Definition: Muselet

Photo: The wire cage, plate and cork require a great deal of ingenuity to ensure the proper preservation of champagne and other sparkling wines.

To seal sparkling wines, a twisted wire cage is fitted over a metal plate that holds the cork in the neck of the bottle, regardless of the pressure inside.

The muselet is held in place by the ring on the neck, which is particularly prominent on bottles of sparkling wines. Made to withstand humid conditions, the muselet is made of braided galvanised wire. The plate that presses down on the cork is made of stainless steel, with the producer's mark on the outside. These plates are collected by placomusophiles.

In the past, corks were held in place by oiled hemp string, protected by wax. This method was not very resistant to humidity and rodents. The wire cage was invented in 1844, when Adolphe Jacquesson patented it. It is still used today to hold the corks in place on bottles of champagne and other sparkling wines.

See also Muselage.