6 Super Handy Ways To Open A Bottle Of Wine, Even If You Don’t Have A Wine Tool
By Antoinette DeJure | Updated on 12/27/2023
Have you ever struggled with opening a bottle of wine? Luckily, modern solutions have made this process much easier. There are a variety of tools available on the market that can help you open a bottle of wine without any hassle. From traditional corkscrews to electric openers, there are many options to choose from. Some wine enthusiasts even prefer to use air pressure pumps to remove the cork, as it doesn’t damage the cork or the bottle. Regardless of your chosen method, the ultimate goal is to enjoy wine with your loved ones.
Uncorking wine with a corkscrew is a time-honored tradition that adds an element of anticipation and elegance to the wine-drinking experience.
But what if you don’t have a corkscrew, or any wine opener at all?
Here are several tools and handy techniques that will help you accomplish this task seamlessly, whether you have an opener or not!
First, here are the methods for two different wine tools, if you happen to have one of these.
1. Opening Wine Using A Waiter’s Corkscrew
A corkscrew or Waiter’s Corkscrew, often known by various names, such as Wine Key, Waiter’s Friend, Sommelier Knife, Wine Opener, Cork Extractor, or Bartender’s Corkscrew, is the swiss army knife among waiters, servers, and bartenders.
1. Positioning the Bottle: Before anything else, ensure the bottle is on a stable surface. Hold it firmly and locate the seam where the bottle’s two halves meet.
2. Prepping the Foil: Utilize the blade of the waiter’s corkscrew to neatly cut the foil just below the rim. Rotate the bottle while keeping the corkscrew steady to remove the foil cleanly.
3. Centering the Corkscrew: Place the tip of the corkscrew at the center of the cork. Make sure it’s straight and push it in gently, applying firm and even pressure.
4. Twisting the Corkscrew: Slowly twist the corkscrew into the cork while maintaining a straight angle. Aim for about six turns or until the last curl of the corkscrew is visible.
5. Leveraging the Corkscrew: Position the fulcrum (the small ledge on the corkscrew) on the bottle’s rim and gently pull upwards. Use the handle of the corkscrew to gently lever the cork out of the bottle. Don’t yank or pull the cork out quickly, as this can cause the wine to spill.
6. Final Cork Extraction: Once the cork is partially out, ensure a steady grip on the bottle and continue pulling until the cork is free.
7. Avoiding Cork Crumbles: To prevent cork crumbs from falling into the wine, keep the corkscrew steady and avoid excessive force while extracting the cork.
2. Opening Wine with a Winged Corkscrew
The versatile winged corkscrew, also known as the butterfly, angel, flying corkscrew, tire-bouchon à leviers, or peg corkscrew, embodies effortless wine uncorking with its distinctive design.
1. Prepare the Bottle: Place the bottle on a stable surface. Remove the foil covering the bottle’s cork with a knife or the foil cutter if the corkscrew has one.
2. Position the Corkscrew: Center the corkscrew over the cork’s center. Ensure the screw is straight before proceeding.
3. Initial Cork Insertion: Gently insert the spiral screw into the cork’s center while holding the bottle steady.
4. Secure the Wings: Open the wings of the corkscrew. Ensure they are perpendicular to the bottle’s neck and ready for leverage.
5. Twist and Secure: Begin turning the corkscrew’s top handle clockwise while applying downward pressure. Continue until the screw is nearly fully inserted into the cork.
6. Engage the Wings: Once the screw is almost fully inserted, press the wings down to engage them against the bottle’s lip.
7. Leverage and Extraction: Grasp the bottle firmly and steadily pulling the wings upward, using them as leverage to extract the cork from the bottle.
8. Remove the Cork: Keep a firm grip on the wings while pulling upwards until the cork is completely free from the bottle.
But, what if you don’t have an actual wine opener? Here are four ways to open a bottle of wine without one!
3. Opening Wine with the “Push it in” Method
This method is simple and works well, but you’ll wind up with the cork inside the bottle, hopefully all in one piece, so you’ll want to finish the whole bottle unless you can retrieve the cork. Otherwise, you won’t be able to re-use it and store the wine.
Push the Cork In: Use a blunt object, like the handle of a wooden spoon or a screwdriver, and gently but firmly push the cork into the bottle. If the cork happened to break, then:
Filter Out the Cork: Pour the wine through a fine mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or clean piece of fabric to filter out any cork remnants, or, try the trick in this video:
4. Opening Wine with “the Shoe” Method
This can be dangerous, so be really careful! You don’t want to break the bottle and possibly cut yourself, or worse, wind up with tiny bits of broken glass in your wine! If that happens, filter the wine through a fine filter such as a coffee filter, or, if it seems hopeless, toss it and try another bottle. Nobody wants to drink broken bottle glass.
That said, try this at your own risk! Here you go:
Wrap the Bottle: Place the wine bottle inside a shoe, ensuring it’s secure and won’t break.
Bang Against a Wall: Firmly but cautiously hit the base of the shoe against a solid wall to create pressure against the cork. Slowly, the cork may start to ease out. If it works, thank science!
5. Opening Wine with a Key or Screw Method
Insert a Key or Screw: Use a sturdy key or screw and carefully insert it at an angle into the cork, ensuring it goes in deep enough.
Leverage and Twist: Use the key or screw as a makeshift handle and slowly pull while twisting, allowing the cork to gradually loosen.
Here’s a video demonstration, using a key.
6. Opening Wine Using a Knife or Blade
This is another method where you need to be very careful not to cut yourself! Try this at your own risk!
You have been warned.
Now then, if you’re brave (or foolish), here’s a demo of how it’s done in Russia!:
Insert a Blade: Carefully insert a thin, sharp blade, like a pocketknife, between the cork and the bottle’s neck.
Wiggle the Cork Out: Gently wiggle and twist the blade while applying slight upward pressure to coax the cork out.
These are definitely not the only methods for opening wine without a wine tool!
Do you have a favorite ingenious method of your own? Let us know in the comments!
