How to Uncork a Wine Bottle

1 of 9 in Series: The Essentials of Serving and Storing Wine

Removing the cork from a wine bottle is the first challenge that faces you in your quest to enjoy wine. Uncorking a wine bottle is relatively simple once you get the hang of it. First you must remove the capsule or plug that covers the cork. Then, you'll use a corkscrew to remove the cork.

Removing the capsule

Most wine bottles have a covering over the top of the bottle that’s called a capsule. Wineries place capsules on top of the corks for two reasons: to keep the corks clean, and to create a fetching look for their bottles. Most wineries today use colored foil or plastic capsules.

You may want to remove the entire capsule, so that no wine can possibly come into contact with the covering when you pour. Use the small knife that’s part of most corkscrews. If you encounter a plastic plug atop the cork instead of a capsule, just flick it off with the tip of a knife. After removing the capsule or plug, wipe clean the top of the bottle with a damp cloth.

Removing the cork

The type of corkscrew you are using determines how you remove the cork from a wine bottle. You can choose from the corkscrews described below.

The wing type corkscrew

The wing type is the most familiar style of corkscrew, but it can mangle the cork. When you insert this corkscrew into a cork, two “wings” open out from the side of the corkscrew. The shortcoming of this device is its very short worm, or auger (the curly prong that bores into the cork).

Rather than finding out the hard way that the common wing type corkscrew just doesn’t cut it, invest a few extra dollars in a decent corkscrew right off the bat.

The Screwpull corkscrew

The one indispensable corkscrew for every household is the Screwpull. This device is about six inches long. It consists of an arched piece of plastic straddling a 5-inch worm coated with Teflon.

Credit: © Akira Chiwaki

The Screwpull corkscrew.

To use the Screwpull corkscrew, follow these steps:

Place the plastic over the bottle top.

The lip on the plastic should be resting on the top of the bottle.
Insert the worm through the plastic, until it touches the cork.
Hold on to the plastic firmly while turning the lever atop the worm clockwise.

The worm descends into the cork.
Keep turning the lever in the same clockwise direction.

The cork magically emerges from the bottle.
To remove the cork from the Screwpull, turn the lever counterclockwise while holding on to the cork.

The two-pronged corkscrew

The two-pronged corkscrew is sometimes known as the “Butler’s Friend.” It’s a simple device made up of two thin, flat metal prongs, one slightly longer than the other.

Credit: © Akira Chiwaki

The two-pronged corkscrew.

Follow these steps to use a two-pronged corkscrew:

Slide the prongs down into the tight space between the cork and the bottle (inserting the longer prong first).

Use a back-and-forth seesaw motion until the base of the handle is resting on the top of the cork.
Twist the cork while gently pulling it up.

Although more difficult to operate than the Screwpull, the two-pronged corkscrew works well with very tight-fitting corks that no other corkscrews seem to be able to budge.

The Waiter's corkscrew

A common corkscrew used in restaurants everywhere is called the Waiter’s corkscrew. A straight or gently curved base holds three devices that fold into it, like a Swiss Army knife: a lever; a worm; and a small knife. The knife is handy for removing the capsule.

The Waiter’s corkscrew.

Using the Waiter’s corkscrew requires some practice. Follow these steps:

Wrap your fist around the bottle’s neck.
Turn the corkscrew slowly at first.

Do this until you’re sure that the worm is not off center and actually is descending down the middle of the cork.
After the worm is fully descended into the cork, place the lever on the lip of the bottle and push against the lever while pulling the cork up.

Give a firm tug at the very end or wiggle the bottom of the cork out with your hand.

If your cork ever breaks and part of it gets stuck in the neck of the bottle, the Waiter’s corkscrew is indispensable for removing the remaining piece. Use the method we just described, but insert the worm at a 45-degree angle. In most cases, you will successfully remove the broken cork.