Making Champagne and Sparkling Wines

I was asked recently for advice on making Elderflower Champagne. Specifically bottling. There is a joke amongst wine makers that you can tell who makes sparkling wines because they are missing eyes or fingers. So make no mistake, the exploding bottle disaster takes on a whole new meaning with sparkling wines. As a result I have never made a sparkling wine, I'm very happy with the results i get from still wines and haven't had a serious urge to try sparklers. Don't get me wrong, I'm very curious and i understand why others want to try.

So if you are determined to give it a go then here's my advice for elderflower champagne...

Use plastic bottles, those little 500ml screw cap plastic bottles that you get water and pop in are perfect. You can buy them new, a quick google search should yield results. They will hold a lot of pressure and should they explode you won't have fragments of high speed flying glass to worry about. They are unlikely to explode tho, instead you'll see them expanding and i believe they will expend A LOT before they blow. But if you're following a recipe (highly recommended as you won't use too much sugar, the source of the fizz) then you're probably making something that's weak, like only 1-2% ABV, and it'll be cloudy, so presentation isn't all that important.

If you insist on using glass bottles then make sure you use proper champagne bottles. You'll know you've got them because they weigh about a kilogram empty. Make sure there are no chips, cracks or other imperfections. Get the correct corks/stoppers and wire them down with the correct wires so they don't fly out. Then put them somewhere where they won't cause any damage or hurt anyone if they do become grenades. If one does explode then the very best thing to do is to leave them be until they all explode. Then it will be safe to go into the room, or open the door on the cupboard, cellar, loft whatever.

I don't want to put you off trying, but i do want to warm you that it is something that needs great care and consideration .... if you like your eyes and fingers.