Opening a bottle of champagne always has an element of ceremony, but it should be a quiet, smooth and safe process. There is considerable pressure in a bottle of champagne (corks have been measured erupting at speeds of up to 80 km/h!), so it is very important to hold the cork securely once the wire cage is loosened and until the cork has been safely eased out. Find the tab or the perforated section on the foil cap and gently remove Holding the bottle with one hand, secure the wire cage (muselet) with your thumb. Using your other hand, unwind the wire loop (6 turns anticlockwise) and loosen the wire cage away from the bottle slightly, but do not remove it. Keeping a firm grip on the cork and wire cage, tilt the bottle at a 30- to 45-degree angle. With the other hand, grip the base of the bottle and gently rotate the bottle until a quiet ‘hiss’ escapes.