How To Open A Wine Bottle (With a Corkscrew and Without!)

If you’ve wondered how to open a bottle of wine while longing for the first sip, you’ve come to the right place. 

How do you take out that cheeky little wine cork from the bottle? 

A cork-sealed wine bottle just needs the correct technique and a bit of love to reveal the delicious contents inside! 

Take your first step to becoming a Master Sommelier by learning how to open a wine bottle the correct way with a corkscrew. We’ll also share a few quirky ideas on how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew and some extra tips on drinking, storing, and buying fine wine.

Why Should You Open a Wine Bottle Properly?

You should know how to open a wine bottle properly not only because it protects your bottle, but also because it also helps you extract the cork in its best condition. 

So, if you plan to store an open wine bottle, you’ll be able to keep the wine cork intact and close it tightly after use.

And if you’ve figured out how to open a wine bottle with ease, you can easily show off your brilliant sommelier skills at a party! 

Without further ado, here’s how to uncork your wine bottle.

How To Open A Bottle Of Wine With A Corkscrew (With Step-by-Step Instructions)

The best way to open a wine bottle is by using a gadget like a corkscrew. Whether you’re a professional waiter or not, a corkscrew will save your day. It’s as important a tool in a wine drinker’s arsenal as a wine glass, wine stopper, or a decanter.

Simply put, all you need to do to open your bottle of wine is cut through the foil or wax on the top of the cork with a knife. Then, use the corkscrew to get the cork out. 

But, it’s not always that straightforward because you’ll come across many types of corkscrews - waiter's friend, electric corkscrews, gas cork extractor, and so on.

Don’t worry, here’s a step-by-step guide to using different corkscrews to open your bottle of wine. (We’ve thrown in a few wine drinking and serving tips as well.)

1. Wine Key (Waiter’s Corkscrew)

The wine key bottle opener goes by many names - waiter’s corkscrew, waiter’s friend, and Sommelier knife.

The wine key or Sommelier knife has three components - the foil cutter (or the wax cutter), a lever, and a “worm” (the corkscrew.) 

Here’s how to open a wine bottle using a wine key: 

• Rest the foil cutter (the small knife) at the lower lip at the top of the wine bottle. 
• Next, cut the top of the foil by moving the bottle in a circular motion.
• Hold the neck of your wine bottle and insert the screw of the waiter’s corkscrew in the middle of the cork. Twist the screw clockwise until the whole screw is inserted in the cork.
• Here’s the critical step - rest the shorter notch of the lever on the bottle lip and then pull up the lever to pull the cork out. When the cork is almost out, remove the wine key and use your hand to remove it.
• Finally, pour a glass of that delicious red wine and savor your first sip!

Tip: A red wine like Cabernet Franc has a firm tannin structure. So, use a decanter if you’re drinking your red wine young. An older wine may not need decanting.

2. Winged Corkscrew

The winged corkscrew is characterized by its two levers called “wings.” Here’s how to use it:

• Rest the foil cutter or a knife on the lip of the bottle to remove the foil or the plastic wrap around the cork.
• Rest the corkscrew in the center of the cork.
• Then, twist the handle of the bottle opener to insert the corkscrew into the cork. 
• Using your dominant hand, push the lever of the winged corkscrew to pull the cork out.
• When the cork is almost out, use the base of the bottle opener to pull it out.

Here you have it - an opened bottle of wine! Go ahead and enjoy your well-earned glass of wine.

3. Screw Pull (Rabbit Style Corkscrew)

Screw pull is a sturdy wine opener that uses a Teflon coated replaceable screw and a lever to pull the cork out. 

This wine bottle opener works similar to the waiter’s friend corkscrew.

• Use a foil cutter or a knife to cut through the foil capsule.
• After removing the foil, press the tip of the corkscrew at the center of the cork. 
• Holding the bottle’s neck, push the screw until it’s entirely into the cork.
• Then, push the lever to pop the cork out.

Tip: If you plan to store your open bottle of wine, you don’t always need a wine stopper - just use the natural cork you extracted. Or, you can replace the natural cork of an open bottle with a synthetic cork to store the leftover wine.

4. Electric Corkscrew

A little more expensive ($25 to $200) than other wine openers, the electric corkscrew bottle opener makes it effortless to open a wine bottle.

All you need to do is cut through the foil capsule and set it up on the bottle. The electric wine opener will insert the corkscrew and pull out the cork with a push of a single button.

Having a glass of your favorite white wine couldn’t get easier.

Tip: White wines like Pinot Blanc have minimal tannin levels, so they don’t need a decanter to express their aromas.

5. Butler’s Friend

The butler’s friend corkscrew helps you to open a wine bottle without piercing the cork. The best part - you don’t have to be a professional waiter to use it.

Here’s how to use this bottle opener:

• Insert the two flat prongs of the wine opener on either side of the cork (not on the bottle’s neck) and gently push it down a bit.
• Then, wiggle it out of the bottle.

6. Gas Cork Extractor

This wine bottle opener uses pressurized inert gas to pop the cork out of the wine bottle - just the opposite of what a vacuum pump would do.

• Remove the foil capsule and insert the needle of the wine opener through the cork into the bottle neck. 
• Then, push the button of the bottle opener to release the gas.

And Voila! You have an open wine bottle.

Don’t worry - the inert gas won’t affect the taste of your Pinot Noir. So, go ahead and pour your red wine into a wine glass.

A gas wine opener is a bit more expensive ($20 to $100) than regular corkscrews. And, the gas canister needs to be replaced regularly. 

Also, you’ll need a synthetic cork for your open wine bottle.

Now:

What if you’re a new wine drinker and don’t have a bottle opener? 

You can still open a bottle of wine effortlessly.

Here’s how:

How To Open A Bottle Of Wine Without A Corkscrew (Using Household Items)

If you’re yet to buy a wine bottle opener, then there are some DIY methods you can use to go ahead with your last-minute mother's day party plans. All you need are some handy tools like a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, or even a wooden spoon from your kitchen!  

But, here’s a caveat: These methods of opening wine bottles are not foolproof. So, when you open a wine bottle using any of these methods, make sure you follow the steps carefully in a secure environment.

Make sure you cut the foil or wax using a knife. Also, keep a synthetic cork or a good wine stopper handy because there’s a chance you may be left with a broken cork.

Or, you can buy a screwcap wine bottle and enjoy a glass of wine worry-free.

Here are nine ways to open wine bottles without a wine bottle opener.

7. The Screwdriver Method

The screwdriver method requires three tools - a long screw, a hammer, and of course - a screwdriver. Here’s how you can open your wine bottle:

• Start by cutting the top of the foil.
• Insert the screw into the center of the cork using the screwdriver with a part of the screw sticking out.
• Now, use the back of the hammer to pull the screw (attached to the cork) out. Since you don’t have a lever, you’ll need to pull with all your might.

Hold the bottle neck with your other hand to maintain a firm grip on the bottle.

Go on and pour your fortified wine into a wine glass. If you have leftover wine, use a wine stopper. Use a napkin to remove the sediment from the bottle’s neck before serving the wine.

8. The Wooden Spoon Method

All you need for this method is a wooden spoon with a slender handle. In this method, you’ll be pushing the cork into the bottle rather than pulling it out.

Hold the wooden spoon in your dominant hand, and, using all your strength, push the cork until it passes through the bottle’s neck. 

Make sure to firmly hold the wine bottle with your hand around the bottle neck.

Tip: The cork of an older wine may be dry and can crumble into the wine.

9. The Bike Pump Method

You can also open a wine bottle using a bike pump - sounds bizarre, right?

Here’s a quick tutorial to execute it.

• After cutting the foil, pierce the needle through the center of the cork. 
• Now, start pumping the air into the bottle very slowly. 
• Once the cork is almost out of the bottle, you can remove the bike pump and pull the rest of the cork out with your hand.

Tip: You can use a coffee filter to remove the sediment at the bottom of the bottle.

10. The Shoe Method

For this method, you’ll need a shoe and a sturdy wall!

• After cutting the foil with a knife, place the wine bottle upright at the base of the shoe (where your heel rests.) 
• Now, keep your hand at the top of the wine bottle and hit the bottom of the shoe on a sturdy wall. After a few strikes, you’ll notice the cork coming out of the wine bottle.
• When the cork is almost out, pull it out with your hand.

If you’re opening an older wine with a slightly dry cork, be very careful as the cork may pop out with a few taps.

Tip: An open wine bottle (even with a screw cap or synthetic cork) won’t last more than a few days. 

11. The Serrated Knife Method

Here’s how to use a serrated knife to open a wine bottle.

• Take a serrated knife (preferably a steak knife) and skewer the knife into the cork at a 45-degree angle. 
• Hold the knife with your dominant hand and move it in a circular motion while slowly pulling it up. 

Warning: This method may result in a broken cork.

12. The Key Method

Like the knife method, this method uses a standard house key to remove the cork from a wine bottle. Here’s how to do it.

• Insert the tip of the key into the cork at a 45-degree angle after removing the foil.
• Once the key is in, press the key down forcefully. Use a towel to hold the key, so you don’t injure your hand.
• With the key completely in, move it in a circular motion while simultaneously lifting it. 

Tip 8: While serving the vino, do not hold the bottle at the neck.

13. The Lighter Method

Another bizarre method of opening a wine bottle is using a lighter and a pair of pliers (or scissors). 

Caution: Keep your hand away from your body while using the lighter.

• Before you cut the foil with a knife, make sure you’re not using a chilled bottle because exposing a chilled bottle to heat can be extremely harmful.
• Apply the lighter’s flame on the neck of the bottle, just beneath the cork. The heat will expand the air beneath the cork at the neck of the bottle, making it easier to pull the cork out. 
• Use a pliers or scissors to pull out the cork.

Wait for the bottle’s neck to cool before pouring your Pinot Noir in a wine glass.

14. The Tapping Method

In this method, you’ll have to wrap the bottom of the bottle in a towel and place it upside down between your thighs - a bit risky. Slowly tap the bottom until the cork starts to move out. 

15. The Wire Hanger Method

You’ll need a wire hanger and a pair of pliers.

• Cut a piece of wire hanger and make a small hook at one end using the pliers. 
• Insert the hook between the lip of the bottle and the cork. 
• When the hook is beneath the cork, pull the cork out by twisting the hook upwards.

Now that you know how to open a wine bottle (with or without a corkscrew), you may wonder if you could use the same tools on a sparkling wine bottle.

How To Open A Sparkling Wine Or Champagne Bottle

Opening a bottle of bubbly, like a Champagne, is trickier than opening a bottle of still wine. That’s because sparkling wine has high-pressure carbon dioxide trapped inside.

Here’s how to tackle a sparkling wine bottle. 

• Point the cork of the bubbly away from you.
• Use a knife to remove the foil and immediately press your thumb over the cork. Then, twist the wire cage to remove it. (A wire cage prevents the gas from pushing the cork out of a sparkling wine bottle.)
• Use the vinos bottle neck to hold the bottle firmly against your body.
• Finally, without moving the top hand, slowly twist the base of the bottle until the cork eases out.

Learning how to pop a bubbly like Champagne can be a little scary and also messy. But don’t give up, wine lover - you’ll be able to master your sommelier skills with a little practice!

Now that you know how to open your bottle, let’s add to your excitement by showing you how to build a collection of wine bottles (that you can uncork for a celebration, or even sell for a profit.)

For new wine drinkers, it can be overwhelming to select the right wine, get it shipped, find the perfect storage for it, and so on.

But what if we told you, wine lover, that buying and storing fine wine is as easy as getting the cork out with a waiter’s corkscrew?

Here’s how:

Build a Collection of Fine Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovestis a world-class online wine investment company that helps wine lovers worldwide build a collection of investment-grade wines. 

You can buy authentic fine wine from Bordeaux, California or anywhere in the world, have them stored in climate controlled bonded warehouses, and even sell them at the right time to the right buyer. (All this without having to physically possess a single bottle of wine.) 

You can even have the bottle delivered to you if you want to impress your friends (and show off your bottle opening skills!)

The added advantage is that you buy these wines at the best prices because Vinovest sources them through their global network of brilliant winemakers, wine exchanges, and wine auctions.

In short:

Once you sign up on Vinovest, you’d be able to buy, sell, store your wine, curate a portfolio, and much more - all at a minimal annual fee of 2.5% (1.9% for a portfolio of $50,000.)