How do you open wine without a corkscrew? First check the top: a screw cap twists off, and sparkling wine opens by hand. For a cork, the most reliable way is a long screw, pulled out with pliers or the claw of a hammer. With no toolbox, push the cork into the bottle with the handle of a wooden spoon. If the cork breaks, push the rest in and strain the wine. Go slowly, keep the bottle on a counter, and never heat the neck or strike the bottle.
Which bottles need a corkscrew at all?
Look under the foil before you hunt for tools. A screw cap needs only a firm twist. Sparkling wine needs no corkscrew either, because its cork comes out by hand. Our Vintner Sparkling Brut, with pineapple, citrus and crisp green apple, opens with a hand on the cork and a slow turn of the bottle. Our sparkling wine label guide shows how to open one safely.
The methods below work on natural and synthetic corks. Never use them on a sparkling wine cork, which is under pressure.
How do you open wine with a screw and pliers?
You need a wood screw about two inches long, a screwdriver, and pliers or a claw hammer.
- Remove the foil. Peel it away below the lip so the whole top of the cork shows. Mind the sharp edge of the foil.
- Drive the screw in. Turn it straight down the center of the cork until about half an inch still shows. Stop before it pokes through the bottom.
- Get a grip. Stand the bottle on a counter and hold it by the body, not the neck. Grip the screw head with pliers, or hook it in the claw of the hammer.
- Pull slowly and straight. Draw the cork up with steady force, using the hammer as a handle. Do not rock it on the rim, which can chip the glass.
A screw with a coarse thread grips more firmly. If an older, drier cork starts to crumble, back the screw out and set it a little off center.
How do you push a cork into the bottle?
When there is no toolbox at hand, push the cork in instead of pulling it out. It is the simplest method, and the wine is fine afterward.
- Remove the foil and wrap a kitchen towel around the bottle for grip.
- Stand the bottle on a counter. Set the handle end of a wooden spoon, or a similar blunt, sturdy tool, on the center of the cork.
- Press down with slow, steady force. Keep your face away from the top, because the cork can give suddenly and wine may splash.
- Once the cork drops in, pour slowly. If it floats into the neck, hold it back with the spoon handle.
The catch is that the cork cannot go back in. Pour what you need, then move the rest into a clean bottle or jar with a lid and refrigerate it. Our guide to how long wine lasts after opening explains how long it keeps.
Can you open wine with a key?
A house key or a screw hook can work on a cork in good condition, with care.
- Rinse and dry the key first.
- Press it into the cork at an angle, as deep as it will go, working it in with a gentle back-and-forth.
- Hold the key still and turn the bottle, lifting a little as you go. The cork should rise slowly.
A screw hook works the same way. Twist it in, slide a pen or spoon handle through the hook, and pull straight up. If the key bends or the cork tears, stop and push the cork in instead.
Which methods should you skip?
Plenty of tricks online look easy and carry real risk. We skip these:
- Striking the bottle with a shoe, a towel or a book against a wall. Repeated knocks can crack the glass.
- Heating the neck. Sudden heat can crack glass.
- Knives and scissors. Blades slip easily on a round cork, toward the hand holding the bottle.
- A bike pump or air needle. Forcing air into a sealed bottle builds pressure the glass may not hold.
If a method needs force, heat or a blade, choose another one.
What if the cork breaks or crumbles?
Older or dry corks often break, and the fix is easy. If part of it is still in the neck, drive the screw into the solid piece at a slight angle and pull again. If it keeps crumbling, push the rest into the bottle with a blunt handle.
Then strain out any bits. Pour the wine slowly through a fine-mesh strainer or a coffee filter into a clean jug or decanter. Cork pieces do not spoil the wine; they only get in the way. A decanter also gives a young red some air, and our wine serving temperature and glass guide explains when decanting helps.
How do you avoid being caught without a corkscrew?
Keep a simple corkscrew in the kitchen drawer and a second one in your picnic or travel bag. Our guide shows how to use a corkscrew or wine key. For a picnic or a visit, a screw-cap or sparkling bottle needs no corkscrew at all. When you host, set the opener out with the glasses. Our guide to hosting a wine tasting at home covers the rest of the table.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to open wine without a corkscrew?
Pushing the cork into the bottle with the handle of a wooden spoon needs only a kitchen drawer and works on most corks. With a toolbox, a screw and pliers remove the cork whole, so you can recork the bottle.
Can you push the cork into the bottle?
Yes. Press slowly with a blunt handle while the bottle stands on a counter, and keep your face away from the top. The wine is fine, but the cork cannot go back in, so keep leftovers in a clean container with a lid. Never push in a sparkling wine cork.
Is it safe to open a wine bottle with a shoe?
We do not recommend it. Knocking a bottle against a wall puts repeated force on the glass, which can crack. A screw and pliers, or pushing the cork in, is the safer choice.
What do you do if the cork breaks?
Drive a screw into the piece left in the neck and pull it straight out, or push it into the bottle. Then pour the wine through a fine strainer or a coffee filter to catch any bits.
