Which statement best describes the combination of cork and muselet?

• A. The cork vents CO2
• B. The cork seals under pressure; the muselet prevents cork ejection
• C. The cork and muselet both seal completely
• D. The muselet seals the bottle; the cork holds cork

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is how a sparkling wine bottle is kept under its high CO2 pressure. The cork is shaped to expand and wedge into the bottle neck, forming a seal that can withstand the pressure inside. The metal muselet (wire cage) sits over the cork and is twisted tight to physically restrain the cork, preventing it from being ejected by the gas trying to push it out. Together, the cork provides the seal and the muselet provides the restraint, keeping the bottle safe and the fizz contained.

This is why venting CO2 through the cork isn’t the intended mechanism—the cork’s job is to seal under pressure, not to vent it, and the muselet’s role isn’t to seal but to hold the cork in place. The cork and muselet don’t both seal the bottle; one seals and the other restrains, ensuring the cork stays put under pressure.