Wine is always associated with times of celebration. When you hear the pop of the bottle, it somehow represents a sense of fulfilment and success. However, the usual hurdle involved when you’re dealing with wine is the moment you’re opening it. To avoid the hassle of ruining your fun during wine night, here is how to open your wine bottle like a pro:
Types of wine caps
There are two common ways of how wine is sealed. One is by screw cap, and the other one is through the use of cork stoppers. Life is much easier when you only need to open the wine bottle by a screw cap. However, the quality of the wine inside will not last long when the wine only comes with a screw cap as cover. Most wine manufacturing companies still prefer to seal their products using the traditional cork caps. And this is because the wine preserves the taste and quality longer even after opening the bottle.
Opening a wine bottle is an instant breeze if you have the right tool that you can use. Here are some tools that you can purchase to solve your problem:
Corkscrew
The most common tool to open your wine bottle easily is through the use of a corkscrew. There are a lot of types of corkscrews in the market, and some would have additional features and uses. A corkscrew is made of spiral metal and a handle on top. The screw part of the tool is drilled in the cork up to the level that it can hold the cork. The handle facilitates easier grip when pulling the cork out of the bottle.
Some corkscrews are multi-functional. They can also be used as a bottle opener for tin caps, and even as a Swiss knife that you can carry around.
Optional tools
For wine enthusiasts, there are other tools that you can add in your collection so you’ll have a complete set of tools when dealing with wine bottles:
Wine bottle cutter
A wine bottle cutter is essential for wine enthusiasts who collect wine bottles that have sentimental value for them. A wine bottle cutter transforms the wine bottle into a more creative item, like a glass or candle holder. If you’re an advocate of lesser wastes and are into recycling, a wine bottle cutter is a good investment. You will be able to use the wine bottles for different purposes.
You can’t open a wine bottle with a wine cutter because the container needs to be in a horizontal position when you use the tool. Make sure that there is no liquid inside before using a wine bottle cutter.
Wine foil cutter
Most wines are still covered with foil aside from the screw cap or the cork bottles to ensure that the quality of the wine is preserved before opening. Using a wine foil cutter is the easiest way to remove the foil on the top of the bottle without peeling the side and using a knife. You have to clip the foil cutter and twist it. It will save you time, especially for some wine bottles in which the foil is too tight and very difficult to peel off.
TAKEAWAY: Wine has always been a part of culture and tradition in most societies, especially when celebrating a momentous occasion. The wine culture dates back even during the Roman period and even the ancient Greeks. There’s even the existence of Dionysus, the god of wine. During the old times, wine drinking is just a privilege of the upper class. But today, everybody enjoys the social and health benefits of drinking wine.
Other ways to open a wine bottle
There are times when you don’t have a corkscrew at your disposal and you have to improvise. Here are some helpful ideas on how you can open a wine bottle without a corkscrew:
- A screw and a hammer – If you’re at home and you have some of your tools, you can use a screw and a hammer. The process is similar to how a corkscrew works. You need to drill the cork with a screw until ¾ of the length of the screw is buried in the cork. Then you use the other side of the hammer to pull out the screw
- Car keys – If you’re celebrating outdoors or at a wine festival and you forget to bring a corkscrew with you, you can also use your car keys. All you have to do is put the car keys on the space between the cork and the bottle, and slowly push until the cork pries open.
- Knife – If you’re well skilled to do sabering, you can also open a bottle of sparkling wine with a knife. You need to slice a portion of the cork as well as the glass. Don’t attempt to do this approach if it’s your first time using a knife to open a wine bottle. This might cause an accident if not done properly.
Having the right tool is the easiest and most professional way to open a wine bottle. For wine enthusiasts, they invest in different tools like a wine bottle cutter and wine foil cutter to preserve the wine bottle and open it in an instant. There are other tools that you can also use in case there’s no corkscrew and you need to improvise.