How to open a bottle of wine?

Open a bottle of wineTips to make it child's play! Opening a bottle of wine can be tricky depending on the tools you have available. Here we detail the steps to follow so you can enjoy your wine in any situation.

How to open a bottle of wine with a corkscrew?

Use a sommelier corkscrew

It is also known as a "sommelier knife." Start by removing the protective cap from the bottle (capsule) with the blade of the sommelier corkscrew. The cut must be made low enough so that the wine does not come into contact with the metal part of the cap. During this step, the knife should be turned around the bottle, not the other way around. The bottle should remain 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 worm in the center of the cork and turn the bottle so that the worm penetrates it completely. Now place the first support notch on the rim of the bottle. Then use your free hand to lever out the cork, while your other hand holds the bottle firmly. Next, place the second notch on the rim of the bottle and repeat the process.

Use a lever corkscrew

Remove the protective cap with a sharp kitchen knife (lever corkscrews are not usually equipped 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 push the screw into the cork until the wings are fully raised. Then press 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 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, it is better to use a sommelier corkscrew.

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

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 cork. The heat will cause the air to expand and the cork to pop out. Be careful not to stand in front of any of your guests if you don't want to end up in the emergency room! Also, avoid standing near any knickknacks or lamps that you are fond of.

Use a sharp knife

As if using a screwdriver, insert the knife at an angle into the cork, then pull while gently twisting the bottle. This is a delicate operation, as you mustn't damage the cork, but it's not really complicated if you take your time.

Use a screw, a screwdriver, and pliers.

Simply insert a screw, or better still, three screws in a row, into the cork and drive them in using a screwdriver. Be careful not to drive them in too far, as you will not 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 toolbox handy, you may have a wrench. You will use the same technique as with a knife, slightly twisting the bottle. However, this time the wrench should be inserted diagonally (at about a 45-degree angle) into the cork.

Use a shoe

There are two possible techniques. The first is to place the bottle between your legs and grab a shoe, using the heel to strike the bottom of the bottle. The pressure will cause the cork to pop out the other side. 
The second technique is to place the bottle in the shoe at the heel and then hit the shoe against a wall or any other hard surface. 
In both cases, the cork will gradually come out. Be careful not to tap too hard, however, as you risk breaking the bottle. The disadvantage of this technique is that the wine will be shaken, which is never a good thing. In addition, you run the risk of spilling a large amount of wine if the cork is ejected quickly when you tap too hard.

Press down the cap

If you don't have a tool to remove the cork, you can push it into the neck of the bottle so that the wine can flow out. Take an object that is smaller in diameter than the neck of the bottle and long enough. You can use a metal pen, the handle of a knife, or the blades of a pair of scissors. 
Press down on the cork hard enough so that it slides into the bottle. However, be careful not to splash everything: with the rush of air, the wine is likely to spurt out when the cork enters the bottle. For this operation, it is best to stand over a sink.