In the process of manufacturing Champagne,
riddling racks are a must have. Once the sparkling wine has
began to age on the less, it will be time for the concluding
stages. Riddling is essential to the life of Champagne as it
collects the sediment in bottles and deposits it near the
bottle’s mouth. This sediment is what helps to bring the bubbles
bursting out when you pop the cork.
Champagne bottles are put on riddling racks at a 45 degree
angle, comprising the two rectangular boards that have been
hinged at the top of the rack. On each side of the rack, there
are ten rows that contain six holes for the necks of the
bottles. Due to their structure and shape, each riddling rack is
capable of holding 120 bottles, although there are special
models that are made to hold more.
The riddler, who places the bottles, will place a bottle neck
into each one of the holes on the riddling racks. There are
painted lines at the bottom of each bottle, which acts as a
marker for placing the bottles. All markers point in the same
direction, which makes it easy for the riddler to put the
bottles on the racks.
Over the course of several weeks, the riddler will twist each
bottle a few degrees. By doing this every day, the riddler will
prevent the sediment from settling in one place. Once a few
weeks have gone by, the riddler will slant the bottles to a 60
degree angle and ensure that each and every bottle on the
riddling rack is neck down in the proper hole.
Once the riddling process is complete, the Champagne bottles
will be placed in a freezer for a brief period of time. After an
ice plug has formed along the necks of the bottles, they will be
placed on a conveyer belt and taken down the line to a
disgorging machine that will remove the crown caps from each one
of the bottles. Once the crown caps are removed, the pressure is
in place. The pressure that is well known with Champagne bottles
is from the bottle shooting out the ice plug, or the frozen
sediment that is trapped in the bottle.
For the home collector, Champagne racks are also important.
There are other factors involved with riddling racks, such as
temperature and location of the racks. With manufacturers
however; everything simply must be perfect. Champagne is a very
popular wine throughout the world, ideal for celebrations and
special events. Riddling racks are essential to the process,
including the infamous bursting bubbles. Champagne that doesn’t
feature the infamous bursting bubbles isn’t really a tradition -
and certainly wouldn’t be worth the investment.
