How to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew

Lockdowns and Covid changed how a lot of us operate. For a while, home pub quizzes and staying in were a necessity, but many of us might have realised that nights in are the new nights out and have kept that up.

Whether you’re having a Netflix night-in alone or having your friends over for dinner and drinks, the only thing you don’t want to encounter is a corked bottle of wine with no corkscrew.

Luckily, there’s some tricks that could help. After all, red wine is meant to lower your blood pressure.

Keep calm and Cabernet on with these hacks…

How to open wine without a corkscrew

Using a knife

The best known alternative to the humble corkscrew. Often mistaken for just ramming it in and hoping for the best, the trick actually is to replicate the movement of a corkscrew.

As shown in the video you should make an slit at an angle then slowly rotate round until the cork starts to come out. You can then use the knife on the side of the cork that is showing to tease it out.

Don’t try this one if you’ve already consumed a bottle of wine, as you have to be super careful.

Use a screwdriver

You could just wedge a screwdriver in and then gently unscrew but this method is a bit more sophisticated.

For this you need a long screw, screwdriver and hammer. Put the screw in to the cork at a slight angle then screw it in. Then use the hammer to gently prise it out like an absolute pro.

It’s basically the same as using a proper bottle opener – just a bit trickier.

Ensure you don’t crack the bottle as you’re doing this.

Put your best foot forward – opening a wine bottle with a shoe

I have never tried this so I cannot take blame if you ruin your shoes, carpet or even your face.

The science is that using the force of the wine will propel the cork out. Choose a flat heeled sturdy shoe and put the wine bottle in it. The heel will absorb the shock meaning that the bottle won’t shouldn’t break.

Tap the heel against a wall several times with a bit of force until the cork pops partially out then remove with your hand. Sounds simpler than it is.

Head outside for this one. And use an old shoe – especially if you’re opening a bottle of red.

Al fresco? Use mother nature / a tree

If you find yourself bare-footed in a forest without a shoe, screwdriver or Sharpie to use don’t worry! Mother nature will always be your friend.

Wrap a cloth or t-shirt around the bottle to give you a bit of grip then as per the shoe method tap it gently against the trunk of a steady tree until the cork pops right out.

Once again, be prepared to lose your bottle of wine if you don’t do this one properly.

MORE : The UK’s quirkiest vineyards from a helter-skelter wine room to haunted vines

MORE : Alcohol-free wine has the same health benefits as the proper stuff, research says

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