5 expert tips for how to open a bottle of wine — plus, what to do if you don't have a corkscrew

Updated

2021-10-20T21:10:01Z

le creuset waiters corkscrew with a cork attached next to a bottle of white wine on a table how to open a bottle of wine 2021

Connie Chen/Insider
  • How to open a wine bottle with a waiter's corkscrew
  • How to open a wine bottle with a wing corkscrew
  • How to open a wine bottle with a lever corkscrew
  • How to open a wine bottle with an electric corkscrew
  • How to open a wine bottle with an Ah-So wine opener
  • How to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew or wine opener
  • Check out our other wine-related buying guides

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  • The easiest way to open a wine bottle is with a tool like a waiter's corkscrew or electric opener.
  • Here are tips for how to open a bottle of wine and what to do if you don't have a corkscrew (hint: you can use a house key, bike pump, or shoe).
  • See more: The best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021

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Corks can be quite stubborn, but opening a bottle of wine shouldn't be too difficult if you have the right tools on hand.

While it's technically possible to remove the cork from a wine bottle without a wine opener, you'll save a lot of time and energy by investing in one, be it a waiter's corkscrew, winged corkscrew, lever corkscrew, or electric opener.

Below are the step-by-step processes for how to use each of these tools to open your bottle of red, white, or rosé, taken from our experience testing the best wine openers of 2021 and expert insights from sommeliers and winemakers.

And if you find yourself in a situation where you can't use any of the recommended tools, we also share some more creative solutions to uncork your wine bottle without a corkscrew. (Though, be advised: your mileage may vary.)

How to open a wine bottle with a waiter's corkscrew

Connie Chen/Insider

"The classic double-hinged waiter's corkscrew [also known as a wine key] is the gold standard that people should master. It's probably one of the most common types in the wine world," said Peter Mondavi, Jr., co-proprietor of Charles Krug Winery. Other wine experts agree: a waiter's corkscrew is reliable, easy to master, and the most compact option to open a bottle of wine.

The best waiter's corkscrews are double hinged. They have a foil cutter and handle on one side, a screw in the middle, and two notched pieces on the other side.

  1. To use it, open up both sides of the opener so it looks like a "T" and insert the screw into the center of the cork. Make sure it's twisted into the cork all the way to the top of the screw.
  2. Bring the side with the notched pieces down toward the bottle and hook the upper piece on the lip of the bottle.
  3. This gives you the leverage to bring the cork out by pulling the handle on the other side upwards.
  4. The cork should now be halfway out.
  5. Move and hook the bottom piece on the lip of the bottle, and continue pulling the handle to completely remove the cork.

Shop the best waiter's corkscrews we tested in 2021:

How to open a wine bottle with a wing corkscrew

Connie Chen/Insider

A winged corkscrew has a wing on each side along with a top handle connected to a screw in the middle.

  1. To use it, insert the screw into the middle of the cork and twist the handle to push the screw all the way in. Hold the bottom of the corkscrew as you twist the screw in, so your bottle doesn't go flying.
  2. While you're twisting the screw in, the wings will lift up.
  3. Hold and push down the wings at the same time to remove the cork.

Shop the best winged corkscrews we tested in 2021:

How to open a wine bottle with a lever corkscrew

Connie Chen/Insider

A lever corkscrew has a lever on one side and is a bit clunkier than waiter's keys and winged corkscrews.

  1. To use it, twist the screw into the middle of the cork.
  2. Squeeze the bottom of the opener and pull the lever upwards to remove the cork.

Shop the best lever corkscrews we tested in 2021:

How to open a wine bottle with an electric corkscrew

Connie Chen/Insider

Electric corkscrews make it really easy to remove a cork by doing all the work for you. The downsides are that they need to be charged and take up a lot of space.

  1. To use it, position it directly over the center of the cork.
  2. The controls may vary depending on the specific electric opener you get. Generally, there is an up and a down button.
  3. Press and hold the down button and the opener will insert the screw into the cork and remove the cork. Hold the bottle as the opener operates, so it won't go flying.
  4. Press the up button and it will push the cork off the screw.

Shop the best electric corkscrews we tested in 2021:

How to open a wine bottle with an Ah-So wine opener

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Old or vintage corks require extra care and delicate handling. "If you suspect from the start that you are working with a tricky cork, I'd go straight to the Ah-So opener. You may want to keep a decanter close by just in case you encounter a bit of crumbling along the way," said Katie Griesbeck, the vice president of sales and marketing at Cakebread Cellars.

  1. To use it, wiggle the longer prong of the opener between the cork and lip of the bottle.
  2. Then wiggle the shorter prong in on the other side.
  3. Twist the handle slowly to remove the cork.

Shop the best Ah-So wine openers we recommend in 2021:

How to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew or wine opener

Connie Chen/Insider

It's heartbreaking when you want to open a bottle of wine but realize you don't have a corkscrew on you. Here are 6 easy, creative ways to get the cork out with common household items. Warning: things could get messy, and you may lose a bit of wine depending on which method you use.

 With a screw, screwdriver, and hammer

  1. Use the screwdriver to twist a long screw into the cork. Leave about an inch of the screw outside of the cork.
  2. With the back of the hammer, pull out the screw, and the cork along with it.

With a house key or serrated knife

  1. Insert the house key or serrated knife into the cork at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Now twist the house key or knife to remove the cork. A knife may be more comfortable to hold since it has a handle.

With a wooden spoon (or any long and sturdy object)

  1. If you don't mind pushing the cork into the bottle, you can use the handle of any long object to push the cork inside.

With a bike pump (or any air pump with a needle)

  1. Insert the needle of the pump all the way through the cork until it reaches the space between the bottom of the cork and the wine.
  2. Pump the bottle with air to force the cork up and out.
  3. Only pump until enough of the cork is out for you to pull it with your fingers. You don't want the cork to explode.

With a lighter

  1. Use the flame of a lighter at the neck of the bottle, where there's an air gap between the bottom of the cork and the wine.
  2. Rotate the bottle slowly as you heat it so the heat is distributed evenly and you don't shatter the glass.
  3. Continue heating it until the cork lifts out and you can pull out the rest with your fingers.

With a flat-soled shoe

  1. Place the bottom of the bottle in the shoe, where you'd normally put your heel.
  2. Hold the bottom of the shoe against a wall, with the bottle parallel to the ground.
  3. Tap the wall with the shoe and bottle together and keep striking until the cork comes out.

Read our full guide to how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew for more detailed information on each of the methods above.

Connie Chen is a senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she leads coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink. She specializes in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combines rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money. When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram @connayreviews. Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail. Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large. Read some of her work: The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021 The 7 best women's bathrobes in 2021 The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021 The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021 The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes Even chefs experience cooking burnout — here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen How businesses create successful virtual experiences 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test kitchen products.

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