How do you open a bottle of wine?

Open a bottle of wine, tips to make it a breeze! Opening a bottle of wine can be tricky depending on the tools you have on hand. Here, we’ll walk you through the steps so you can enjoy your wine no matter the situation.

How do you open a bottle of wine with a corkscrew?

Use a sommelier's corkscrew

It is also known as a “sommelier’s knife” Start by removing the protective cap from the bottle (the foil cap) using the blade of the sommelier’s corkscrew. The cut should be made low enough so that the wine does not come into contact with the metal part of the cap. During this step, it is the knife that should rotate around the bottle, not the other way around. The bottle itself remains stationary, with the label facing the guests. Take your time to make a clean cut that does not damage the rest of the label. 
 Once the foil has been removed, place the corkscrew’s spiral in the center of the cork and rotate the bottle so that the spiral penetrates it completely. You should now place the first support notch on the rim of the bottle. Then use the hand not holding the bottle to lever the cork out, while the other hand holds the bottle firmly. Next, place the second support notch on the rim of the neck and repeat the process.

Use a lever-style corkscrew

Remove the protective cap with a sharp kitchen knife (lever-style corkscrews usually do not come with a knife). 
Place the metal ring of the corkscrew against the top of the bottle. The wings should be lowered to the level of the neck. Turn the lever to drive the screw into the cork until the wings are fully raised. Then press down on both wings at the same time to remove the cork. 
To remove the cork from the corkscrew, simply turn the handle counterclockwise. 
It should be noted that lever-style corkscrews are not recommended for opening vintage wine bottles, as they can leave cork residue in the neck of the bottle. For these fine wines, opt for a sommelier corkscrew.

How do you open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew?

How to use a lighter

You're probably wondering how to open a bottle with a lighter; it doesn't seem very feasible. However, here's how to do it: 
Place your lit lighter on the neck of the bottle, just below the cap. The heat will cause the air to expand, forcing the cap off. Be careful not to stand in front of one of your guests if you don’t want to end up in the emergency room! Also, avoid standing near any knickknacks or lamps you care about.

Use a sharp knife

As if you were using a screwdriver, insert the knife at an angle into the cork, then pull it out while gently twisting the bottle. This is a delicate process—you don’t want to damage the cork—but it’s not really difficult if you take your time.

Use a screw, a screwdriver, and a pair of pliers

Simply drive a screw—or better yet, three screws in a row—into the cork and push them into the cork using a screwdriver. Be careful not to drive them in too far, or you won’t have enough surface area to grip them with the pliers. You also risk damaging the cork and causing pieces of cork to fall into the bottle. Note that you can also replace the screws with nails and proceed in the same way.

Use a key

If you don't have a knife or a toolbox handy, you might have a screwdriver. You'll use the same technique as with a knife, gently twisting the bottle. However, this time the screwdriver should be inserted diagonally (at about a 45-degree angle) into the cork.

Wear a shoe

There are two possible techniques. The first involves placing the bottle between your legs and grabbing a shoe, then tapping the heel of the shoe against the bottom of the bottle. The pressure will cause the cork to pop out the other end. 
The second technique involves placing the bottle in the heel of the shoe and then hitting the shoe against a wall or any other hard surface. 
In either case, the cork will come out gradually. Be careful, however, not to tap too hard, or you risk breaking the bottle. The downside of this technique is that the wine will be shaken, which is never a good thing. Furthermore, you run the risk of spilling a large portion of the wine if, by tapping too hard, the cork is ejected too quickly.

Push the cap in

If you don't have a tool to remove the cork, you can push it into the neck of the bottle so the wine can flow out. Use an object that is narrower than the neck of the bottle and long enough. You can use a metal pen, a knife handle, or the blades of a pair of scissors. 
Press the cork down firmly enough so that it slides into the bottle. Be careful not to make a mess, though: due to the vacuum, the wine may squirt out when the cork enters the bottle. It’s best to stand over a sink while doing this.