With a nod to Jimmy Durante....

[wondersofwine]

I'm a coward about opening Champagne or other sparklers under pressure. At the church fundraiser, Bill P., who is a beer distributor, opened the two sparklers for me. However, the method I've heard is to loosen the wire while keeping a thumb over the cork. Cover the cork with a thin towel (like a dish cloth) and then gently twist the bottle (not the cork). Bill did this and the cork came out with a pop but didn't explode from the bottle AND the sparkling wine did not overflow and go to waste.