2006-07-04 05:36:49 · 17 answers · asked by t 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
Dear emynlasgalen,
Well your readers were mostly right. The original reason for the napkin is for when you open the Champagne. You will use the napkin to ease the cork out of the top of the bottle (you never want to get that big "POP" sound when you uncork the champagne), then you would use the napkin to clean off the top and the inside of the top of the bottle. A true Champagne or Methode Champagnoise will be made by riddling the top of the bottle, so there will be some residuals at the base of the cork. You won't want that floating in your glass of Champagne.
But what no one has mentioned, is the fact that you would fold the napkin, in a kerchief shape and then fold it around the bottle, is that unless you have served the entire bottle, you will put the bottle in an Ice Bucket. The napkin is to prevent water and bits of ice from running into the Champagne flute.
People who wrap a paper napkin around their beer bottles are just O.C.D. or Anal Retentive.
Happy Wrapping!
James
2006-07-10 20:12:49 · answer #1 · answered by jpr_sd 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Napkin Around Wine Bottle
2017-01-20 11:42:34 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chilled bottles can sweat at room temperature. The napkin helps maintain a better grip on the bottle when opening. When opened there is also the possibility of the contents foaming out. Then the napkin helps prevent making a mess.
Also the napkin is almost always folded in an elegant way which helps to provide a formal flair to the occasion.
2006-07-04 05:44:49 · answer #3 · answered by Raymond C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do it so that moisture condensenting around the bottle will not drip into the glass (Champaigne) or onto a person (beer).
2006-07-04 05:40:23 · answer #4 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the bottles are cold and wet. It helps to have a better grip when popping the cork. The last bottle I served was number 2897. I was a bar manager for years.
2006-07-04 06:38:05 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because champagne foams up when it's opened. The napkin is to catch the foam.
2006-07-04 05:40:22 · answer #6 · answered by notyou311 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So that the bottle doesn't slip from the grip when drunk.
Also the cold is not conducive to being tipsy...so it sort of insulates
2006-07-10 20:07:13 · answer #7 · answered by Maloy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To keep the condensation from running into your glass. No one wants to water down expensive champagne.
2006-07-04 10:33:42 · answer #8 · answered by la expat 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To catch any spills from getting on their hands
2006-07-04 05:44:29 · answer #9 · answered by musiclover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
preventative measure to avoid messy drips onto the floor, or onto your shirt, the tablecloth.
2006-07-04 07:17:38 · answer #10 · answered by Lucy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋