What is the Sabrage and how is it done?

Sabrage is a technique used to open a bottle of champagne. Its name comes from the French word sabré, which means saber, which was used for uncorking on ceremonial occasions. Nowadays, a large knife is used instead.

To make a corkage with the Sabrage technique, it is necessary to slide the sabre or knife in the back of the bottle, until giving a dry blow in the upper neck, to remove the cork and leave everything ready for the tasting.

This corking technique became popular in France by the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was his soldiers who spread the method, using their sabres to open champagne bottles to celebrate each of their victories.

Step by step of uncorking with the Sabrage method

Step 1: Slide the knife over the spine of the bottle

First, it is necessary to slide the knife a few times along the spine of the bottle, on the line that joins the two bodies of the champagne bottle, to give it warmth.

Step 2: Apply a dry, hard blow to the neck of the bottle

The second step consists of applying a dry and hard blow, which goes through the upper part of the body of the bottle, until it reaches the mouth, to break the glass and remove the cork. This blow must be made with the blunt part of the knife. In other words, the blade must be facing downwards at the moment of the blow.

The cork and the neck of the bottle remain together after they are separated. The force with which the blow is produced causes the small crystals that break to come apart thanks to the force of the gas itself.

Step 3: Uncorking!

In the following video, you will see a detailed demonstration by our sommeliers Claudio Comella and Cristian Sanmartín, to learn how to perform this technique and uncork your champagne bottle like an expert.