With the holiday season almost upon us, we have no doubt you’ll soon be popping many a bottle of your favourite bubbly. Here are a few fun facts you can share over your next glass of champers.

1. What’s in a name?
Champagne can only bear the name if it was made in the Champagne region of France. The proudly South African cousin is known as Méthode Cap Classique. Bubbly varieties that are not made in the traditional style are simply called sparkling wine.

2. Pop with caution
A bottle contains 49 million bubbles and packs more pressure than a car tyre!

3. Quality assurance
A sign of a good Méthode Cap Classique is the collerette (a collar of bubbles), which forms on the surface of the liquid.

4. Sweet endings
Bubbly is the perfect partner to pudding. Try a dry MCC with a sweet slice of cake or a generous scoop of ice cream.

5. From flat to fabulous
Bubbly looking a bit flat by the end of the night? Drop a raisin into the bottle to restore the effervescence.