How to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew

One of life’s great hacks is knowing how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew.

Picture this: You’re ready to indulge in a bottle of exquisite wine from Bonnievale Winery, but suddenly realize you don’t have a corkscrew at hand. Don’t fret! Here are ingenious methods to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew, ensuring that you can enjoy your favourite Bonnievale wine even in unconventional circumstances.

Wine lovers who know how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew make use of the push method; the shoe method; or, the key method. All involve an alternative tool to a corkscrew.

1. The Push Method:

You’ll need a long, sturdy object such as a wooden spoon or a broom handle, a towel, and firm grip.

• Place the wine bottle on a stable surface, ensuring it won’t tip over.
• Remove the foiling.
• Hold the neck of the bottle firmly with one hand.
• Take the sturdy object and slowly push the cork into the bottle.
• You are likely to lose some wine as it makes way for the cork, which is why you need the towel.
• Now you can decant your wine without a hitch.

2. The Shoe Method:

Another way to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew requires an everyday object. Materials needed: A shoe with a solid sole (avoid using delicate or expensive shoes), a wall, and a little bit of patience.

• Remove the wine’s foil capsule to expose the cork.
• Place the wine bottle inside the shoe, with the bottom of the bottle facing downward.
• Find a sturdy wall or solid vertical surface.
• Holding the bottle firmly, strike the bottom of the shoe against the wall, using a gentle but firm tapping motion.
• Keep tapping and the repetitive impact will gradually push the cork out of the bottle.
• Maintain a controlled rhythm and keep tapping until the cork is partially out of the bottle.
• Carefully twist and remove the cork by hand. Your Bonnievale wine is now ready to be enjoyed!

3. The Key Method:

Materials needed: A key (preferably a long, sturdy one) and a firm grip.

• Remove the foil capsule from the wine bottle, exposing the cork.
• Hold the bottle firmly by the neck.
• Take the key and insert it diagonally into the top of the cork, ensuring it goes deep enough to secure a good grip.
• Holding the bottle steady, twist and rotate the key gently but firmly, gradually pulling upward at the same time.
• The cork will start to loosen and lift out of the bottle.
• Once the cork is partially exposed, carefully remove it by hand.

Of course, none of this would have been necessary if you had a wine with a screwcap. Examples of screwcap wines include Bonnievale Winery’s The River Collection Rosé Moscato Perlé and The River Collection Sweet Shiraz.

Still, should you have landed with say, the Bonnievale Winery Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 and no cork, now you know. All it takes is a little ingenuity and perseverance, and the knowledge of how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew!