The presence of high carbonation in Champagne requires what safety feature on the bottle?

• A. A plastic cap
• B. An unsealed cork
• C. A cork and muselet combination
• D. A loose wire

Answer: (C)

Champagne is bottled under significant internal pressure from dissolved CO2, so the cork must be held in place with a secure restraint. The cork and muselet combination does this: the cork provides the seal, while the wire cage (muselet) grips the cork firmly to prevent it from being forced out by the pressure. This setup is essential for safety and proper serving; a plastic cap isn’t sufficient to restrain the cork, an unsealed cork would be dangerous, and a loose wire without a cork wouldn’t seal or hold the cork in place. The cork plus muselet is the standard safety feature that keeps the bottle safe under high carbonation.