Editor's Note: This fall, Ridgefield became enamoured with the art of sabrage when Mitch Ancona of Ancona's Wines & Liquors set a new Guiness World Record by opening 35 champagne bottles by sabrage in one minute. Now, just a short distance from Ridgefield, you can learn the art of sabrage in North Salem. You might not ever hold a Guiness World Record but you can entertain family and friends with your new "bottle opening" technique.
Sabrage and Champagne Fun and Fundraiser! Learn how to open a bottle of champagne with a sword!
Looking for a fun and unique way to ring in the new year? Why not learn the art of sabrage and give your friends and family a thrill when you "uncork" 2014 in a most unconventional and fun way! Please join us for this engaging and intoxicating fundraiser by Way of the Sword. Please help herald this festive event to others...the more the merrier!
Location: Union Hall Fencing Studio at 2 Keeler Lane North Salem, NY 10560
Date: Sunday, Dec. 22nd
Time: 3 pm to 5 pm
Way of the Sword, is a privately owned and operated USFA club that promotes the art of fencing in our local communities. Our aim is to foster a love of fencing as a sport and art form as well as to ultimately create programs at the middle and high school levels. All donations from this fundraiser will be used to purchase and maintain equipment needed for Way of the Sword youth programs. The Way of the Sword teaches classes in Ridgefield at the Ridgefield Recreation Center (RRC); to learn more click HERE or visit the RRC.
Fencing Coach Mike Martin will lead the formal sabrage instruction and demonstration. Students of "The Way" will enjoy open fencing and provide demonstrations for aspiring newcomers. Please
To participate in sabrage you must be 21+ and bring:
- a real sword (not competition), or a heavy butcher's knife will do just fine. Note, we do NOT use the sharp end of the blade to open the bottle but instead the blunted back-end (see picture above).
- a minimum of one bottle of champagne (sparkling wine) but I recommend at least two or three to get it right.
- a dish towel to hold the bottle securely in your hand or glovechampagne flutes (or use the cheesy plastic tumblers I will supply).
Appetizers provided by Diane Balch of Simple Living and Eating. Savory: Salmon dilled gravlax with mustard sauce, gougeres, tartine saint-germain (roast beef squares) Sweet: cocoa sables, speculoos, nutella tartine cheese, fruit, and crackers. Sparkling cider will be available for the kids to enjoy.
Courtesy Wikipedia:
This technique became popular in France when the army of Napoleon visited many of the aristocratic domains. It was just after the French Revolution and the saber was the weapon of choice of Napoleon's light cavalry (the Hussars). Napoleon's spectacular victories across all Europe gave them plenty of reason to celebrate. During these parties the cavalry would open the Champagne with their sabers. Napoleon, known to have said, "Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it." may have encouraged this.
There are many stories about this tradition. One of the more spirited tales is that of Madame Clicquot, who had inherited her husband's small Champagne house at the age of 27. She used to entertain Napoleon's officers in her vineyard, and as they rode off in the early morning with their complimentary bottle of Champagne, they would open it with their saber to impress the rich young widow.