h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Could anyone explain me why the habit ( at least here in Europe)
to put , in open champagne or sparkling wine bottles , a spoon handle (in the bottleneck) to keep alive the bubbles inside while in the fridge ? (Instead of a more obvious cork).People doing it swear it works . Others say it's pure lunacy.A) It really works? And why? B)It doesn't work. One more domestic legend?
Thanks to whoever will enlight me.
Piero

I have never had enough champagne left in a bottle to put it back in a fridge so I am happy to say that I cannot answer your question.

well...this may seem senseless...mostly because it is...the spoon handle will only keep the bubbles if it plugs up the opening to the bottle. yes the obvious move would be to put the cork back in....

But it's actually very difficult to get a chanpagne cork back into its bottle. You could buy one of the patent stoppers but I still think you're better off drinking the stuff (or pouring it over a sorbet)

Take a peek at this, from the archives of the New Scientist Last Word feature:

http://www.last-word.com/lastword/answers/lwa1182house.html

It should help with your dilemma

- Adam

Adam , thanks! I had a feeling that was the right answer , but never wanted to waste three bottles to pragmatically approch this silly doubt. Thanks again!