Opening Wine without a bottle Opener
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 @ September 2, 2008 8:07 pm-->
19 Comments »
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I have never seen that method before. Last time a was without a bottle opener was on a holiday and we had to buy us one that costs the same as the wine…….. so no I have a travel version with me.
Comment by Morten Pedersen — September 3, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
Very resourceful. I once did the same thing. When there’s a will there’s a way. You can also get one of those long screws with a hook on the end and use that like a bottle opener, but the downside is that you don’t have the kind of leverage that you have with a hammer claw.
Comment by vic — September 3, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
Great Idea…I’ve had this dilemma once or twice before & never came up with this one…Thanks!
Comment by Jo-Ann — September 4, 2008 @ 1:14 am
Too complicated! The soldiers leading the way through France in WWII or a physicist will tell you there is a less complicated option. Simply remove the foil and rhythmically bump the bottom of the bottle against a vertical surface, such as a doorframe. The cork will ease its way out enough to be pulled out by hand.
Comment by John Winkler — September 4, 2008 @ 1:38 am
desperate times call for desperate measures! my solution mostly likely would have netted the cork in the bottle. glad the wine came after hitting the tool shed! genius!
Comment by Jennifer — September 4, 2008 @ 3:42 am
There’s another emergency method, and it’s very easy, you don’t even need a hammer:
You just have to push the cork down the neck until it’s inside of the bottle. To do this, you can use a spoon or whatever you have at hand that fits in the bottle’s neck. It takes some force, but is definitely doable. I’ve done it myself on several occasions.
Comment by Noel — September 4, 2008 @ 4:15 am
Very informative article.Never thought to use a hammer and nail to open a bottle of wine.
Thanks for sharing it.
Comment by Bunny got Blog — September 6, 2008 @ 5:22 pm
Great tips. I ought to try this yet I just hope I do not take one of my eyes out!
Comment by Chantix — September 9, 2008 @ 7:11 pm
Pushing the cork in if you are strong enough works fine. I want to try the dunting off a doorframe idea though. What is the physics behind it then (I am not a physicist)
Comment by Duncan — September 10, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Use the spoon, the WWII method is interesting. I guess you could manage by “making a tulip” as the winoes in Poland used to say - just break the neck off.
or push the cork inside
Comment by Dakkk — September 10, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
Personally I think a bottle opener is easier than the nails and hammers…
Comment by pansoti — September 13, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Also, you can open the bottle if you have a slim long sharp knife and you can manage to prod it all the way through the cork. When its done, you can apply one law of physics, reduction in friction. You can start rotating the cork, and when it starts moving you can start pulling the knife gently. Cork will come out. This saved me grief in many camping situations.
Comment by Pavel Zaitsev — September 14, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
LOL
Ive been using this metod for a long time since I live in new flat and always forget to buy nice opener 
But its quite unefective with sintetic corks, you have to use 2 screws and place them in cenfronting directions like “V” letter… and even then its hard to pull out…
And I know method how to push cork with your thumb ;D
Comment by Karolis — September 16, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Here’s a method I have used successfully several times, you need to be brave! (I haven’t lost one yet)
Fold a hand towel into a pad, place it against a solid object, wrap a tea towel around the bottle neck first just in case, then slam the base firmly abd repeatedly against the towel, the cork comes out on it’s own!!
Comment by Dodgey — September 17, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
You can also push the cork through so that it sits in the wine.
Comment by damon — September 18, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
I have been stuck many a time, and have this slightly dangerous method.
Get 2 small sharp knives, grab bottle between the knees, insert knives down the sides of the cork, bend knives outwards and pull up. Gingerly.
If you don’t get a knife embedded in you, you get a nice glass of wine:-)
Comment by Alan Convery — September 18, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
Hi,
Many years ago we would open a bottle of wine with a TOWEL. Place the towel on the bottom of the wine bottle folded end over end. Remove the cover from the cork, Holding the bottle sideways by the neck hit it against a wall with the towel on the base. The shock waves will slowly push the cork out of the bottle. I have done this 1000000s of times and never broke a bottle.
Comment by Malcolm Harnden — September 21, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
This is a cool method I’ll have to remember next time. Funnily enough, last time I was stuck without a cork screw, I had a hammer and simply smashed the neck of the bottle off with it. Came off fine with very little mess although the girl sitting next to me on the sofa got some glass in her cleavage, which wasn’t cool really.
Comment by Jonathan — September 26, 2008 @ 10:42 pm
i would like to to try every one of your options Post a video please so i can see them in action.
Comment by rafael troche — September 28, 2008 @ 7:26 am