How to Open a Bottle of Wine

The first step to enjoying an elegant glass of wine is opening the bottle, and there are many ways to remove the cork intact. Whether you have a wing corkscrew or a sommelier knife (waiter's corkscrew), or are using a DIY alternative, it’s fairly easy to master opening most wine bottles. You can try a screw and pliers–or even a shoe–if you're in a pinch, or skip the corks and buy screw-top wine bottles instead!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Opening with a Wing Corkscrew

1. Score the cork foil with a knife and peel it away. Most wing corkscrews don't come with knife attachments, so use a sharp kitchen knife to score the foil just under the lip of the wine bottle. Pull off the foil cap and discard it.^[1]
   
   
   
2. Set the corkscrew in place on top of the cork. Place the tip of the corkscrew in the center of the cork and push down gently. The metal cap surrounding the screw should rest against the top of the bottle, while the wings should be lowered against the neck of the wine bottle.^[2]
   
   
   • Simply indent the top of the cork with the tip of the screw–it doesn't need to be deeply embedded at this point.
3. Twist the handle clockwise to drill the screw into the cork. Hold the metal cap in place over the bottle’s top, keeping your hand below the "wings" that are lowered against the neck of the wine bottle. Use your other hand to turn the handle and screw the corkscrew into the cork. Each time you twist, the wings will extend a bit further upward and outward.^[3]
   
   
   • Continue turning the handle until the wings are fully extended—that is, perpendicular to the wine bottle and parallel with the table.
   • With the wings fully extended, the screw should be at the ideal depth. Don't continue twisting, or you might drive the screw through the bottom of the cork, which could leave cork bits in your wine!
4. Push down on the wings to pull the cork upward. Set the bottle on a table and use both hands to push down the wings of the corkscrew. As you push them down, the screw will retract and lift the cork. Once the wings are fully down and against the neck of the bottle, the cork will likely be fully removed.^[4]
   
   
   • If the cork isn’t quite free of the bottle yet, give the corkscrew a few wiggles and twists, then pull upward to finish removing the cork. If it still isn’t free, twist the screw back down into the cork until the wings are halfway extended, then repeat the process.

[Edit]Using a Sommelier Knife

1. Cut off the cork foil with the folded knife. The sommelier knife (also known as a waiter’s corkscrew or a wine key) is constructed with a folded knife on one end and a folded corkscrew on the other. Open the knife and use it to score the foil just below the lip at the top of the wine bottle. Remove the foil cap and discard it, then close the knife into its recess.^[5]
   
   
   • Some sommelier knives have a sharp disc, rather than a knife, for cutting the foil.
   • The foil should always be cut just below the lip of the wine bottle in order to prevent any wine from touching it when poured. Coming into contact with the foil can change the taste of the wine.
2. Unfold the corkscrew and insert it in the cork. Position the tip of the corkscrew in the center of the wine bottle's cork, push it in slightly, then begin twisting it clockwise. Keep twisting the corkscrew until you have only one spiral of the screw still visible. This usually takes about 6½ twists.^[6]
   
   
   • Don't twist too far into the cork, or pieces from the bottom of the cork may end up in the wine.
   • If you don't twist far enough, the cork may break in two when you try to extract it.
3. Dislodge the cork slightly by using the lever arm’s ridges for leverage. Bend the lever arm down toward the neck of the bottle. There are typically 2 indentations or ridges along the inside of the lever arm. Set the ridge closest to the lever arm's hinge over the lip of the bottle, then squeeze inward and downward on the lever arm—the leverage this creates will nudge the cork upward.^[7]
   
   
   • If the cork hasn't fully released yet, set the ridge that's furthest from the lever arm's hinge on the bottle’s lip and repeat the process to continue dislodging the cork.
   • If the cork won't budge, you may not have twisted the corkscrew in far enough. Twist it until there is only one spiral remaining before using the lever.
4. Pull up on the handle to remove the cork. Lift the lever arm back up so that the device is once again in a T-shape, then pull up firmly on the handle (created in part by the lever arm). The cork should easily lift from the bottle with a slight pop. Wiggle and twist the cork a bit as you pull upward if it’s giving slight resistance.^[8]
   
   
   • If the cork doesn't lift out of the bottle, screw the corkscrew in deeper, lift the cork using the lever arm, and try pulling on the handle again.
   • In fine restaurants, sommeliers often remove the corkscrew while the cork is still about halfway in the bottle, then finish removing the cork by hand. The cork is set on the table for the patron to examine for signs of freshness.

[Edit]Trying a Screw and Pliers

1. Cut off the foil that covers the cork. Use a kitchen knife to score the foil just below the lip of the wine bottle. Take off the foil cap and discard it.^[9]
   
   
   • Work very carefully with the knife. Nothing ruins a nice evening and a great bottle of wine like a deep gash in your hand!
2. Grab a clean screw and a set of pliers. The average wine cork is about in length, and you need the screw to be long enough to drive deeply into the cork and yet protrude out of the top of it by about . Even though the screw should never actually contact the wine, wash it off with soap and water.^[10]
   
   • If you want to clean the screw more completely after washing it off, disinfect it by soaking it in a dish of rubbing alcohol for 1-2 minutes. Even better, sterilize it by placing it in boiling water for at least 5 minutes, or ideally 15 minutes, then letting the water cool.
   • A slightly shorter screw may work, but don’t go any shorter than in length.
3. Twist the screw clockwise into the cork with a screwdriver. Press the tip of the screw into the center of the top of the cork to make a starting indentation. Then, turn the screw into the center of the cork until there is about sticking out. You may be able to do this with only your fingers, but using a screwdriver makes it that much easier.^[11]
   
   
   • Remember that you need to twist clockwise to drive a screw into a cork, a piece of wood, or anything else.
   • Work carefully to ensure that the cork does not break apart into smaller pieces.
   • Do not allow the screw to pierce the bottom of the cork and potentially touch the wine. If you’re using a screw that’s long, leave protruding from the top of the cork.
4. Grip the neck of the screw with the pliers and pull upward. Clasp the jaws of the pliers firmly around the neck of the screw, just below the screw head. Grab the bottle securely with your other hand, and pull upward with the pliers. Wiggle the pliers back and forth a bit if the cork is giving some resistance.^[12]
   
   
   • Alternatively, you can use the claw (nail-pulling side) of a hammer, or even a sturdy fork.
   • If the screw pulls out of the cork and leaves it in the bottle, you probably didn’t drive the screw deep enough into the cork to begin with. Repeat the process, and try to drive the screw as far into the cork as you can without piercing the bottom of the cork.
5. Use a clean screw-in hook instead of a traditional screw. Any screw-in hook with a screw portion that’s at least long will work. Twist it in clockwise by hand, so that the screw portion penetrates about , then pull on the hook portion to remove the cork.^[13]
   
   • Bicycle hooks, which you use to hang a bike from a wall or ceiling, work well for this. The hook portion is usually vinyl coated, which makes them more comfortable to grip and pull on.
   • Before using it, clean the screw-in hook in the same manner as described for a regular screw.

[Edit]Banging the Bottle with a Shoe

1. Cut the cork foil with a knife tip and peel it away. Use a kitchen knife to score the foil just below the lip of the wine bottle, then remove the foil cap and throw it away.^[14]
   
   
   
   • Hold the bottle securely with your free hand, but keep it well clear of the knife tip and blade.
2. Place the wine bottle upside down between your thighs. Sit down on a steady chair and hold the wine bottle in a secure position between your legs. The top of the bottle should be pointing downward, while the base of the bottle should be pointing up.^[15]
   
   
   
   • Grasp the bottle near its bottom (which is now facing upward) with one hand to hold it steady.
3. Rap the bottle firmly but carefully with the sole of a shoe. Make sure you hold the bottle steady with your legs and one hand, and use the other to rap the base of the bottle with the sole of a flat shoe. Hit it 2-3 times to start out. With each strike, the cork should dislodge a little.^[16]
   
   
   • Strike the bottle firmly and evenly across the base. Don't hit it as hard as you can, and don't graze the edge, or the bottle may break. However, if it doesn't seem to be making progress, you may need to hit it harder.
   • Make sure the bottle is in a stable position. Don't just hold it between your thighs; use your free hand to grasp it, too.
4. Check the cork and pull it out by hand when you can firmly grasp it. Take a look at the cork's progress, then continue striking the bottle until the cork has dislodged enough that you can grasp it with your hand and pull it out of the bottle.^[17]
   
   
   • If you try pulling out the cork and it's still firmly inside the bottle, turn it upside down and strike it a few more times before trying again.
   • Don't strike the bottle until the cork pops out on its own, or you may lose a few glasses of wine!

[Edit]Removing a Screw-Top Cap

1. Twist the bottom of the bottle and the cap in opposite directions. Grasp the bottom of the bottle firmly in one hand, with your palm flat against the bottom. Wrap your other hand around the neck and cap. Your index finger and thumb should be wrapped tightly around the cap, while the rest of your hand should be loosely wrapped around the neck. Rotate your hands in opposite directions until you hear the “crack” that indicates that the seal has broken.^[18]
   
   
   • Some people prefer to grab the bottom of the bottle by wrapping their palm and fingers around the base. Use whichever grip is easier for you.
   • You can grip your entire top hand around just the bottle cap, but this may make it more difficult to get a good grip, especially if you have arthritis or a similar condition.
2. Twist the bottle’s sleeve (or skirt) instead of the cap if it will rotate. Screw-top wine bottles have a sleeve (or skirt) on the neck of the bottle that connects to the sealed cap. In some cases, this sleeve will rotate independently of the bottle. Try gripping just the sleeve (not the cap) in one hand, and the bottom of the bottle in the other. Rotate your hands in opposite directions and see if you hear the “crack” of the seal breaking.^[19]
   
   
   • Many people find gripping the sleeve instead of the cap easier. However, not all sleeves will rotate independently of the bottle. In this case, you’ll have to grip the cap instead.
3. Try a dish towel, pliers, or various bottle-opener gadgets. If you can’t get a good grip on the cap, try placing a dish towel between your hand and the cap. If that doesn’t work, grip the cap firmly (but not too forcefully) between the jaws of a set of pliers, then twist the cap and the bottle in opposite directions.^[20]
   
   • You can also look in stores and online for bottle and jar opener gadgets. Some are textured silicone mats, while others wrap around the cap or lid like a belt. Try out different models until you find the type that works best for you.
   • If you squeeze too hard with the pliers, you might crush the cap and the top of the bottle. This will make a mess, ruin the wine, and possibly cause injuries from broken glass.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• If you've got an older wine that's thrown a lot of sediment, you should keep it stored on its side, undisturbed, until ready to drink. When service time comes, carefully put it in a cradle that will hold it at an angle. Remove the cork with the bottle still at that angle (taking care not to spill the wine), and carefully decant it.
• If you don't want to mess around with knives and manual openers, you can buy an electric wine opener which removes the cork all by itself.

[Edit]Warnings

• Be careful when using sharp knives to remove the foil. It can be tricky to cut off.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew
• Become a Wine Connoisseur
• Choose a Good Winemaker
• Select a Bottle of Wine
• Reuse Old Wine Corks

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.wineturtle.com/how-to-use-wine-opener/
2. ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/601-how-to-use-a-winged-corkscrew-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine
3. ↑ https://www.wineturtle.com/how-to-use-wine-opener/
4. ↑ https://www.wineturtle.com/how-to-use-wine-opener/
5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-using-a-wine-key-corkscrew-55094
6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-using-a-wine-key-corkscrew-55094
7. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-using-a-wine-key-corkscrew-55094
8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-using-a-wine-key-corkscrew-55094
9. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-without-a-corkscrew-article
10. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-without-a-corkscrew-article
11. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-without-a-corkscrew-article
12. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-without-a-corkscrew-article
13. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-without-a-corkscrew-article
14. ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/25/283927259/can-you-open-wine-with-shoe-open-yes-but-it-ain-t-pretty
15. ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/25/283927259/can-you-open-wine-with-shoe-open-yes-but-it-ain-t-pretty
16. ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/25/283927259/can-you-open-wine-with-shoe-open-yes-but-it-ain-t-pretty
17. ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/25/283927259/can-you-open-wine-with-shoe-open-yes-but-it-ain-t-pretty
18. ↑ https://youtu.be/QqYHB_7U0-4?t=20
19. ↑ https://www.winespectator.com/articles/whats-the-best-way-to-open-a-screw-capped-bottle-of-wine-47191#
20. ↑ https://www.winespectator.com/articles/whats-the-best-way-to-open-a-screw-capped-bottle-of-wine-47191#

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