The art of Sabrage: what it is, how it originated, and how to do it

Sabrage: What it is, how it originated, and how to do it!

The art of sabrage is a dramatic and elegant technique for opening a bottle of sparkling wine (usually champagne or a good brut sparkling wine) with a saber , a small sword. This practice has historical roots and is often associated with celebrations and special occasions.

🥂 Historical Origin

Sabrage dates back to the time of Napoleon Bonaparte in the 19th century. It is said that the hussars, soldiers of Napoleon's cavalry, celebrated victories by opening bottles of champagne with their sabers while riding. Napoleon is said to have remarked:

"Champagne! Deserved in victory; necessary in defeat."

🗡️ How does sabrage work?

Sabrage doesn't cut the glass of the bottle — the internal pressure (about 6 atmospheres, like a truck tire!) causes the neck to break upon impact with the saber, making the cork pop out along with a glass ring.

Basic steps:

Chill the bottle thoroughly – ideally between 6 and 8°C. The colder it is, the easier and safer the process will be.

Remove the capsule and the muselet (the wire cage).

Find one of the seams on the bottle , where the glass is most fragile.

Tilt the bottle slightly (about 45°) and hold it firmly.

Slide the saber firmly along the seam , towards the neck, with a quick and decisive movement.

The impact causes the top of the bottle neck to pop off, cork and all .

⚠️ Safety and precautions

Although it may seem like a fun spectacle, sabrage involves a risk of injury and should be done with care:

Wearing protective eyewear is recommended.

Never point the bottle at people or fragile objects.

Use a sabre blade or a knife with a blunt blade (some even use the back of a sturdy kitchen knife).

Confirm that there are no defects in the bottle (scratches or cracks).

🎉 When to use sabrage

At special events , such as weddings, inaugurations, wine dinners…

To create an Instagrammable moment .

As part of a wine performance that enhances both the product and the experience.

Here's the YouTube link where you can see Nelson opening with our saber:

https://youtube.com/shorts/nQlNZLLOzdo

It was at the end of a wine tasting, at a private event, and we had a little surprise planned: we opened a sparkling wine that we wanted to offer to the participants so they could toast. But we opened the sparkling wine with a saber. Perfectly suited for the occasion, the saber did its job and served its purpose!