A Primer on Proper Un-corking and Bottle Opening Techniques
We’ve all experienced the occasional dreaded “corkscrew failure” – the cork pulls out too fast and showers the table, or worse your boss with expensive red wine or the cork breaks up into a hundred little pieces. Here are some tips to help you avoid moments like those and perhaps save Grandma’s lace heirloom or even your job.
One of the most popular styles of corkscrew is a wing style one, named for its plastic or metal handles on either side of the metal screw. After twisting the screw into the cork, pull down on the handles.The downward movement of the wings serves as a lever to pull the cork straight up and out of the bottle.This style, although easy to use, has a tendency to break the cork more easily.
Another popular corkscrew is called a "waiter’s corkscrew", as it is small enough to fit in the pocket of a restaurant waiter. Sommelier Kim Flack from The Wine Cellar in Cinnaminson, NJ says, “It really is one of the best tools to use when opening wine. While we do offer many different styles, the waiter’s corkscrew is the most practical in terms of size and functionality".
The perfect waiter’s corkscrew should contain three separate parts, all of which aid in opening a bottle of wine. First, a small saw-like or razor-style blade that cuts the foil covering the cork; Then the metal screw should be inserted into the cork, slightly off-center and rotated, until it’s no longer visible. Finally, the lever arm is brought up so it sits on the edge of the bottle, making sure not to block the cork. Finally, pull up on the body of the opener slowly to move the cork straight upward.
No matter which of the two corkscrews you use, make sure you have screwed as far into the cork as possible. Otherwise, the chances of the cork breaking are dramatically increased. To further prevent breaking the cork, make sure not to remove it on an angle. Pull it out at an absolute vertical angle, just as it was inserted into the bottle. When the cork is pulled out on an angle, it has greater potential to snap in two.
If the cork breaks (especially if it breaks in half while you are removing it), take the corkscrew out and re-insert it into the remaining piece of cork, taking care not to pierce the bottom of the cork, if possible. This will keep all those little pieces of material from falling into the wine. However, if little of the cork remains, “you have to do what you have to do". Pull the remaining piece out just as you would take out a full cork.
Sometimes as you are un-corking wine (or trying to remove the broken remains of a cork), bits will break-off and fall into the wine. As long as you are drinking the wine at that moment – and not storing it overnight – you will be fine. To keep the cork from reaching your glass, put some cheesecloth or a coffee filter over the opening in the bottle and strain the wine.
Once you’ve gotten the cork out, inspect it. A dry cork is a sign that the wine was not stored properly and might have gone bad. In addition, a cork which does not smell like wine, especially one that smells foul, probably indicates that the wine is no longer drinkable.
Of course, all of these suggestions are useful when opening a red, white or rosé wine. What if you are trying to open a bottle of Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, or any another sparkling wine? This can, for the untrained, be a potentially dangerous project. Don’t laugh – every year hundreds of people are struck in the eye by improperly “popped” champagne corks.
Step one is to untwist the wire cage and cap that keeps the cork in position. Place one hand on the cork and the other on the side of the bottle – towards the bottom is best. We also recommend that you use a hand towel when holding the cork. This will help both in keeping the wine from bubbling over once opened and will serve to further dampen the cork, just in case it should try tries to shoot out of the bottle uncontrollably. Twist the wine bottle while holding the cork firmly, or twist both in opposite directions. This technique will still give you that joyous “pop” that everyone loves to hear and still keep all of your guests safe and dry – not everyone wants to recreate the locker room scene after a World Series Championship!
Many different styles of cork screws are on the market and there is no hard and fast rule as to which ones are best. But for sheer simplicity, nothing beats the old standby – the waiter’s corkscrew. It’s economical and takes up an insignificant amount of space in a kitchen drawer. If you live in an apartment or home with limited drawer space, that is something to be considered. There is always the chance however, that someone will invent a better “mousetrap.”
Visit any Wine Masters location for help on how to properly use a waiter’s corkscrew and for their recommendations on new or easier to use alternatives. For a list of Wine Masters retail locations, click here.
