How to open wine without a corkscrew? This is real! Various tips for handling a bottle of wine.

Drinking a bottle of good wine in pleasant company is always a pleasure - especially when you are in nature and admiring the beauty. But in this case, a problem arises - how to open a bottle of wine without getting hurt?

Of course, it is best to do this with a corkscrew, but it is not always at hand even at home, let alone in other situations. Fortunately, with some wit and familiarity with the basic methods of opening a bottle of wine without a corkscrew, you can easily cope with the task.

Kind people who found themselves in a similar situation shared their experience and now you can remove the cork from the bottle using a variety of available items.

The most important thing is to follow the instructions and everything will work out!

Types of corkscrews and how to use them

Quite a long time has passed since the patent for the first cork bottle appeared, but the process of invention is still ongoing. After all, many wine connoisseurs are looking for light and perfect way opening any wine bottle so that you can enjoy a drink unclouded by cork debris (this happens especially often with expensive collectible types).

Therefore, let’s look at how to properly open wine with a corkscrew using existing and time-tested devices.

How to open wine using a classic corkscrew design

This is the simplest design, which consists of a metal screw with a perpendicular handle (wooden or plastic) mounted on it. The disadvantage of using this device is that it requires some dexterity and strength, as well as a high probability that the cork will crumble if the opener is not experienced enough. The advantages include a fairly affordable price and ease of use.

Bottle opening process

  • Remove the plastic wrap from the neck.
  • We screw the screw exactly into the center of the cork, but not to the very end, so as not to crumble it.
  • We grab the bottle tightly with one hand, and with the other carefully pull out the cork, if necessary, loosening it a little and twisting it.

Wine corkscrew “butterfly”

In appearance, this design resembles the wings of a butterfly that unfold, or a person with raised arms (it is because of this that the corkscrew is also called Charles de Gaulle, due to its obvious similarity with the character of the same name). The advantages of the device are its simplicity and ease of use; it does not require much effort to open. Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that it does not always cope with plugs sitting deep in the neck.

Bottle opening process

  • We install the screw exactly in the center of the cork, while the wings of the corkscrew are lowered down.
  • With one hand we fix the device, and with the other we screw the central handle into the plug. It should be noted that the “wings” will rise. We open the plug only when they rise to the very top.
  • We place the bottle on a flat surface, lower both levers at the same time with both hands, pulling out the cork.

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Using a corkscrew

Now let’s find out how to open a bottle of wine with a corkscrew. This is the simplest, and therefore the most common method, which consists of several simple steps.

Step 1. Using a kitchen knife, cut off the foil. To do this, pick it up slightly below the neck, then pull it up to remove it.

Step 2. Place the corkscrew: its end should be located in the middle of the cork, while the levers should be directed downwards.

Step 3. Hold the round part of the device with one hand and turn the handle with the other. At this time, the levers will begin to rise upward. Crank it enough times until the levers move up.

Step 4. When you push them down, the cork should come out of the bottle. Lower them all the way down until the plug is on the outside. If the cork remains inside, then repeat the procedure (screw in the corkscrew again as described above). If necessary, you can pull the handle of the device up.

Now we'll find out how to open wine without a corkscrew at home . To be honest, there are a lot of ways, so we will consider only the most effective and simple ones.

The easiest way to uncork wine without special tools

The first rule is to not panic. Every bottle with a cork can be opened without a corkscrew and anywhere - outdoors, in the workshop, in the garage, on the street and even in the bathroom (if you store your cosmetics bag there), at a party, on the train. If your bottle has a concave bottom, it will open easier and faster than others.

Some bottles will make your life easier. In order to open them, you don’t need a corkscrew or any improvised means. These are bottles with a screw cap.

There are effective methods and there are those that work, but achieve their goals slowly, but they still work - they will be discussed today. But you should not resort to such a radical method as simply breaking off the neck of a bottle - this is fraught with pieces of glass in the wine or cuts on your hands.

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Pushing the cork into the bottle with your finger

This method is suitable for those who do not have a manicure but have great physical strength, since it will require a lot of effort.

You can simply press the cork with your thumb, or, to increase the area of ​​pressure, place a coin under your finger. You need to take a coin with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the plug.

Another option for this method would be to use improvised means. This could be a lipstick, marker, spoon, fork, or any other durable cylindrical object. To make the cork pass through more easily, you can first pierce it with a knife.

Much depends on the material from which the cork is made and the manufacturer. Some bottles have a narrow neck, so the cork may simply get stuck and you will have to open the bottle some other way.

Among the items at hand that can easily be used to push the cork inside, the following stand out:

  • lipstick;
  • marker;
  • round sharpening for knives;
  • pencil or pen;
  • stiletto heel on women's shoes.

justsovet.ru

Knocking out the cork

In order to knock out the cork, you just need to gently tap the bottom of the bottle while holding it vertically. According to the laws of physics, the plug must fly out. If the method does not work, then you can wrap the bottom of the bottle with a towel and gently knock it against the wall.

To soften the force of the blow, it is better to attach a volume of a book or a towel folded several times to the wall. This method requires caution, as there are times when the bottle breaks.

Some experts suggest using a plastic water bottle to pop the cork. To do this, the middle part is filled plastic bottle you need to hit the bottom. As a rule, 6-7 hits are enough. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the cork does not fly out and the wine does not spill.

Also, one of the variations of this method is this: put the bottle in a low-heeled shoe and, holding it, gently tap on the floor. After several blows the plug should come out.

Another effective way Opening a bottle without a corkscrew involves using shoes. Let's get to know him.

Step 1. Remove the foil as in the previous methods.

Step 2. Sit down, turn the container over and secure it between your legs. Close the neck of the bottle tightly.

Step 3. Hold the bottle tightly and strike the bottom with the sole of your boot. With each new blow the cork should come out a little. Don't hit too hard and aim all over the bottom at once. Do not hit the edges, otherwise the container may crack.

Step 4. Twist the cap and remove it from the bottle. Apply a few more strikes if necessary. Obviously, you don’t need to knock until the cork pops out on its own - this way the wine will simply spill.

Using Shoes and Walls

IN in this case all you need is a boot and a nearby wall. Typically, this method works provided that the bottle is full.

Step 1. Remove the foil from the neck of the bottle.

Step 2. Place the bottom of the bottle in the shoe, strictly above the heel. By the way, if you don’t have shoes, you can simply wrap the bottle in clothes or a towel. This is more for safety reasons so that you don't get cut if the bottle accidentally breaks.

Step 3. Press the heel of your boot against the wall until the cork comes out more than ½ way. It is important that you stop in time, otherwise the wine, as noted earlier, may spill.

Step 4. Remove the plug by hand. That's it, you can enjoy your drink!

Using a screw and pliers

A very effective method that is used quite often. First, tighten the screw (you can use a screwdriver or some other suitable thing to tighten it), then take pliers and wrap them around the screw head. Pull the pliers towards you - the cork should easily come out of the neck.


And using two paper clips and a pen

Do minor things first preparatory activities. Straighten the paper clips, leaving only the U-shaped tabs intact. Then follow the instructions.

  1. Insert the eye of the first paperclip between the wall of the neck and the cork itself. Move until the end is under the plug.
  2. Twist the paperclip ninety degrees so that the end breaks through the plug as you pull the paperclip up.
  3. Perform the same steps with the second paper clip, but on the opposite side of the neck.
  4. Straighten the ears that remain above the neck and twist them together.
  5. Place some suitable object in the resulting loop (it could be a pencil or, for example, a spoon), grab it and, inserting one of your fingers into the loop, smoothly remove the cork from the neck.

The easiest way to open it is with a blunt object.

It’s actually quite simple here. You need to take any blunt object, for example, a pencil, marker, thin heel, and press the cork inside the bottle.

  • Pros. Some corks give in surprisingly easily.
  • Cons. It is not specified that for less air resistance a puncture is necessarily made in the plug. There are cases where the bottom of a bottle has fallen off due to excessive force. The method is not suitable for containers whose neck tapers towards the bottom.

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Application of corn holder

Such a holder, as the name suggests, is intended to hold a hot head of corn. This product consists of sharp metal pins and a plastic handle.

The algorithm of actions should look like this:

  • place the holder pins into the cork;
  • Carefully remove the plug from the neck, gradually turning it.

Using leather lace

The next way to open a bottle of grape drink is to use a regular leather cord. First, take this lace and tie a knot at one end (the so-called “cloverleaf”). Using a sharp object (maybe a narrow knife), push the knot through the plug so that it comes out from the bottom. Twist the remaining part of the leather cord around your palm, then slowly remove the plug. If the knot pops out, make it larger.

Using steel wire

First, take a small piece of wire and straighten it. Then follow the instructions.

  1. Using pliers, bend one end of the wire (about 1 centimeter) about 30 degrees to create something similar to a fish hook.
  2. Insert the wire into the neck along the edge so that the formed hook stands below it (the plug).
  3. Twist the hook so that it is under the bottom of the cork. Remove the last one from the neck.
  4. You may need to wear gloves as you may injure your hands from the wire.

Using a bike hook

These hooks are used to hang your bike from the ceiling. The technique is extremely simple: screw in the hook, then, using a plastic part like a handle, remove the plug from the neck.

Using paper

You need to roll up a tight roll of paper, with a diameter smaller than the neck of the bottle you are opening. Then, using this twist, the cork is pushed inside.

Pros. If you get the hang of it, you can make good money by opening bottles of wine on a bet with a piece of paper.

Cons. The roll must be made very tight and dense, otherwise the sheet will simply crumple.

Using a knife

You need to carefully insert the blade into the cork at a slight angle and carefully unscrew the cork, like a corkscrew. In most cases, the method works even in inept hands.

Pros. Not needed whole set tools and devices.

Cons. The cork may simply crumble. The blade easily pops out of the cork, so there is a risk of injury. Do not press the knife into the neck, otherwise it will burst.

Using a sommelier knife

For those who don’t know, a sommelier’s knife is a special knife (on one side) with a corkscrew (on the other). The algorithm of actions should be as follows.

  1. Step 1. First, the foil is cut off. Use a knife to pry the foil off the lid and then remove. Try to cut a few millimeters below the edge of the neck so that the drink does not come into contact with the wrapper (the point is that this may lead to changes taste properties). It is worth noting that sometimes knives are equipped with special discs designed for cutting foil.
  2. Step 2. Screw the corkscrew part of the knife into the cork. To do this, place the tip of the corkscrew in the middle of the cork, then screw in until there is only one turn on the outside.
  3. Step 3. Lower the levers and begin to gradually pull out the plug. Hold the bottle tightly. If the cork still does not move, then most likely the corkscrew was not screwed in deep enough. Correct this mistake and try again.
  4. Step 4. The cork should come out with a characteristic pop. In restaurants they place it on the table so that the client can determine the quality of the drink by smell.

alkonavigator.su

Using a Hammer and Towel

The bottle is wrapped in a towel and placed in a basin or saucepan. One good blow with a hammer and you have the coveted drink... In your hands? In the basin? In a towel?

  • Pros. Cheap and cheerful. The fragments will remain safely in the rag and will not get into your mouth.
  • Cons. The lion's share of the drink will be absorbed into the fabric. Glass can easily cut through it and get into your glass. And anyway, are they really pigs to open a bottle like that? You have to have at least a drop of respect for yourself so as not to end up in this way.

Application of the hussar method

A bottle is held in one hand, and the neck is cut off with a saber with the other in one strong movement.

  • Pros. If the operation is successful, everyone present will appreciate your skill.
  • Cons. Where can I get a saber? The neck may not be cut off, but may shatter into small pieces. If you are unprofessional, the bottle shatters into fragments, and everything around you ends up in the wine.

Using a nail and a handkerchief

Take the most ordinary nail (any sharp and hard object will do), and thoroughly pick out the cork with it. Preferably in small crumbs. Then you just need to press a handkerchief to the neck and pour the wine through it. All debris will remain inside the bottle. Instead of a scarf, you can take a piece of gauze, a strainer or a piece of bandage.

  • Pros. Fast, neat and clean.
  • Cons. No sporting interest, only naked logic. You may not have a suitable piece of fabric at hand.

Using nails and hammer

Step 1. Still use a knife to remove the foil. Hook it slightly below the neck and then remove it.

Step 2. Using a hammer, drive 5 small nails into the cork. It is important that they do not touch each other, but are located close. Drive until only a few millimeters remain between the heads and the plug.

Pay attention! This method is effective only when using long nails - thick and short products are certainly not suitable for this. Try to do everything carefully so as not to break the glass with a hammer.

Step 3. Using a claw hammer, pick up one nail and pull it towards you. The plug should move a little. Perform similar actions for the remaining nails.

Step 4. After this, the cork will rise to a height sufficient for you to be able to pull it out.

Application of the pot

  1. To do this, you need to fill the container mentioned with water, immerse the bottle in it so that the neck looks out a little, and hang the whole thing over the fire.
  2. When the water in the pot boils, we begin to carefully monitor the neck.
  3. As soon as the cork crawls out halfway as a result of heating the bottle, immediately remove the pot from the heat, carefully, so as not to get burned, remove the bottle, and when it cools down a little, pull out the cork entirely.

Although, if you are not a fan of heated wine, this method, alas, is not for you.

Using a lighter

If you didn’t take a tripod or a pot with you, you can carefully heat the neck of the bottle with a lighter (or better yet, two). As a result, the heated plug, as in the previous case, will have to rush out. Accordingly, it can be safely removed when it leaves the bottle neck halfway.

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Using scissors

  1. Get your scissors ready. It is desirable that they be small. Children's scissors or scissors intended for needlework are ideal (products with blunt ends are not suitable for opening wine).
  2. Open the scissors and place one of the blades in the middle of the cork.
  3. Carefully, without using too much force, insert the blade about ½ of the way into the cork.
  4. Rotate the scissors by holding them by the handle and pulling them upward in parallel. If you place the blade at a sufficient depth, the cork will soon come out of the neck to a height at which you can remove it by hand.

Application of the horsemen's method

The opening method is ideal for champagne bottles. If you have a saber and you are a master in this matter, then feel free to show your guests a performance.

  1. You will need to cool the champagne and remove the foil and wire from the neck.
  2. Then take it in your left hand, and with your right hand swing it sharply and chop off the edge with a saber.
  3. You should check the point of the saber, otherwise the bottle will fall into pieces, ruining the wine.
  4. To be safe, please stay away from all guests.

If the champagne is chilled, then one hundred grams will pour out of the bottle, and if it is warm, then it may even leave the container altogether.

It is not recommended to open other wines in this way, since they do not have gases like champagne. When the glass is cut off, small particles are pushed out by the fountain, without remaining in the bottle. With regular wine, this option can be dangerous to drink.

Using the pump

If you have a car pump and a nozzle for inflating a ball, you can pierce the cork with this needle and pump air into the bottle until it flies out. The operation should be carried out by two people: one holds the bottle vertically, the other swings it.

The bottle should be wrapped in a towel in case it bursts due to the excessive zeal of the openers.

Ways for a girl to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew

The simplest option, it can suit any girl. Often girls do not know how to open bottles of wine; usually men come to the rescue. And if there is a bachelorette party and there is no corkscrew in the house, then in such cases this option is the most reliable and simplest.

Make sure that the base of the neck does not taper, otherwise you will not be able to push the cork into the bottle. Then you need to find a blunt object and press hard on it. Sometimes you can squeeze it out with your finger; to do this, press hard and serve the glasses.

Blunt suitable items:

  • marker;
  • spoon;
  • pomade;
  • shoe pin;
  • pencil;
  • mascara;
  • pen;
  • file;
  • any blunt objects.

If you can't push through a stubborn plug, use a hammer. Place a blunt object on the cork and tap it lightly. Be careful not to overdo it to avoid breaking the bottle.

Help from neighbors

  1. You need to knock or call the next door and ask for a corkscrew. Of course, for a while. Then don’t forget to give it back.
  • Pros. There is a reason to meet a cute neighbor or neighbor.
  • Cons. They may also not have a corkscrew.

Opening a bottle with bare hands

There are recommendations on how to open a bottle without a corkscrew with your bare hands. To do this, you need to hold the wine horizontally with one hand, and lightly tap the bottom with the palm of the other. If everything is done correctly, then after some time the force of inertia will push the plug so far that it can be removed with your fingers.

  • Pros. No tools, equipment or materials needed.
  • Cons. You will have to accurately calculate the force so that the wine does not fly out along with the cork. In some cases, you will have to knock for quite a long time.

Using a thick syringe

They simply pierce the cork with a needle and pump air inside. In theory, the pressure should push it out. In practice... Try it.

  • Pros. Fast, painless and virtually loss-free.
  • Cons. Reviews say that the bottom of the bottle is more likely to squeeze out and all the contents will spill out. But sometimes the method works.

Warming up bottles

You came with your loved ones for a picnic, set up tents, lit a fire and decided to maintain the atmosphere with a glass of wine, or open a bottle accordingly, but, as it turned out, there was nothing? No problem. This method is just for you.

  1. So, fill the pot or pan with water. Next, place the bottle there so that the neck looks out. Hang a container with water and a bottle over the fire. When the water begins to boil and the stopper comes out halfway as a result of heating, immediately remove the vessel from the fire.
  2. Be careful, don't get burned! Let the bottle cool a little, after which you can remove the cork completely. If you are not a fan of warm wine, you can cool it in water.
  3. If you are on the street and do not have a pot or any other vessel with you, you can use a lighter. Gently warm the neck of the bottle with it. The effect will be the same as with a cauldron. For quick results, it is better to use several lighters at the same time.

1000sovetov.ru

Usage keys

What you need: Keys with a narrow tip - from a car, an apartment where the money is, or a box with the Dandy prefix and children's letters from summer camp, in which you ask your mother to take you away from this hell.

How to open: We stick the key into the edge of the plug at an angle of 45 degrees. When the key enters the plug ⅔, we begin to carefully turn it and pull out the plug. After successfully opening the wine, it is important not to accidentally throw the cork along with the keys into the trash in the wake of success.

Application lipstick

What you need: Lipstick, lip gloss or mascara with a diameter no larger than a cork.

How to open: If you are a girl, rummage through your bag, you will probably find a suitable weapon. If you are a guy, borrow chapstick from the nearest woman with the words: “Your lips are dry.” We apply this same Guerlain, MAC, Maybelline to the cork and begin to press as hard as we can - until the cork slips into the bottle. Just don't leave the lipstick out there.

Application hangers

What you need: A hanger made of thin steel wire, a portrait of David Copperfield in the breast pocket and faith in miracles.

How to open: We remember the labor lessons and the program “Crazy Hands” - first we straighten the hook on the hanger, then with pliers we make the same one at the end, but small - like a fishing hook. It is advisable to bend it at an angle of about 30 degrees, and then insert it between the cork and the glass of the bottle. When the hook hooks the cork from below, slightly turn it and begin to pull it out.

Using the bottle twist method

Quite a funny method for opening wine without a corkscrew. You need to pick up the bottle vertically and spin it about 20 times, first away from you, then towards you. After such manipulations, the cork will easily give in to you and you will push it deeper.

Hot water application

The method is based on the physical property of expansion of bodies when heated. In this case we heat the neck of the bottle hot water, it becomes wider and the plug comes out. There are 2 heating options used at home:

  • We place the bottle in the sink at an angle and direct the maximum stream onto the neck hot water. This heating can be used as preparatory stage to another method of uncorking. Having widened the neck, it is easier to push the cork inside or use a twist with a knife;
  • place the bottle in a saucepan with cold water so that the neck is in the water. We put the pan on the fire and wait for the cork to move. The main thing is not to miss it.

The big disadvantage of using hot water is heating the wine itself. In winter, you can make mulled wine from this wine. And in the summer you will have to additionally cool it.

alcoplace.ru

Application of the book

How to open a bottle without a corkscrew using a book? This method will make the blow softer. Lean it against the wall (the thicker the volume, the better). Now start hitting the book with the bottom of the bottle.

A couple of gentle blows are enough and you will notice with relief that the plug is successfully directed to the exit. The method is good for bottles with a concave bottom (and most of them are).

Shredding

The cork can simply be crushed with any sharp and hard object. It could be a fork, knife, knitting needle, nail or even a nail file. Of course, this is not the best and nice way, since cork crumbs will fall into the glass along with the wine.

In this case, you can simply strain the wine through cheesecloth (full). This method is also called the “student” method.

Using a branch

You can easily push the cork inside if you arm yourself with a branch or peg.

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A method that allows you to open wine in 15 seconds

Everything here is elementary. The wine must be in a cardboard box or with a screw cap. Then it will take no more than 15 seconds to open.

  • Pros. No calluses, open wounds or cuts.
  • Cons. good, quality wine Sold only in glass. In containers made from other materials, 100% surrogate of unknown production. You can drink yourself to death if alcohol is so easily available. There is no intrigue and interesting activity, to find out whether the method will work or deliberate nonsense?

How to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew? Now you know many ways and are armed to the teeth. Soberly assess your capabilities, prepare the necessary set of tools and go ahead to get a great drink.

By the way, any method brings much best results, if you shake the bottle slightly before starting the operation or turn it upside down and shake. This way the liquid wets the plug and it comes out faster and easier. But seriously, stop doing this bullshit and buy a corkscrew already.

howtogetrid.ru

Using a drill

This is a rather exotic and unsafe method. It is suitable for a person who knows how to use a drill well. Drilling the plug in the center, we thread it onto the drill. At the same time, it should easily come out of the neck.

If for some reason this does not happen, I recommend that you use any of the other methods described above.

It must be remembered that, if possible, it is best to uncork a bottle of wine using a corkscrew. This is the most effective, fastest and safest way.

alko-planeta.ru

Several additional options

There are other, less well-known, methods for removing a cork from the neck of a wine bottle.

  1. Using a jet of water - under strong pressure, the material will gradually begin to move down. It is important not to miss the moment when the cork goes completely inside the bottle, so as not to fill the vessel with water.
  2. Using a medical needle and pump. Having pierced the material with a needle, you should pump out the air from the vessel. When there is no air left in the bottle, under pressure the cork itself flies out of the neck. In this case, you can not only be completely safe, but also preserve the cork and prevent dust from getting into the wine.
  3. Using a gas burner. By directing a stream of fire at the neck, you can warm it up. Under the influence high temperature the material can be easily removed.

How to open wine without a corkscrew, showing ingenuity

In conclusion, I’ll tell you an incident about how I opened a bottle 7 years ago. My wife and I had a chance to go on vacation. To celebrate the first day of vacation, we bought a bottle of wine and some snacks. We put chairs on the balcony, laid everything out on the table and at that moment we remembered that there was no corkscrew!!!

It was about one in the morning, so it was too late to go and look for a corkscrew in the nearest town; we could have asked for a corkscrew from the night porter, but we thought that there was none, since there was no bar in the hotel, and the kitchen had long been closed. So first we tried to open the bottle ourselves.

Having examined the room for suitable devices, I saw that the mirror was hanging on an ordinary self-tapping screw - Eureka, this is a way out!

  1. Using the apartment keys instead of a screwdriver, I unscrewed the screw from the wall and screwed it into the plug. Of course, there were no pliers.
  2. I had to use my shoe laces to remove the plug.
  3. I made a loop from one cord and tied its end to the head of the self-tapping screw, wound the loop around my hand and pulled out the cork!!!

After so much effort, the wine tasted excellent. The self-tapping screw, along with the mirror, were then returned to their place.

vine-advisor.ru

Order a corkscrew online

This simple method of solving the problem is effective, but it takes a long time and is completely unsuitable in a situation where the whole company is already assembled and is looking forward to filling the glasses.

  • There are many variations of the above methods - it all depends on imagination and each of them is good in its own way, and not only for men, but also for women.
  • The truth of life is that wine is the most popular choice at bachelorette parties.
  • However, ladies, if you have already tried everything known methods and didn’t achieve results, then the best solution for you would be to invite a man to your bachelorette party, preferably with a corkscrew.

alkolife.ru

After opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew, you should properly store the drink. And if, after opening, the wine is not completely drunk, it is important to take into account the shelf life, when the drink will not lose its taste and beneficial properties. A bottle opened without a corkscrew (as well as with one) cannot be stored for a long time, since oxygen gets inside and the oxidation process begins.

The duration is affected by:

  • Air temperature (ideal when using a refrigerator).
  • Amount of sugar in wine.
  • The amount of air that managed to penetrate into the vessel.

A small amount of wine in a bottle lasts less than a large amount. In a warm room, the period is also reduced. After just a couple of hours, the aroma, color and even taste changes. It is recommended to store the drink for no more than 2 days after opening it.

alcozavr.com

Properties of cork you need to know when opening a bottle of wine

The cork is very light, waterproof, elastic, easily compressible, fire-resistant and wear-resistant. Has low thermal and sound conductivity.

Cork bark consists of prismatic cells containing 10% water and ash, 55% saponified extracts, 10% water-soluble substances, 25% lignin and cellulose.

The cork contains very little oxygen, which prevents oxidation; one cork contains approximately 750 million natural cells.

valvas.ru

A little history of the bottle cap and the corkscrew

It is believed that the appearance of the first primitive corks is associated with changes in winemaking and the emergence of a new method of sealing bottles with a cork made of wood.

  • Until this point, wine was stored in barrels, and before serving it was poured into jugs or other similar vessels.
  • If wine was stored in smaller containers, then their necks were sealed with rags or simply covered with clay or resin.

The exact date of the invention of this device is not known, but in 1795 the first device for opening bottles was patented. This happened in England thanks to the priest Samuel Hanshall.

The process of obtaining a cork

In order to turn the bark into cork, it must be made soft. To do this, it is boiled, and at the end it increases in volume by 15-20%, becomes elastic and soft. During this period, the bark easily absorbs odors and therefore the entry of any non-electric vehicles into the workshop is prohibited. After cooking, the bark cools slowly, equalizing the temperature with the environment.

Next, the bark is sorted by thickness, since the bark goes to the cork high quality. Corks are divided into a large number of types (wine corks are divided into 20 types). The champagne cork is the most labor-intensive to make, but the bark used is not of the highest quality.

Solid wine corks are stamped from the best bark. After stamping, wine corks are washed. The corks are then bleached to remove harmful substances that might be contained in the bark.

To check the content of harmful substances, plugs are placed in glass jars and pour in a 12% alcohol solution and leave for a day.

The resulting solution from the jars is checked on a computer gas analyzer. The champagne cork is not solid, but composite (a stem and two solid disks).

  1. Each disk is inspected by the computer, determining not only the overall quality, but also which side will be finished. The clean side is in contact with the champagne, and the other is glued to the stem.
  2. The leg is made of granules connected to an adhesive substance using a press.
  3. The press compacts the granules into special shapes, compresses them with a certain force, and after that the finished product goes onto the conveyor. Next, the cork blank is baked in ovens and comes out in the form of a cylinder.
  4. After this, the cylinder is ground on special machines, coated with paraffin, control weighing is carried out and quality plugs and disks are selected. Using special glue, the discs and plugs are connected to each other and compressed with a press.

After the workpieces have dried, they are sent for grinding. The resulting cork must be weighed (weight should be from 8 to 10 grams). Corks that do not correspond to this weight are rejected.

Its use depends on the quality of the cork. For expensive varieties drink, a stamp with the name of the drink is burned onto the cork.

This is the path a cork takes to get to our table with a bottle of champagne.

How long can opened wine be stored?

Having opened the wine, it is not always possible to finish it. In this case, the question arises, how much can you store? open wine, how and where to do it? You need to remember right away that you won’t be able to store opened wine for a long time - if it comes into contact with air, it will certainly oxidize. And there is no way to interfere with this process; it can only be slightly slowed down.

The rate of oxidation depends on many factors.

  1. on the amount of air trapped in the bottle,
  2. on the amount of sugar in wine,
  3. on the temperature at which the wine is stored.

The warmer the room and the less wine left in the bottle, the faster drink will turn into vinegar. Usually, a couple of hours after opening, you will notice a change in the taste and aroma of the wine, and after a couple of days it will be impossible to drink such wine. Therefore, the first thing to do is to reduce the amount of air in the bottle by pouring the wine into a smaller container.

Next, the bottle should be tightly sealed. If the wine is white, then it should be placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and stored there for no longer than 1-2 days. Red wine will last the same period of time at room temperature- He doesn't need cold. But if you haven’t finished drinking strong wine, for example, port, sherry, then they can be stored for up to 2-3 weeks.

In general, the French say that if, after opening a bottle of wine, you didn’t finish it, then you shouldn’t have opened the bottle. So we listen to these wine experts and try to calculate our strengths in advance so as not to spoil the wine by storing it in an uncorked bottle.

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Summing up

We hope that now you will not wonder how to open a bottle of wine at home. All the methods listed above have been tested, if not by us, then by other “experts” in this field - ordinary people, in particular, by students. In reality, it is better not to look for adventures on your own head and buy a corkscrew or, as a last resort, a universal Swiss knife. Not as interesting, of course, but less headache.

Sometimes, in the midst of a holiday, it turns out that there is wine, but unfortunately there is no corkscrew. What to do in such a situation - end the celebration or try to open the bottle somehow? We will give you some tips on how to deal with this problem. To remove a cork, you do not need any special skills, and items that will help you are found in every home and may even be in your pocket. Read carefully and choose the method that you like best.

Take a wine bottle and wrap a towel around the bottom of it. Then, holding it horizontally, lightly tap the wall. Don't knock too hard to prevent the bottle from breaking, and watch the cork; when it comes out halfway, stop and remove it with your fingers. If you are outdoors or don’t have a towel at hand, then take off your shoe, put a bottle of wine inside it and knock in the same way. After a couple of minutes the plug will pop out. Inspect the bottle, if the neck does not narrow down, then the cork can be pushed inside. If it narrows, don’t even try, it will get stuck tightly. You can push it with any strong object, as long as it fits into the neck. It could be a pencil, a pen, a screwdriver, you could twist the paper tightly and use it to push the cork through. When pushing, be careful not to splash the wine onto your clothes.

If you don't have a corkscrew, you can use a knife with a narrow blade or scissors. Using the blade of scissors or a knife, carefully pierce the cork and begin to gradually rotate it back and forth, slightly pulling it towards you. The bottle will open without much difficulty.

If you have pliers on hand, you can remove the plug using a screw or self-tapping screw. Using pliers, screw the screw into the center of the plug, leaving about a centimeter at the top. Then grab the head of the screw with the tool and pull, holding the bottle with your other hand. This is a fairly convenient method, but pliers and a screw are not always at hand.

Much like using a screw, you can remove a plug using small nails and a hammer. However, any hammer is not suitable, but only the one with a nail puller. The nails need to be hammered into the cork at different angles, leaving five millimeters on top. Then put a nail puller on the nails and pull, the cork will pop out without difficulty. You can uncork the cork using a strong and thin rope. Using a sharp object, a knitting needle or a screwdriver, you need to make a hole in the cork and push a rope with a knot tied at the end into it. Then pull the rope and the bottle will open. This method of uncorking is quite inconvenient and is most likely suitable for uncorking a bottle for a bet.

A slightly exotic way of uncorking is by heating the neck of the bottle. You can heat the neck using gas stove, on a fire or with several lighters. When the neck is hot enough, the cork will pop out of the bottle on its own.

Thus, there are plenty of ways to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew. The choice is yours!

Often, in the midst of a celebration, a situation arises when there is wine, but there is no corkscrew at hand. How to uncork a bottle? There are as many as 7 ways to do this.

We want to draw your attention to the fact that these techniques are not always effective. When using them, you need to be careful, otherwise, instead of getting the impressions of your favorite drink, you will find pieces of cork in your glass or cracks on the bottle.

Pull out the plug using a self-tapping screw and pliers

It may seem strange to you, but this is the safest of all the methods listed on the list. To use it you will need a certain physical strength, but this is unlikely to stop real wine connoisseurs 😉

Screw the self-tapping screw into the cork so that it protrudes from the surface by about one and a half to two centimeters. Wrap the pliers around the cap and pull towards you to remove the plug. Instead of pliers, you can use a claw hammer.

Please note that this method is not suitable for aged wines whose cork has already worn out. In this case, it may simply crumble.

Push the plug in

First, pierce the cork with a sharp object. This will reduce the pressure in the container when pushing. Now try pushing it into the bottle with your finger. If it becomes difficult, use any suitable sized object with blunt end, for example, a marker or reverse side wooden spoon.

As with the previous method, there is a possibility that the cork may crumble due to pressure. If this happens, it doesn’t matter. Simply pour the wine into another container using a sieve or cheesecloth.

Use the pump

As you already understand, we are not looking for easy ways. And if you don’t have a corkscrew at hand, but have a pump hidden somewhere, which is usually used to inflate balls, then you can safely use it to uncork a bottle of your favorite wine. It's very simple: pierce the cork in the middle and carefully pump air into the bottle. Due to the increase in pressure, it will gradually begin to come out. Don't overdo it, or the bottle may burst. For safety reasons, you can wrap it in a towel in advance.

Uncork using a key or serrated knife

The bottle can be uncorked even with a regular key. Insert it into the cork at an angle of about 45 degrees and slowly roll it, gradually pulling it towards you. The same trick can be done using a knife with a serrated blade.

Wrap the bottle in a towel and hit the bottom

Wrap a towel around the bottom of the bottle and start lightly tapping it on the wall. After some time, the plug should fly out. If after several attempts nothing works, try other methods.

Be very careful not to break the bottle!

Take a shoe

But what to do in the most seemingly hopeless situation, when there are not even keys nearby? Let's be smart, gentlemen, and don't lose heart! We bring to your attention the shoe method.

Place the bottle bottom down in a clean shoe with a hard sole. Then hit the wall with your heel a few times. Each time the cork will gradually slip out of the neck. Once it comes out halfway, you can pull it out and put the boot back on.

Heat the bottle

There is another non-obvious way. To remove the cork, just slightly heat the neck of the bottle. Under the influence of heat, it will gradually rise upward until it flies out completely.

Use these tips only as a last resort. If you need to uncork a bottle expensive wine, do your best to find the corkscrew. In all other cases, you can use our advice.

If you have questions or comments, please write to us. Use the comment form below or join the discussion in the community

Wine bottles are not easy to open. For this there is special device, called a corkscrew. There are folk craftsmen who can do without it.

However, professional sommeliers still insist that bottles of real wine should be opened with this device.

Currently, there are several different modern types of this device. Among them there are both the newest models and those that have been known to mankind since ancient times.

Therefore, among such a wide range, each person is sure to easily find the corkscrew that will fully satisfy all his requirements.

This device was officially patented in 1795 and since then many improved models of this device have appeared.

Reference! However, today historians insist that the corkscrew was first used back in the 17th century, and it was very similar to the most common classic corkscrew, which is still very popular today.

This device was made in analogy with a fireweed, that is, a device that was used to clean the barrel of a weapon, from which the projectile flew out in pieces.

Each corkscrew has its own unique appearance and rules of use. However, all its types should be used in accordance with the general recommendations of professionals:

  • On high-quality bottles there is a special foil on the surface of the cork itself, which must be removed first. If you follow the rules, then you need to use special knife sommelier. But if you don’t have it at hand, you can use a regular kitchen knife or scissors of a suitable size.
  • Before using a corkscrew, be sure to check that it is sharp enough. Otherwise, an unsharpened device will only crumble the cork and you will have to make a lot of effort to open the bottle of drink.
  • The tip of the corkscrew should be inserted into the lid strictly in its center. Otherwise, pieces of cork will fall inside the bottle, and you won’t be able to remove it entirely.

Attention! Regardless of the type of device used, it should never be pressed too hard into the plug itself. Otherwise, this may cause strong pressure inside the bottle itself and the container will simply burst.

How to use different types of openers?

Today there are more than 10 varieties of corkscrew, but professional sommeliers highlight only 7 main types. Despite the differences between them, they are all suitable for opening all types of wine bottles.

Classical

The second name of this device is steel worm, and all because of its characteristic shape.

A screw-shaped rather short spiral knife is securely attached perpendicular to the handle-holder, which is usually made of wood. This is the simplest design of this device and such a corkscrew is very cheap.

But it also has a significant disadvantage - t It takes quite a lot of physical strength to open a bottle with it.

Use this device like this:

  1. At first top part The bottles are carefully removed from the foil.
  2. The device should be screwed into the plug.
  3. Pull it out, slightly rotating and pulling it out.

Important! You cannot completely immerse the tip into the cork; at least one turn must remain on the surface. Otherwise, the cork itself will begin to crumble heavily, and its particles will spoil the appearance and aroma of the wine.

With wings

This device has two more names - "Butterfly" or "Charles de Gaulle". It is a more improved version of the previous corkscrew.

The advantage of such a device is that it is easy to use and does not require much effort to open the bottle with its help.

However, such a corkscrew cannot always be used. If the cork is deeply seated in the bottle, then it may not be possible to remove it with its help.

The correct way to use it is:

  • The tip of the corkscrew is inserted into the center of the bottle, while the handles of the device itself must be lowered along the neck on both sides.
  • With your left hand you need to firmly grasp the bottle itself. And at the same time, pull the upper handle of the corkscrew up with your right hand. If everything is done correctly, then the side handles of the device will also begin to slowly rise.
  • When the handles reach the highest point, the bottle should be placed vertically and the side handles should be slowly lowered; as they are lowered, the cork itself will easily come out of the bottle.

It is very important to remember here that under no circumstances should you put too much pressure on the corkscrew itself.

Sommelier knife

It is not for nothing that this device received such a name, because In addition to a corkscrew, it is also a knife and a holder. This type of device is used by professional bartenders and sommeliers in various establishments.

It must be used as follows:

  1. Using a special corkscrew blade, you need to cut off the foil from the cork itself in one motion.
  2. There is a special capsule at the top of the neck of the bottle; it also needs to be cut off with one sharp movement of the knife.
  3. The corkscrew itself is screwed into the center of the cork, leaving only one curl on its surface.
  4. Using the first step on the corkscrew, you need to rest the structure on the neck of the container and lightly press on it, like a lever.
  5. Then the first step should be replaced with the second and again press on the plug, which should easily come out.

Reference! Professional sommeliers say that you should not pull the cork completely out of the neck with such a corkscrew. On last stage When it almost completely comes to the surface, wrap the bottle itself in a towel and take it out with your hands.

Watch the video where a wine expert shows how to easily open a bottle using a sommelier knife:

Screw

Such a device does not require any physical effort at all to use.

That is why girls most often choose it, because with its help you can easily open absolutely any wine bottle.

  • All you need to do is place the corkscrew on the neck of the bottle so that the spiral knife enters the very center of the cork.
  • Then you just need to turn the handle located at the top of the device until the bottle is opened.

Pneumatic

This is one of the latest innovations, but, unfortunately, it is still very rare on the domestic market. Although foreign sommeliers actively use such a device.

This device practically works by itself:

  1. Its central needle is inserted into the middle of the plug.
  2. Then you either press a special button or pump the piston, as in a small hand pump.
  3. Thanks to this, air will begin to flow into the container through the needle, which will eventually push the cork out.

In appearance, this corkscrew bears little resemblance to all previous models; it is more reminiscent of a large and thick medical syringe.

Sometimes such a device is also called a pump-action device.

Gypsy

Another device that has unusual shape and appearance. This corkscrew has an oval handle, and at the end there are two thin but heavy-duty needles. They are the ones who stick into the cork, and then with twisting movements it is easily pulled out.

The second name of this corkscrew is “The Butler’s Friend”.

Reference! To his unusual name This device owes its unique qualities, because it allows you to easily uncork almost any wine bottle, regardless of its age.

Therefore, it was previously believed that dishonest businessmen used such a corkscrew to open elite drinks, and instead poured cheaper alcohol and easily corked the containers back. Whether this is true or not is now unknown for certain.

But the fact remains that a gypsy corkscrew allows you to easily and quickly remove even the most fragile and deep-seated cork.

Electric

This device went on sale quite recently and immediately gained immense popularity. It not only has a compact size and stylish appearance, but is also very easy to use; all you need to do is press the two buttons located on its body in succession. True, the corkscrew must first be leaned against the center of the cork.

  • In order for such an electric corkscrew to work properly, it must be regularly charged or the batteries changed in a timely manner.
  • Here everything depends only on the manufacturer. Precise Use corkscrew is described in the instructions for it.

It is the electric corkscrew that is most popular among waiters and professional bartenders. After all, its use allows you to save time and effort on uncorking large quantity wine bottles.

Reference! Some models of such devices can be used not only for opening wine bottles, but also for uncorking cognac and liqueur bottles. After all, many famous producers of such high-quality alcohol bottle their products in such reliable containers.

For home use best to buy pump-action, electric, vintage or lever models such a device. They are easy to use, affordable and do not take up much storage space.

For professional sommeliers, waiters or bartenders, electric, pump-action devices, as well as a gypsy corkscrew, are best suited.

Despite the fact that today there are many ways to open wine bottles without using this device, it is still best to have one on hand. After all, only such a professional device will allow you to really quickly, efficiently and safely open almost any bottle of delicious grape alcoholic drink.

The main thing is to follow all the rules for using each specific type of corkscrew and strictly follow all instructions.

Watch the video for tips on selection and use. different types corkscrews:

There are many ways to open a bottle of wine: push the cork inside with the handle of a fork or finely crumble it, take it out in parts, or you can dashingly chop off the neck with a sharp knife (hussar style). However, these radical measures will not be needed if at least the most primitive “bottle screw” is at hand. Next we will look in detail at how to open wine with a corkscrew, and with what different models These devices are different from each other.

History of creation. The appearance of the corkscrew is directly related to the development of the tradition of sealing bottles with a cork stopper. For many centuries, wine was stored in barrels and served immediately in jugs. The necks of the vessels were plugged with rags or covered with clay and resin. The custom of using cork tree bark only became established in the 18th century, along with the development of the wine trade, when it was necessary to transport large volumes of wine so that the drink did not spoil along the way.

The first corkscrew was patented in 1795 by the English priest Samuel Hanshall, but the “steel worm” was used as early as the 17th century. This most elementary design is created in the image of a gunpowder - a tool for removing a projectile from the muzzle of a failed gunpowder weapon.

General tips:

  • Before removing the cork, cut the foil off the neck of the bottle. Sommelier knives have a special blade for this; a regular kitchen knife, scissors, or even a nail file will also work.
  • Check how sharp the screw is. The corkscrew should easily penetrate the cork and not crumble or tear the material. It is best if the working part of the corkscrew is made of stainless steel and well polished - then less physical effort will be required, the blade will slide easily in the material and the cork will easily come out of the neck.
  • Always set the point perpendicular to the surface: if the spiral enters crookedly, it will only damage the cork, but will not pull it out.
  • Finally, do not press the corkscrew too hard, otherwise the bottle will burst.

Classic corkscrew (“steel worm”)

The simplest design is “screw with handle”. Disadvantages - requires remarkable dexterity, strength and dexterity. Advantages: almost impossible to break, simple to use, inexpensive.

Instructions:

1. Screw the corkscrew into the center of the cork.

Don't overdo it! You cannot twist the corkscrew “all the way”; leave one turn, otherwise the cork will begin to crumble, ruining the taste of the wine.

2. With one hand, firmly fix the bottle, with the other, carefully pull out the cork, gently loosening and twisting.

Corkscrew lever (“Charles de Gaulle” or “Butterfly”)

When the arms of the product are raised vertically, the model resembles a little man with raised arms - the favorite gesture of the French general. Hence the funny nickname “Charles de Gaulle”. Advantages - very easy to use, no effort required to remove the plug. Disadvantage: the butterfly corkscrew does not always cope with deep-seated plugs.


Obvious similarities

Bottle opening technique:

1. Place the tip of the blade in the center of the plug. The “handles” of the corkscrew should be lowered along the neck.

2. Hold the structure with one hand and screw in the central handle with the other. The side arms of the corkscrew will begin to rise.

3. When the levers reach the "vertical up" position, place the bottle on a flat surface, then slowly lower the levers with both hands at once. The cork will easily come out of the neck.

Sommelier knife

A convenient folding corkscrew, invented by French sommeliers - restaurant employees responsible for the supply and storage of wines in the establishment, as well as the presentation of drinks to customers. In addition to the steel screw, the device is equipped with a blade for removing foil and two steps that make opening the bottle easier.

Instructions:

1. Use a blade to cut off the foil cap, exposing the stopper: with sharp movements, cut off the capsule on both sides at the very top of the neck, right under the protrusion.

2. Screw the corkscrew into the center of the cork, leaving one “tier” on the surface.

3. Press the first step against the neck of the bottle and, using the structure as a lever, slightly pull out the cork, which will not come out completely.

4. Change the position of the handle to the second step and pull again. It is considered good practice to remove the cork with your hands at the very end, after wrapping it in a clean towel.

Screw corkscrew

A mechanical device that makes opening the bottle as easy as possible. The best option for girls to open wine, as it requires minimal effort.

Technique: Place the spiral against the cork and tighten the screw until the entire cork is threaded onto the corkscrew.

Pneumatic corkscrew (pump action)

An original design that vaguely resembles a syringe. In Russia it is still rare.

Instructions: insert the needle into the center of the plug, depending on the design, lightly press the lever or start pumping air through the piston like in a hand bicycle pump. Air will enter the bottle, the pressure will increase, and the cork will come out on its own.

Carefully! Thin-walled bottles may burst!

Gypsy Corkscrew ("The Butler's Friend")

Elegant pliers that allow you to carefully remove even old and fragile corks. The model was called “gypsy” because it does not damage the cork, and dishonest businessmen (for example, gypsies) can replace good wine in an expensive bottle for open swill, then seal it with the original cork, and visually no one will notice the substitution.

Hence the nickname “butler’s friend.” In England, it was believed that representatives of this profession often drank good wine from the stocks of their owners, and this design of the corkscrew made it easy to hide traces of the crime.

Technique: insert the tongs along the edges of the cork and smoothly lower it all the way into the bottle, then remove the cork by twisting the handle of the corkscrew.

Electric corkscrew

Uncorking a bottle in two clicks. All that is required is to charge the battery on time.

Instructions for the electric corkscrew are presented in the video.

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