Every wine lover faces the inevitable problem of how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew at some point in their life.
However, there’s no need to worry about that since we’ve all been in your shoes.
You will likely need to devise some ingenious methods of cork removal if you plan on enjoying a bottle of wine at a friend’s house on a romantic picnic.
The good news is that people have had to figure out how to open wine bottles without a corkscrew for ages, so your problem is not unique.
If you’re sitting there with a bottle of wine and feeling down because you can’t get the cork out, read on.
Tips on How to Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew
Pull the Cork With a String
Carefully make a hole in the cork with the screwdriver. When you’re done, use the screwdriver to drive the end of the string through the knot you tied in the string.
Once the knot has traveled to the other end of the cork, it should be easy to untie.
A less-than-desirable glass of wine may result if the cork crumbles and bits fall into the bottle. The straining and decanting steps are quite similar to the push technique.
Hook It With a Hanger
Although this tip on opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew is simple to implement, it does require permanently disposing of one of your wire hangers.
Start by bending the hanger’s tip back at a 30 degree angle; if you do it perfectly, the hanger will resemble a fish hook.
When you’re done, the wire may go in the bottle’s cork opening. Turn the wire around so that the hook is now below the cork. The cork should come out when you lift the wire.
If the hanger is stuck, tug it with pliers or other objects around the home. Take precautions by wearing protective clothing or using a towel or gloves.
Apply Heat
Using heat to force the cork upward out of the bottle puts you in danger. Two approaches have been tried and tested.
Use a blowtorch or a lighter to apply direct heat below the cork. As you do this, rotate the bottle so the cork can work its way out.
This technique requires extra caution since it should only be used if the bottle is not cold. If you keep the bottle in the fridge, leave it until it reaches room temperature. The temperature shift is potentially explosive.
If you have snow and fireplace tongs, you can use the second method (DIY). You can heat the thongs very hot in the fire or on top of the stove. With the tongs, take hold of the bottle by the neck and swiftly pack snow around it.
While the temperature shift should cause the glass to break uniformly, it’s still prudent to filter the wine before serving.
Use Hammer and Screw
Insert a screwdriver into the cork and then use the “claw” of a hammer to pull it out. This is a proven and reliable procedure requiring just a few common items.
It would be ideal if you could also locate a screwdriver since this would allow you to drive the screw down into the cork, making removal much more secure and less of a hassle.
A pair of regular pliers may be used with a claw hammer to grasp the screw and pull out the cork. It is possible to spill wine or, even worse, harm oneself, so use caution as you would with any approach.
Twist It Out With Keys or a Serrated Knife
This method is similar to the previous tip on how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew, in which a screw and hammer are used to rip out the cork.
Instead, insert your keys or a serrated knife into the cork at a 45-degree angle and gently pull it out by rotating the top of the bottle in a circle.
Turning the bottle around should help loosen the cork. If you want to avoid the crumbling cork, make sure your object is pushed inside it.
Use Tweezers
Bottles can be opened using tweezers, but it’s tedious and somewhat messy. You’ll need tweezers, so grab a pair you don’t mind throwing away. The cork will make your tools very blunt and useless. In case of a crumbling cork, a filter may also be required.
There isn’t a precise procedure for this; instead, you should merely pick at the cork until it either falls into the bottle or you get what you want. Although it isn’t the preferred approach, try it if this is all you have available.
Shoe and Wall Trick
A flat shoe with a strong rubber sole is ideal, and the wine bottle may be placed in the shoe so that its base rests at the heel and the bottle stands straight like a leg.
The wine bottle should be held with the hand that is not holding the shoe’s toe, and the other hand should be used to grasp the shoe’s toe. Put the wine bottle’s base in your shoe and throw it towards the wall at right angles.
The liquid is being forced in one way as you pound, which is why the cork is being forced out. On the other hand, not just any shoe will do. Avoid doing this in heels; know that cushioned running shoes won’t be effective either.
This approach may be time-consuming and tiresome. You may draw it out when the cork is loose enough to hold with pliers or your fingers.
Push the Cork Into the Bottle
Opening a bottle of wine with a wooden spoon is another secure alternative to opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew. A strainer or coffee filter, a secondary container, and a wooden spoon are all you need to get started here.
You may use the wooden spoon’s handle to help the cork go down into the bottle. This procedure is only recommended if you intend to drink the full bottle of wine before replacing the cork.
If the cork crumbles when you push it into the bottle, you can have trouble with the push approach. This is where a filter comes in handy. Carefully pour the wine through the sieve and into your secondary container.
Twist It Out With Scissors
This is an easy approach to getting into the bottle using common household items. To remove the cork, insert the blade of the scissors into its middle. Don’t injure yourself; take extra precautions.
When the blade is fully inserted, gently turn the scissors’ handles. Turn the bottle upside down and use your free hand to twist the cork upwards, releasing it from the bottle.
Pump It Out With a Bike Pump
When you don’t have a corkscrew, the bicycle pump technique is a quick and easy alternative to how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. Get your bicycle pump and insert the needle into the stopper.
The needle must pass completely through the cork and into the wine bottle for this to work. To get the cork out from here, you need to give it a little pump. The internal air pressure should quickly force the cork out.
How to Open a Wine Bottle With Corkscrew
The winged corkscrew and the wine key are the two most common types of corkscrews. Although both types are cheap, widely available, and simple to use, it is still possible to shatter a cork if the user does not use the right method. The optimal use of each type is listed below.
Use a Wine key
A wine key, sometimes called a waiter’s corkscrew, consists of a foil cutter, a lever, and a “worm.” The little knife-like foil cutter has one simple use: slicing off the foil seal on your wine bottle.
When cutting foil for a wine bottle, place the foil cutter above the first ridge at the bottle’s top and gently push. Spinning the bottle in a full circle will allow the cutter to reach around the bottle’s narrow neck.
The foil must be opened at the top. Place the worm (or spiraling corkscrew) in the cork’s center and turn it clockwise until the spiral is entirely entered. Place the metal arm (the lever) on the wine bottle’s lip at the shorter notch, then lift the handle to extract the cork.
If the shorter notch on the lever isn’t long enough, you may always swap to the longer one and keep pulling until the cork is out.
Use a Winged Corkscrew
To begin, remove the foil off the top of the wine bottle as you would with a wine key. The corkscrew should be inserted into the center, and the top handle should be twisted to advance the tool further into the cork.
After inserting the corkscrew into the cork and tightening it, use both hands to push down on the opener’s “wings” or levers toward the bottle’s center. When the levers are lowered, the cork is released. If it isn’t fully extracted, insert the corkscrew farther into the cork and turn it while pressing down on the wings. Hold the bottle firmly with one hand and the bottom of the opener in the other, and pull the cork out carefully.
