5 Ways to Open a Bottle of Wine Without a Corkscrew

Have you ever encountered a scenario like this? You’ve brought a bottle of wine back to your accommodation after shopping at a supermarket or wine store. You hoped that a glass of wine could help you unwind and relax after a long day of working.

There is, however a big problem as you can’t find a corkscrew anywhere in the kitchen and it is already late in the night. We now have a million dollar question: “How can we open the wine without a corkscrew?”

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There are actually a lot of ways to open a bottle of wine but please be reminded, these techniques below are not completely infallible, even if you try all of them.

Moreover, if it is a really rare or expensive bottle and you are concerned with the risk of breaking the cork or damaging the wine, we strongly recommend that you wait patiently until you have a corkscrew or when you get proper assistance. You might have to delay the drinking session.

If not, let’s try some of these methods!

1.  Pull the cork out, with a screw, a screwdriver and a hammer

Effectiveness: *****

Risk: **

Pros:

This method is relatively safe and effective.

Cons:

• You need to be well-equipped to have all the tools.
• It also requires some resilience, strength and persistence. 

Instructions:

1. This method mimics the way we open a wine bottle with a corkscrew. With a screwdriver, screw a long screw (the longer the better) into the cork until there is about an inch or so of the screw sticking out of the cork.
2. Lock the fork end of the hammer beneath the screw.
3. Pull the cork out slowly with a controlled pressure while holding on the the bottle to make sure it does not slip.

2.    Push the cork in, with the handle of some cutlery

Effectiveness: ****

Risk: *

Pros:

This is probably the safest and easiest way.

Cons:

• Once the cork is pushed into the bottle, it is quite hard to retrieve it
• The cork may crumble and shed into the wine.  

Instructions:

1. Use the handle of a spoon (or other cutleries) to press and push the cork down slowly into the bottle, as you hold on to it with your other hand
2. If there are some unwanted cork crumbs, just pour the wine through a sieve or into a decanter.

3.    Pump it out

Effectiveness: ***

Risk: ****

Pros:

It does not require as many tools as the first method. As long as you can find a bike pump with a needle attached, it is a straightforward approach.

Cons:

You’ll need a bike pump, with a long enough needle.

Instructions:

1. Plunge the needle of a bike pump into the cork – until it penetrates all the way through and reaches the space between the cork and the wine.
2. Pump air into the bottle, until the cork comes out due to the air pressure inside the bottle.
3. Try to keep a distance away from the cork as it may pop out without warning if you apply too much pressure.

4.    Use keys or a knife to try to twist the cork out

Effectiveness: **

Risk: ***

Pros:

Nine times out of ten, you should have a set of keys or a sharp object around you.

Cons:

• Make sure you get the key into the cork at an angle because if you don’t, the cork could crumble easily.

Instructions:

1. The ideal situation is that you insert your keys or a serrated knife into the cork at a 45-degree angle and carefully rotate it a few times before it comes out.
2. The cork may crumble if you don’t get your object all the way inside it. If so, just get the crumbs out and push the rest of the cork into the wine.

5.     Use heat to shift the cork up and out

Effectiveness: **

Risk: ****

Pros:

If you feel comfortable playing with fire, this method works, theoretically, if you are careful.

Cons:

• You need to make sure the bottle is not cold (from the fridge) before you start, otherwise, it could explode due to the sudden change of temperature.
• The heat could spoil the wine.

Instructions:

1. Fetch a blowtorch or a lighter.
2. Make sure the bottle is at room temperature. Wait for a bit if you’ve just taken the wine out of a fridge.
3. Apply heat to the neck of the wine bottle, and heat up the air above the wine.
4. The change in temperature will cause the cork to slowly come out.

Above all, remember that a corkscrew has a purpose, and is quite possibly one of the most useful items you could possess. These remedies can help raise you out of despair and give you a night to remember if you are suffering from a lack of one.

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