How to Open A Bottle of Wine Without a Wine Opener
Several ways to open your bottle of wine without a corkscrew.
Every wine lover has been there. You're ready to enjoy a bottle of wine, but there's not a corkscrew or wine bottle opener in sight. Luckily, there's more than one way for resourceful wine drinkers to open a bottle, and you probably have a DIY wine opener alternative near you, if not already on you. Here are all the best ways for how to open wine without a wine opener.
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How to Open a Wine Bottle with Keys
Have your house keys or a car key lying around? Stick one into the wine cork on a 45-degree angle while getting the key as deep as you can, then use your thumbs to turn the key, slightly pushing it up as you do so. You'd want to use a sturdier key, and maybe instead of a corkscrew, you can have a designated "wine key."
How to Open Wine with a Spoon
If you cooked a meal to pair with your wine, walk back into the kitchen, grab a wooden spoon, or any slender, sturdy object lying around. Put the end of the spoon to the top of the cork and push down. Eventually, the pressure will pop the cork into the bottle without breaking it apart, so you won't have to worry about any cork crumbs. This may also lead to having some wine pop up as well; wrapping a kitchen towel around the end can prevent this.
How to Open a Wine Bottle with a Hanger
Have you picked up any dry cleaning recently? Well, here's a way to reuse one of the many hangers you've gotten back. You'll need to first undo the hanger and make it into a hook using about half an inch of wire. Then push the hook in between the bottle and the cork. Slide it down the side of the cork until it's below the cork, then turn and hook it into the cork. When it's well hooked, pull it up and off. Make sure not to spill any wine, or you might have to make another trip to the dry cleaners.
How to Open a Bottle of Wine with a Lighter or Blowtorch
Blowtorch, lighter, or match, what all these have in common (and what's gonna pop the cork) is heat. First, remove any wrapper around the neck of the bottle, and be careful of the wine label, as there shouldn’t be anything flammable here because that will be where you apply the heat. As the heat is applied, it causes the air to expand, then forcing the cork out. Make sure to not burn your fingers and not be hit by the cork, which may come flying out.
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Shop Wines NowHow to Open Wine with a Long Screw and Hammer
Although labor-intensive, a long screw and a hammer could be one of the safer options on your list. Try to find your nearest screw and screw it into the cork until there is approximately an inch left showing. After grabbing your hammer, use the backside (or the "claw") to wiggle the cork out. When you're done, you should have a glass of wine and have burned a couple of calories in the process. But remember, be careful!
How to Open a Wine Bottle with a Shoe
This method is good if you have little to no resources available to use. First, you want to start by taking the wrapper off of the cork. Next, simply take off your shoe, put a bottle of wine in the shoe, and whack the bottom of your shoe against the nearest wall or door. You can also use a towel or object that provides a cushion for the bottom of the bottle. A tree could potentially work as well. You may not want to do this if your bottle is expensive, there is a risk that it can break. Proceed with caution, and don't hurt yourself.
How to Open a Wine Bottle with a Serrated Knife Hack
Similar to keys or a screwdriver, a serrated knife could let you take out your cork if you are out of options. If you insert a blade into the cork upwards at a 45-degree angle and twist into an upwards motion, you could take your cork right out. Once about an inch is out of the bottle, you can stick your knife in sideways and twist it out.
How to Open a Wine Bottle with a Bicycle Pump
If you are an outdoorsy person and don't have a wine opener, it may be beneficial to use a bike pump to get rid of your corkscrew. That is, of course, if you can find a bike pump. The safest way to open your bottle of wine is to stick the pump into your cork and start pumping the cork out. If done the right way, air pressure will eventually make the cork come out of the bottle.
How to Open Wine with the Knot and String Method
Removing a cork from the bottle with a knot and a piece of string method might be a cool party trick, especially if you are on a boat or a picnic with no wine opener. It may be challenging, but your first step is to remove the wrapper. Next, you'll want to push the cork into the bottle of wine. Find the nearest string and tie your best figure 8 knot. Now for the tricky part, push the string below the bottom of the cork. You may need to push with your finger or use an object to push the string down. Once you fish the string to the bottom of the cork, the last step is to pull into a safe area where the cork can come out.
How to Open a Wine Bottle with the Slap Method
Similar to the shoe method, the "slap" method is convenient if you are fresh out of resources. For this method, you'll want to put the bottle of wine upside down in between your thighs and squeeze firmly and slap the base of the bottle with anything you can find. This includes a book or any hard object that is closest to you. Once the cork starts coming out, you may be able to take it out with your fingers.
How to Open Wine with Scissors
A pair of scissors will work to remove a cork from the bottle but, once again, proceed with caution. For this method, open a pair of scissors, stick one side of the blade into the cork, and twist it down until you can pull the cork out. It is recommended not to use your favorite pair of scissors because they can break.
How to Open Wine with a Hook & Pen
The hook and pen method is a useful party trick, but make sure they're okay with taking a hook from the wall. As many houses do have hooks behind frames, or spare ones lying in the kitchen drawer, you'll want to stick the hook into the cork and twist, similar to the motion of a bottle opener. After you have it in, take a pen and place it through the hook and pull.
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If you're already making mulled wine, boiling some water may be the best solution to getting your cork. First, you'll want to boil a pan of water and remove the foil from your wine. Then simply place the bottle of wine into the hot water, and wait till the cork comes out enough where you can remove it. After this, you can drink the wine warm if you'd like. Or a better alternative would be to put the rest in the pan and make mulled wine.
How to Open Wine by Pushing the Cork In
If you're at the last resort with no resources, pushing the cork into a bottle of wine may be your best option. Since air is already compressed into the bottle, it may be difficult. For this method, you'll want to put the bottle of wine on the floor and push the cork in with a marker, pen, or anything else you can find. Remember to point the cork away from anybody in case the wine sprays everywhere.
How to Open Wine with Heated Tongs
Heated tongs are a traditional way to remove a cork in the fanciest manner possible. It is difficult to imagine you would have tongs custom to fit your wine bottle but don't have an opener, but in case you have a set on hand, this is the best way. Torch a pair of tongs until they are hot, or use a blowtorch. Once it is hot, you can clamp the tongs around the bottle, and then remove them, and put them in ice water. Clamp around the neck to heat the glass, rotating to make sure it's heated all the way around, and remove and treat with cold water. The temperature change will break the glass clean through, exactly where the tongs heated the bottle. The edges will be very sharp, so proceed with caution again.
How to Open Wine with Pliers
If you have your toolbox on deck, pliers are an easy way to pull out a cork., First, remove the wrapper from the wine. Then you'll want to cut a piece of the cork and pull it out with a pair of pliers. It is recommended to make sure your pair of pliers are clean, though, considering they may be a bit dirty.
How to Open Wine with Corn Holders
If you are ever ironically stuck at a Barbeque and have no wine opener, but there's corn on the cob, it turns out you're in luck. Corn holders make great corkscrews. You'll have to place the corn on the cob holder into the cork and pull upwards while twisting.
How to Open Wine by Sabrage
Sabrage is the technique of using a saber, or sword, to open a bottle of Champagne. Although having a sword would be ideal, this technique can work with a knife or spoon as well. The first step is to find the line that goes all along the bottle, as this will be the weak spot. If a saber is being used, use its sharp side, and if using a knife, use its dull side. The key here is speed and precision rather than brute strength. If done correctly, the top should make a clean break on the first try; just make sure no one is in the line of fire as this can be very dangerous and even backfire and hurt you!
Try Out a New Wine Opening Technique!
Now that you have learned several new ways how to open a bottle of wine without a wine opener, all you need is a bottle of wine. Head over to the Firstleaf wine store and get an award-winning red or white bottle of wine shipped to your door today.
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