If you’re ever in a pinch and need to open a bottle of wine, there are a few different ways to do it without the help of a corkscrew.
One is using a lighter or blow torch to heat the air gap between the cork and the bottle. This will force the cork to move upward and eventually pop out of the bottle.
1. Key or Knife
If you’re not a fan of corks, or don’t have one handy, there are several ways to open a bottle without a corkscrew. But be aware of the risks of doing it yourself.
One of the most common methods is to simply push the cork in with your hand. This works every time, but it can be a bit dangerous if you’re not sure how to do it safely.
Another way to do this is by using a key. You can either drive the key diagonally into the cork or twist it around and up.
Once the key is inside, use your fingers to grip the cork and slowly pull the key up to release it. Be careful not to push too hard or you could break the bottle!
You can also try this with a knife. First, cut a small slit on each side of the cork with a paring knife (a butter knife will do better). Once you’ve done this, insert the blade into the cuts and gently lift it up to release the cork.
The only downside of this method is that the cork might crumble into your wine, so it’s best to strain it before drinking it.
Alternatively, you can use a pair of pliers and some clean, curved nail scissors to yank the cork out. This will require a bit more finesse than the key or knife method but should work fine if you have a pair of pliers and some curved nail scissors on hand.
You might even want to have a few extra copies of these tools on hand just in case you need to open another bottle!
2. Heat
If you are one of those people who enjoys drinking wine but is tired of constantly opening corks, or if you are just on a budget and want to save money, there are several ways to open a bottle of wine without using a corkscrew.
The first option is to heat the neck of your bottle of wine with a blow torch or lighter. This can be dangerous, so be sure to wear protective eyewear while you do it.
Another safe way to pop the cork is to use an air pump. This method is great for bottles of wine with synthetic corks, but not for wooden ones, because it could break them.
You can use a pump to pump air into the bottle, which will increase the pressure and help drive the cork out. “It’s a great way to get the cork out quickly, but you need to be careful,” Spoto says.
This method also requires patience and a little muscle strength. It is best to use a flat shoe with a hard sole, because cushioned shoes won’t transmit the proper force to the bottle and may actually cause it to break.
If you’re in a pinch and can’t use a blow torch, try slapping the bottom of the bottle against a sturdy wall repeatedly. This will work on most bottles and can be done with a towel or two to cushion the base of the bottle.
This isn’t a very elegant method, but it’s the best option if you don’t have a blow torch on hand. It works for most wines, but doesn’t work so well with vintage bottles because they tend to have a crumbling cork.
3. Bike Pump
If you don’t have a corkscrew but you need to open a bottle of wine, you can use a bike pump. It’s a great way to remove the cork without having to resort to more dangerous methods, says The Family Handyman blog.
The idea is to insert the needle of the bike pump between the rim and the cork and then give it three or four pumps. This is said to increase the pressure inside the cork and force it out. However, it’s not recommended to do this too often because it could explode if the pressure is too high.
Another method, which isn’t quite as effective but still a safe way to get the cork out, involves hitting the bottom of the bottle against the wall with a shoe. This isn’t the ideal solution because it can break the bottle, but it will work in a pinch.
To do this, place the base of the wine bottle in a shoe and hit it against a wall several times. It will protect the bottle from breaking and it won’t hurt too much if you hit it too hard.
Once you’ve smashed the bottle against the wall, the bottom of the cork will move out due to the pressure of the liquid inside. Once the cork is out, you can remove it and pour the wine.
This isn’t the most elegant or efficient option, but it’s a good way to save money and avoid having to lug around a corkscrew. The only downside to this technique is that it will leave you with a bit of wine left in the cork.
A simpler, less expensive and safer alternative to using a bike pump is to use a spoon to remove the cork. The end of a spoon is long enough to push the cork in and it has a handle that’s thin enough to hold onto the bottle.
4. Wire Hanger
If you’ve ever opened a bottle of wine and been in a position where you have to open it without the use of a corkscrew, you know it can be quite the frustrating experience. In fact, it can even be downright embarrassing if you’ve been forced to open the bottle in front of your friends or family.
Thankfully, there are some very clever ways to open a bottle of wine without the need of a corkscrew. From a simple key to a paperclip, there are plenty of tricks that can help you get the cork out of the bottle.
One of the most popular and well-known wine hacks is to use a wire hanger. These tiny metal pieces have become an indispensable part of modern life, from replacing or augmenting TV antennae to constructing bird feeders and rescuing misplaced keys and rings in a pinch.
For this method, wrap the bottle of wine in a towel, ensuring that the sides and bottom are completely encased in the towel. Then hold the bottle upturned between your knees and with a flat-soled shoe, rhythmically slap the bottom of the bottle against a wall, hitting it hard, consistently until enough of the cork comes out for you to pull it out manually.
This method may be a little more difficult than some of the other wine hacks, but it’s worth a try if you have a wire hanger. Just be sure to do it outside to avoid a major mess and stay on the side of the bottle so you don’t spill the wine all over yourself.
Another creative wine opening hack is to tie a piece of string around the cork and push it through. This will force the cork out, and it will also be more gentle on the cork than pushing it with a screwdriver or hammer. It might take a bit of elbow grease, but this is a fun and creative way to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew.
5. Hammer
A hammer is an excellent tool to have at hand when you want to open a bottle of wine. Sommeliers and winemakers all agree that this is the safest way to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew.
The first step is to insert the tool into the cork at a 45-degree angle and twist it. After a few rotations, the cork should start to come out of the neck of the bottle.
If you don’t have a hammer on hand, another option is to use a key or wire hanger. These will work well if you have a sturdy key or knife handy, and it should be relatively easy to open a bottle of wine with one of these.
Alternatively, if you have an air needle, this could be your best bet. Jam the needle into the center of the cork and start pumping air in. The increase in pressure will force the cork out of the bottle, according to winemaker Stuart Spoto of Spoto Family Wines.
This method is relatively safe, but it can be exhausting and require a fair amount of upper body strength. It’s also not ideal for tasting the wine, because it will be stirred up.
Wrap the base of the bottle with a towel to protect it from scratches. Then, hit it firmly against a wall, tree or other flat surface.
You may have to repeat this several times until the cork starts to pop out of the bottle. However, this is a fairly effective method and should work for most bottles.
You can also smack the bottle’s end against a flat shoe with a thick sole (a sneaker or flat-soled tennis shoes would be ideal). This method will require some strength, but it should dislodge the cork eventually. You can also turn the bottle upside down to get a little help from gravity, but you have to be careful that you don’t smash the wine into your face or spill it all over yourself.
