Simply indent the top of the cork with the tip of the screw–it doesn’t need to be deeply embedded at this point.
Continue turning the handle until the wings are fully extended—that is, perpendicular to the wine bottle and parallel with the table. With the wings fully extended, the screw should be at the ideal depth. Don’t continue twisting, or you might drive the screw through the bottom of the cork, which could leave cork bits in your wine!
If the cork isn’t quite free of the bottle yet, give the corkscrew a few wiggles and twists, then pull upward to finish removing the cork. If it still isn’t free, twist the screw back down into the cork until the wings are halfway extended, then repeat the process.
Some sommelier knives have a sharp disc, rather than a knife, for cutting the foil. The foil should always be cut just below the lip of the wine bottle in order to prevent any wine from touching it when poured. Coming into contact with the foil can change the taste of the wine.
Don’t twist too far into the cork, or pieces from the bottom of the cork may end up in the wine. If you don’t twist far enough, the cork may break in two when you try to extract it.
If the cork hasn’t fully released yet, set the ridge that’s furthest from the lever arm’s hinge on the bottle’s lip and repeat the process to continue dislodging the cork. If the cork won’t budge, you may not have twisted the corkscrew in far enough. Twist it until there is only one spiral remaining before using the lever.
If the cork doesn’t lift out of the bottle, screw the corkscrew in deeper, lift the cork using the lever arm, and try pulling on the handle again. In fine restaurants, sommeliers often remove the corkscrew while the cork is still about halfway in the bottle, then finish removing the cork by hand. The cork is set on the table for the patron to examine for signs of freshness.
Work very carefully with the knife. Nothing ruins a nice evening and a great bottle of wine like a deep gash in your hand!
If you want to clean the screw more completely after washing it off, disinfect it by soaking it in a dish of rubbing alcohol for 1-2 minutes. Even better, sterilize it by placing it in boiling water for at least 5 minutes, or ideally 15 minutes, then letting the water cool. A slightly shorter screw may work, but don’t go any shorter than 1. 5 in (3. 8 cm) in length.
Remember that you need to twist clockwise to drive a screw into a cork, a piece of wood, or anything else. Work carefully to ensure that the cork does not break apart into smaller pieces. Do not allow the screw to pierce the bottom of the cork and potentially touch the wine. If you’re using a screw that’s 2. 25 or 2. 5 in (5. 7 or 6. 4 cm) long, leave 1 in (2. 5 cm) protruding from the top of the cork.
Alternatively, you can use the claw (nail-pulling side) of a hammer, or even a sturdy fork. If the screw pulls out of the cork and leaves it in the bottle, you probably didn’t drive the screw deep enough into the cork to begin with. Repeat the process, and try to drive the screw as far into the cork as you can without piercing the bottom of the cork.
Bicycle hooks, which you use to hang a bike from a wall or ceiling, work well for this. The hook portion is usually vinyl coated, which makes them more comfortable to grip and pull on. Before using it, clean the screw-in hook in the same manner as described for a regular screw.
Hold the bottle securely with your free hand, but keep it well clear of the knife tip and blade.
Grasp the bottle near its bottom (which is now facing upward) with one hand to hold it steady.
Strike the bottle firmly and evenly across the base. Don’t hit it as hard as you can, and don’t graze the edge, or the bottle may break. However, if it doesn’t seem to be making progress, you may need to hit it harder. Make sure the bottle is in a stable position. Don’t just hold it between your thighs; use your free hand to grasp it, too.
If you try pulling out the cork and it’s still firmly inside the bottle, turn it upside down and strike it a few more times before trying again. Don’t strike the bottle until the cork pops out on its own, or you may lose a few glasses of wine!
Some people prefer to grab the bottom of the bottle by wrapping their palm and fingers around the base. Use whichever grip is easier for you. You can grip your entire top hand around just the bottle cap, but this may make it more difficult to get a good grip, especially if you have arthritis or a similar condition.
Many people find gripping the sleeve instead of the cap easier. However, not all sleeves will rotate independently of the bottle. In this case, you’ll have to grip the cap instead.
You can also look in stores and online for bottle and jar opener gadgets. Some are textured silicone mats, while others wrap around the cap or lid like a belt. Try out different models until you find the type that works best for you. If you squeeze too hard with the pliers, you might crush the cap and the top of the bottle. This will make a mess, ruin the wine, and possibly cause injuries from broken glass.
