Drape a Towel
Cover the bottle neck when pushing the cork in to catch any splash.
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Wine Basics
No corkscrew and a bottle waiting? You almost certainly have something in your kitchen drawer or toolbox that will do the job safely.
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When you need to open wine without corkscrew tools, start with the simplest, safest option and work up. First, check the bottle: many wines use screw caps, so you may not need anything at all. Then look around for a few common items: a wooden spoon, a long screw, pliers, a hammer, or a sturdy key. These turn into makeshift openers in a couple of minutes. Before you begin, remove the foil from the top of the bottle by peeling or cutting it with a knife or scissors. Work on a stable surface, keep a towel nearby, and never point the bottle at anyone. One important safety rule: these tricks are for still wine only. Sparkling wine does not need a corkscrew; it opens by twisting, as explained in how to open a wine bottle.
This is the easiest and most reliable method. Find something sturdy with a blunt end that fits inside the bottle’s neck: the handle of a wooden spoon, a thick marker, or a dowel. Set the bottle on the floor or a solid counter, place the handle in the center of the cork, and press down with steady, firm pressure. The cork will slide into the wine. Push slowly, because a sudden drop can splash wine out of the neck, so drape a towel over your hand. The downside is that the cork stays in the bottle and can block the pour. Pour slowly, or hold the cork back with a skewer. If bits crumble, strain the wine into a pitcher or decanter. The cork floating inside does not hurt the wine for tonight; learn about keeping leftovers in how long wine lasts after opening.
A screw works like a homemade corkscrew worm. Choose the longest, thickest wood screw you can find, ideally around two to three inches. Twist it into the center of the cork with a screwdriver, leaving about half an inch sticking out. Then grip the screw head with pliers and pull straight up steadily, rocking gently side to side. If you have a claw hammer, hook the claw under the screw head and lever it out, using the bottle lip as a pivot, just like the hinge on a waiter’s corkscrew. This method usually removes the cork whole, so you can push it back in later. If the cork starts to tear, stop, drive the screw in at a slightly different angle, and try again more slowly. Clean the screw before using it, and wipe the bottle mouth afterward.
A sturdy house key or a serrated knife can twist a cork out with some patience. Push the key into the cork at a 45-degree angle until most of its blade is buried. Then slowly twist and lift, rotating the bottle as you go, so the cork spirals upward. A serrated knife works similarly: insert the blade, twist, and lift. Scissors with one blade opened can do the same. Go slowly and keep your other hand well away from any blade. These methods often take a few minutes and can break the cork if it is dry or old, so they work best on young wines with fresh, flexible corks. If the cork does crumble, switch to the push-in method and strain the wine through a coffee filter or fine sieve.
You may have seen people tap a bottle’s base against a wall inside a shoe. It can work: each tap pushes the wine against the cork and slowly drives it out. Wrap the bottle in a thick towel, place the base into the heel of a sturdy, flat-soled shoe, and tap the shoe firmly but gently against a solid wall, keeping the bottle horizontal. Stop when the cork is about halfway out and pull the rest by hand. This trick takes time and carries a real risk of cracking the bottle, especially older or thinner glass. Never hit the bottle directly against a hard surface. Of all the methods here, it is the one to use last. If you entertain often, save yourself the trouble with a cheap backup opener, and read how to travel with wine for packing tips.
Some viral tricks are genuinely dangerous. Do not heat the neck with a lighter or torch to push the cork out; heating glass unevenly can crack or shatter the bottle. Do not knock the neck off with a knife or hammer; broken glass can fall into the wine and cut you. Do not use a nail without pliers, which gives poor grip and risks injury. And never try sabering ordinary still wine; it is only for sparkling wine and takes training. To avoid the problem altogether, keep a basic waiter’s corkscrew in your kitchen, car, and picnic bag, or choose screw-cap bottles for outings; see cork vs screw cap. Leftover wine you cannot finish can always go into a sauce; see cooking with wine.
Look closely at the top of the bottle. Many wines use screw caps that open with a simple twist.
Peel or cut away the foil capsule to expose the cork, using a knife or scissors.
Press a wooden spoon handle firmly and slowly into the center of the cork until it drops into the wine.
If you want the cork out whole, drive a long screw into the cork and pull it out with pliers or a claw hammer.
Pour through a tea strainer or coffee filter if cork bits break off into the wine.
| Method | What You Need | How Safe and Easy |
|---|---|---|
| Push the cork in | Wooden spoon handle or thick marker | Safest and easiest; cork stays inside |
| Screw and pliers | Long wood screw, screwdriver, pliers | Reliable; cork usually comes out whole |
| Screw and hammer | Long screw and claw hammer | Good leverage; protect the bottle lip with a towel |
| Key or serrated knife | Sturdy key or serrated knife | Slow; best with fresh, flexible corks |
| Shoe and wall | Flat-soled shoe and towel | Last resort; risk of cracking the bottle |
Cover the bottle neck when pushing the cork in to catch any splash.
Steady, rocking pulls keep the cork from tearing apart.
Heated or struck glass can shatter; stick to the safer methods above.
Learn Your Taste
Answer a few simple questions and discover styles that fit your palate.
Take the Wine QuizPush the cork into the bottle using the handle of a wooden spoon or a similar blunt tool. It needs no special skill, works on almost any still wine, and does not damage the wine.
No. The cork floating inside does not change the flavor for the evening. It can block the pour, so pour slowly or strain it, and use a stopper if you are saving leftovers.
Sometimes. Tapping the bottle in a shoe against a wall can gradually push the cork out, but it is slow and risks cracking the glass. Use it only when safer methods are not possible.
Yes. Insert a sturdy key into the cork at an angle, then twist and lift slowly so the cork spirals out. It works best with young, flexible corks and takes some patience.
No. Heating the bottle neck can push the cork out, but uneven heat can crack or shatter the glass. Stick with pushing the cork in or using a screw and pliers.
You do not need one. Remove the foil, loosen the wire cage while holding the cork, then twist the bottle slowly until the cork eases out with a gentle hiss.
