Opening Wine without a bottle Opener
Filed under: wine tips — Tags: no opener, wine
— Posted by : admin on September 2, 2008
Last night I was faced with a terrible problem, I wasn’t able to open my bottle of wine. My neighbour who borrowed my bottle opener over the Labor Day weekend, still had to return it. I wasn’t going to leave this get in my way. I wanted to try my hand at something fancier, and a little more creative. Of course I should have thought about this when I was at my local wine store and just bought a 99c one there.
When I got home and I realized that I couldn’t enjoy the bottle, I got my thinking cap on. I went off to the tool shed looking for inspiration. I had my camera with me and I made these pictures to help other desperate wine drinkers. Enjoy !
Tools to open a bottle of Wine without an opener
You will need:
- A 2″ or longer screw
- A screwdriver
- A claw hammer
- a nice bottle of red wine
Step 1 : Twist the Screw into the bottle
First try by hand to put the screw into the cork, then use the screwdriver until it is at least 1.5″ into the cork.
This will insure that the when you pull the screw out later (wait for it) that whole cork will come out in one clean pull.
Step 2 : Place the Hammer under the screw
Put the claw end of the hammer under the screw, right up to the top of the hammer.
Step 3: Yank the screw away from the bottle
Pull back on the screw, place the bottle between your legs if necessary for extra stability.
Step 4: Enjoy the wine.
Have a glass and pat yourself on the back for being determined !
If this wine tips is helpful for you, do let me know !
Filed under: wine tips — Tags: no opener, wine — admin @ 8:07 pm--> Comments (19)
Matching the wine to the ocassion
Filed under: blog, wine tips — Tags: champagne, occasion, wines
— Posted by : admin on May 21, 2008
It’s funny when you think about it, but there is a wine for every occasion and there is a wine to suit every taste. The problem, or maybe not for some, is drinking enough wine so that you find out what you like. Many people are lost when they need to decide what wines to bring to a special occasion. Maybe you are thinking about wines for Memorial Day (May 26th this year), then we have a wine recommendation for every occasion !
Wines for a formal dinner
For a formal dinner, I would recommend a full bodied wine. This can be something along the lines of a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Reserv&ecute; wines. You want something that you will drink slowly and has a complexity to the taste. I quite like Evil Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, yes that’s the name, this would be very suiting and a great conversation point if your boss is hosting the formal dinner.
Wines for a summer picnic
This time you would want something quite the opposite, go for a lighter wine. Something that you won’t feel too full while drinking. Again you are probably looking for a refreshing wine, and typically these will have lower alcoholic values. You could try a Belmuscato wine (Whitehall Lane 2005 Belmuscato is great) or you could go for a Sauvignon Blanc (2007 Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc Wine (Nelson, NZ)).
Wines for a Birthday
For birthdays it’s usually safe to go with a sparkling wine, or even a champagne. We are quite partial to Bollinger Special Cuvee or Moet & Chandon Champagne White Star. Some of these come in larger sizes which would be ideal for a bigger party. Ask your wine stockist for either a Magnum or a Jeroboam. If you are looking for a dry champagne then maybe consider Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut.
Wines for a Barbecue / BBQ
As the summer is fast approaching I decided to add some recommendations for wines that go well when you are attending a BBQ. Remember that you will need something that is fruity and spicy, to go with grilled meats. The two best types of wines that go with the ‘char’ flavor would be a Zinfandel or one of the Rhone reds (2006 Domaine Paul Autard French - Rhone (Red Blend) “Côtes du Rhone” for about $15 is good). This goes great with those vegetables and meats straight off the grill. More reading about BBQ wines can be seen here.
Your special occasion
Do you have a particular wine that goes well with a special occasion ? Drop us a comment at the end of this and let us know
Filed under: blog, wine tips — Tags: champagne, occasion, wines — admin @ 9:44 am--> Comments Off