Best Champagne for Grad Photos (and How to Get the Perfect Spray)

If you’re planning a champagne spray during your Virginia Tech grad photo session, the goal is simple: a big, dramatic burst that looks amazing in photos. The good news is you don’t need expensive French champagne. For photos, a basic Brut sparkling wine works great and sprays just as well as the fancy stuff. Save the expensive bottle for celebrating later.

What bottles to buy

Look for Brut sparkling wine. “Brut” means dry, and these bottles tend to have stronger carbonation and a better spray. Good, easy-to-find options include Freixenet Cava Brut, Korbel Brut, or almost any grocery store Brut sparkling wine. Kroger in Blacksburg usually carries these, but during graduation season they can sell out quickly, so it’s smart to grab a bottle ahead of time rather than the day of your shoot.

What to avoid

Skip anything labeled Moscato, Demi-Sec, or Sweet. They usually produce a weaker spray and can be extra sticky. Also avoid anything that doesn’t have a real cork and wire cage. If it opens like a soda bottle, it’s probably not going to give you the classic champagne blast.

How to shake and spray the bottle

• Start with the bottle chilled (refrigerator cold is perfect).
• Point the bottle away from people and angle it slightly upward, about 45°.
• Remove the foil and loosen the wire cage, but keep your thumb firmly on the cork the whole time.
• Shake the bottle hard for about 10–15 seconds. Don’t be shy about it.
• Slowly loosen the cork while keeping your thumb on it so it doesn’t launch across campus.
• When the cork pops, aim the bottle upward and start spraying immediately.
• Keep shaking while spraying so the stream lasts longer for photos.

One last tip

Most people stop spraying after one second. Don’t. Keep shaking and spraying for a few seconds so we can capture the full celebration. If you want to play it safe, bring two bottles. The first one is the warm-up. The second one is the hero shot.🍾