Peterpetrole]

I've advised a colleague that putting your thumb in the base of the bottle so you hold it right at the base is an absurd affectation which has no basis in etiquette.

Apparently some rich chav told her that's how it's done properly at a house party.

Debrett's makes no mention of it. Personally I don't want waiters doing a balancing act with their fingertips while dangling a bottle over me.

I'm quite posh, so are you with me on this?

[RedWhiteMonkey]

You pour it yourself? Pauper, get the butler to do it.

[Muzzer79]

If you consult Debretts for guidance, you've got bigger problems than pouring champagne.....

[Exiled Imp]

[Peterpetrole]

Muzzer79 said:

If you consult Debretts for guidance, you've got bigger problems than pouring champagne.....

Depends what circles you move in

[blue_haddock]

I just pop the cork, put my straw in and slurp away....

[Muzzer79]

Peterpetrole said:

Muzzer79 said:

If you consult Debretts for guidance, you've got bigger problems than pouring champagne.....

Depends what circles you move in

It really doesn't.....

[Abbott]

From the G.H.Mumm website

https://www.mumm.com/fr-fr/mumm-a-la-carte/comment...

Si la bouteille de champagne sort d’un seau à glace, veillez à l’essuyer à l’aide d’un linge blanc.

Pour un service dans les règles de l’art, il convient ensuite de tenir la bouteille, à pleine main, par le corps ou à sa base, et non par le col.

Toutefois, si vous avez choisi un magnum Mumm, il sera trop lourd pour pouvoir être tenu ainsi, il est alors recommandé de le saisir d’une main par le fond, le pouce dans la piqûre (c’est-à-dire le creux de la bouteille) pour une meilleure prise, et l’autre main soutenant le goulot.

[AB]

Peterpetrole said:

Debrett's makes no mention of it.

That's me doing it every time then

[dunkind]

Mumm? Really? Who’s drinking that muck?

[dunkind]

@Peter. OP your first paragraph is absolutely correct.

[Peterpetrole]

Abbott said:

From the G.H.Mumm website

https://www.mumm.com/fr-fr/mumm-a-la-carte/comment...

Si la bouteille de champagne sort d’un seau à glace, veillez à l’essuyer à l’aide d’un linge blanc.

Pour un service dans les règles de l’art, il convient ensuite de tenir la bouteille, à pleine main, par le corps ou à sa base, et non par le col.

Toutefois, si vous avez choisi un magnum Mumm, il sera trop lourd pour pouvoir être tenu ainsi, il est alors recommandé de le saisir d’une main par le fond, le pouce dans la piqûre (c’est-à-dire le creux de la bouteille) pour une meilleure prise, et l’autre main soutenant le goulot.

(For the less fluent this advises body or base is ok, but the base is only really useful for magnums requiring two hands)

[sherman]

You pour it into your gob using a funnel

[TV200]

WSET guide;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrXv5bA9AP8

[Peterpetrole]

TV200 said:

WSET guide;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrXv5bA9AP8

Is that an official industry type guide? Again, it clearly shows by the middle, not messing about with thumb in the base.

[mac96]

sherman said:

You pour it into your gob using a funnel

Whilst extending the little finger at if you were a posh tea drinker. Makes otherwise peasant behaviour acceptable in the best circles

Or perhaps not.

[Mobile Chicane]

Down the side of a pint glass, like lager.

[TownIdiot]

Peterpetrole said:

Is that an official industry type guide? Again, it clearly shows by the middle, not messing about with thumb in the base.

It is.

If you are an insider you get a longer video that explains the punishments expected for the offence of thumbing the base.

[RizzoTheRat]

Exiled Imp said:

If you drink it like that you risk cutting yourself on the bottle. Unless you're some kind of pleb who pops the cork out rather than opening it properly with a sword.

[akirk]

I have heard several reasons for the finger in the bottom of the bottle:
- it stops your hands warming up the bottle
- it allows you a longer reach when serving someone at the table - you don't have to push past them as much you can serve them from just behind them

the latter makes sense - other than that, do whatever you want - as for etiquette - those who need to read up on how to do somethiing to look as though they have made it - have not made it. Those who have made it don't care what anyone thinks of them, so do whatever they want.