Adulthood, that awful thing that sneaks up on you whilst you’re trying to figure out how to change tyres, pay taxes and eat with those weird knives and forks they put out at fancy restaurants.

Then there’s also the small matter of opening a good bottle of wine or champagne with a thirsty crowd watching your every move. There’s an art to it, you see, something that Novak Djokovic will do well to remember for future victories. If you’d like to avoid a cork to the snout (and you don’t wish to use a sabre) here are a few handy tips to ease you into the world of adulthood courtesy of the Telegraph:

 Chill it

Scientists agree that the best serving temperature for fizzy wines is 4 degrees celsius. Warm champagne will potentially spill when you uncork the bottle, so chill it in a bucket filled with ice for 15 to 20 minutes.

Loosen the cage

Now your bottle is the right temperature, remove the foil that is wrapped around the cork. Twist the metal hook around the cage to loosen the cork. Be careful not to remove the cage too quickly, otherwise the bottle may uncork before you’re ready.

Grip the bottle and turn

With your dominant hand, grip the body of the bottle. With your other hand, grab the fat end of the cork so it is resting in the palm of your hand. Once you’ve got a good grip, place the base of the bottle at a 45 degree angle against your hip for support.

Begin turning the bottle back and forth with your dominant hand while still keeping a firm grip on the cork with the other. Continue with this, slowly releasing the pressure of your hand on top of the cork as it begins to turn.

Point the bottle away from you

Once you can see the cork is almost out, resist the urge to forcefully pop it, and instead let it slide out gently. Be careful to point the bottle away from your face so it doesn’t pop in your eyes. If you’ve followed the steps perfectly, the cork should come out with a sigh and, contrary to popular belief, not a loud pop.

Good stuff, now comes the easiest part of all. Accept all the plaudits, tilt your head back and pour the good stuff where it belongs. You’ve only gone and outdone yourself.

[source:telegraph]