Do you know how to open a wine bottle? We explain how to open a bottle of wine in every situation.
Opening a bottle of wine is not a trivial action. It is essential to stress its importance. If we do not open a bottle of wine properly, the wine itself may be damaged. In this case, we would not be able to know its true characteristics. These can be detected by tasting the wine, starting with the sensory characteristics and ending with the organoleptic characteristics linked to the production area.
Tasting is not to be underestimated. It does not just mean the technical process behind it. It is a real journey, through which each of us can experience new tastes and smells.
It is to all intents and purposes a real experience. An experience which, to be lived, requires certain tricks to learn how to open wine.
Whether white, red or rosé, whether sweet or dry, whether unripe or flat, this step is common to all types of wine, with special care taken with still and sparkling wines.
Do you know when, at Sunday lunchtime, the fateful bottle of wine goes around the table waiting to be uncorked? And when it reaches you, you don’t know what to do and you improvise? For those who know how to open a bottle of wine, the real question is: are you sure you are opening a wine bottle correctly? To answer these questions, this article is for you.
Let’s discover together how to open a wine bottle using various techniques, from the most classic to the most original and bizarre.
How to open a wine bottle with a corkscrew
Opening a bottle of wine with a corkscrew is the most convenient way to do so, especially for beginners. There are basically two ways to open a wine bottle: the first is to use a corkscrew with a knife; the second is to use a double lever corkscrew, which can be found in most homes.
The first method used by the sommelier to get a cork out of a wine bottle is very elegant and very scenic.
If your aim is to impress at the table, here’s how to open wine like a pro. The sommelier must take as much care while opening a wine bottle as he does in serving the wine. The process starts by cleaning the bottle, which will then be brought to the table and strictly wrapped in a napkin called a “frangino”. Remember, show the label and hold the bottle with your left forearm and the base, never by the neck!
Using the sommelier knife, which consists of a folding knife at one end and a folding corkscrew at the other, several steps are performed to get a cork out of a bottle.
How to use a corkscrew with a knife? First, remove the foil capsule and insert the corkscrew into the cork. The cork is then removed by pressing the lever until it is completely removed.
Do not forget to sniff the cork once it has been removed from the spiral of the corkscrew. This will test the famous “corked wine” problem. If the smell is pleasant, you are ready to taste your wine; if, on the other hand, a pungent, unpleasant odour is detected… It will be for the next bottle!
If you have a double lever corkscrew how to use it?
When we must open a bottle of wine at home, with our friends and relatives, the famous double lever corkscrew is a must.
This tool differs from its predecessor in that it has a double rod, which makes it easier to open a bottle of wine, even with longer corks.
How to use a wine opener in this case? Start by removing the capsule with the help of a knife. Next, insert the spiral of the corkscrew, turning it clockwise, in order to introduce the tip into the centre of the cork. This process continues until the double lever is in a vertical position. By lowering the double lever, it is then possible to slowly extract the cork.
As we have seen, opening a bottle of wine with a corkscrew is a very simple operation.
How to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew
The dishes are ready, everyone is at the table and the bottle has to be uncorked. But there’s a problem. You open the drawer and there is no corkscrew. This situation is very common and improvisation is the only alternative to consider, especially when we have not our beloved corkscrew.
However, this should not discourage you. There are many ways to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew, alternatives to the more usual techniques and full of creativity and imagination.
Four ingenious methods to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew
1. Shoe method
This method to open wine without cork screw is a bit animalistic, but effective at the same time. You insert the bottom of the bottle inside the shoe, precisely in the heel area, and then bang it several times perpendicularly on a vertical surface. This creates a pressure inside the bottle which allows the cork to come out.
2. Hammer and nail method
The second method to open wine without a corkscrew will create the scenario of a construction site using these two tools. Take a long nail and drive it into the cork, hitting it several times with the hammer. Once inserted, simply use the pen of the hammer to pull the nail out along with the cork.
3. Metal cross method
The lonely crutch in your cupboard will finally find a use. The first thing to do is to straighten the hook into a smaller hook-like one. Then insert it between the cork and the inside of the bottle neck, all the way to the bottom of the cork. Once inserted correctly, simply pull the hanger upwards and you will open a bottle without a corkscrew!
4. Bicycle pump method
How to open wine bottle without opener in a more original way? This method may not be used frequently, as bicycle pumps are always stored in closets or garages. In this case you start by inserting the pump needle into the side of the cork, until you reach the space between the cork and the wine. Using the pump, air is blown into the bottle. It is important that the air is pumped in a little at a time, so that the cork can be pushed in slowly, allowing more and more air to escape.
Opening a bottle of wine is a simple action in itself, but just as complex and varied. The world of wine is immense.
Italia Delight allows you to explore this world and experience a real journey made up of flavours and fragrances. You can take part in many wine experiences in the wine cellar or with the guidance of a sommelier. All you have to do is take advantage of it and arm yourself with a glass!
Now that you know how to open a wine bottle, read also the article “Decanting wines like a pro”.
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