6 methods to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew

We've all been there: bottle of wine in hand, fresh from the wine shop or the nearest supermarket, and... we can't find our corkscrew! It's not always easy to have your electric bottle opener with you. What's more frustrating than seeing your bottle of red or white wine on the table, with no way to open it? Don't worry, we've got you covered with the best techniques for opening a bottle of wine without a corkscrew.

Use a shoe and hit it against a wall

Okay, let's start with the most accessible, and probably the best known: the legendary shoe technique. In itself, it's a method that works if you apply it correctly.

• Choose a shoe with a flexible sole
• Place the bottle at heel level
• Tap the heel of your shoe against a wall while holding the bottle
• Repeat until the cork can be removed by hand.

Be careful though, if you hit it too hard, or persist for too long, the bottle might crack , or even worse, shatter in your shoe or hand: this can be very dangerous if a piece of glass gets lodged there! If you don't want to take the risk, you can choose one of the many other methods.

With a hammer and a screw

For this method which will allow you to open your bottle of wine without a corkscrew, the hammer is not mandatory, it is just the means which is often the most readily available.

Start by driving the screw into the cork with a screwdriver until it's secure and won't come out after a firm pull. Why? We're going to use a hammer, not to drive it in, but to pull it out using the hammer's recessed end, where the screw will be seated.

You could perhaps opt for pliers or any sturdy tool that can pull on the ends of the screw flat.

With a wooden spoon or fork

This time, we're not going to try to remove the cork from the bottle, but rather push it in. Be careful, this can sometimes be unpleasant when pouring, as the cork often blocks the flow of wine.

Ideally, you should find a fairly long object with a wide end: a wooden spoon is perfect for this. It needs to be thin enough to fit inside the bottle if the cork is removed: you will simply use the end of the spoon and press firmly on the curved part to push the cork into the wine bottle.

With a knife

Warning: Dangerous procedure! Do not attempt this method if you have even a minor ailment; it could land you in the hospital. You will need a pocket knife that can be held by both the blade and the handle to avoid injury.

You will insert the tip of the blade into your cork, angling it towards the center. Then, firmly grasp the blade and its handle, and make a spiral motion to gradually extract the cork.

This is a method that applies especially to bottles with a low-quality cork (often made with an alternative to cork, which is a mixture of different plastics), because the cork will break too easily when faced with a sharp knife.

Tap the bottle upside down

There is not just one way to use a shoe to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew: you can also use an alternative that does not require hitting hard against a wall, risking damage and injury.

Sit comfortably and place your red or white wine between your thighs/knees , then tap the end of the bottle with a shoe. This time, avoid a soft sole and opt for something more robust to reduce the effort.

With enough force and determination, the plug will eventually come out, but again, stop a little before the end to remove it by hand: it would be a shame to stain the carpet forever!

The fire method

Last but not least: use a good heat source, specifically a fire. Warning: DO NOT use this method on a cold bottle or one straight from the fridge; the combination of hot and cold temperatures on glass is explosive!

To open without a corkscrew:

• Take a lighter or a blowtorch in your hand
• Hold the bottle firmly by the bottom to avoid burning yourself
• Orient the flame around the neck of the bottle
• Heat the neck of the bottle until the cork starts to come out.
• Once the cork is half out, wait for it to cool down, and then pull it out by hand.
  

Having a corkscrew that you don't lose

None of this would happen if you had the perfect corkscrew for every occasion. So perfect, in fact, that you'd never dare lose it, and it would accompany you to every wine tasting in every cellar at the end of France or to drinks with friends.

To find the one that suits you best, we invite you to explore the many choices of corkscrews in our shop, while our team is available to guide you as best as possible.

But to choose your corkscrew properly and know how to use it correctly, read our article on opening a bottle of wine like an expert .