Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Bianca4289 on 29/11/2005 21:19:39

Title: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: Bianca4289 on 29/11/2005 21:19:39: I heard that if you put a spoon in the top of a champagne bottle it keeps the champagne bubbly for longer. Can anyone tell me if this is true and why it is?
Thanks [:)]
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: neilep on 29/11/2005 22:48:43: I've heard this too, and I haven't got a clue....and as a tea-totaller(sad but true) I can't even offer an empirical study for this.

C'mon all you alcys...have a party and give Bianca the answer she needs.

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.world-of-smilies.com%2Fhtml%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Fugly%2Fugly_bums.gif&hash=e21c0210a2673ae990b27e26bb7f6440)
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: Ian33 on 29/11/2005 23:33:59: Here's the story: Champagne (and other world sparkling wines made by a similar process) will keep surprisingly well for a day or two under refrigeration with no protection at all, not even recorking or a special stopper. Why? Simple enough. The bubbles in sparkling wine are carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas that's both inert and heavy. Within minutes after you pop the cork, CO2 forms a protective blanket on top of the wine, more than adequate to forestall oxidation and hold much of the remaining carbonation in liquid form, especially under refrigeration.

Adding the silver spoon does no harm, but it does no particular good, either. You simply don't need it.

Ian

Men are not the same was women, which ever way you cut it
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: sharkeyandgeorge on 01/12/2005 14:41:02: a tea totallar eh i wondered how you could have the time for 4000 odd messages do your self a favour and get pished;)

Giggidy Giggidy Goo
The philosopher Q man
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: dont_panic on 17/12/2005 20:44:52: I wouldnt mind experimenting this... if anyone would like to supply this poor student with at least 6 bottles of champagne [i can provide my own spoons] it would be much appriciated..
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: Solvay_1927 on 17/12/2005 22:09:29: You're a student? Does that mean you'll be putting a spoon in the neck of the champagne bottle, or a straw? [:P]
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 18/12/2005 07:31:48: quote:
You're a student? Does that mean you'll be putting a spoon in the neck of the champagne bottle, or a straw?

Don't students drink Lambrini?
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: neilep on 22/12/2005 19:37:09: As a tea totaller... I had to seek out what lambrini is....Is it like babycham ?

As Sharkeyand george suggesftid (hic)..I went owt (hic..I luff U guys !)..and purrchaysed sum bottles (hic..sick !)....all I cun say izz thatt eyem (I really luff U guys lots) shtill w8ing 4 the alcoh..........(hic...falls off chair in a drunken stupor.....)............(hic)

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: weirdwombat on 10/01/2006 08:52:57: This was tested out on the TV programme "Mythbusters" at Christmas time. They didn't know why this might work-and it didn't. Compared to unopened, recorked and non-covered bottles, the spoon bottle came out worst!
Title: Re: Does a spoon in a champagne bottle prevent the wine going flat?
Post by: rosy on 10/01/2006 12:17:50: Yes... that's be what I'd expect. If you put a spoon in it that's an extra place for the bubbles to nucleate so more bubbles might be expected to escape.