Opening Wine
How to open still and sparkling wine cleanly and confidently, with practical guidance on corkscrews, capsules, cork condition and safe handling.
Opening a bottle of wine should be simple, calm and almost invisible. The goal is not ceremony for its own sake; it is to open the bottle cleanly, avoid damaging the cork, and get back to enjoying the wine.
Opening still wine
A basic waiter’s corkscrew is usually the most useful tool. Cut the capsule neatly below the lip of the bottle, wipe the top if needed, and place the screw near the center of the cork. Twist it in far enough to gain a secure hold without drilling through the bottom of the cork.
Use the lever slowly and steadily. If the cork feels fragile, work gently rather than pulling harder. Older corks can dry out and crumble, so patience matters more than force.
If the cork breaks
A broken cork is inconvenient, not catastrophic. Reinsert the screw carefully into the remaining cork and pull again. If fragments fall into the bottle, the wine can be strained or decanted before serving.
Opening sparkling wine
Sparkling wine requires a different approach because the bottle is under pressure. Keep the bottle pointed away from people and fragile objects. Remove the foil, loosen the wire cage while keeping a thumb over the cork, then hold the cork firmly and rotate the bottle — not the cork — slowly with the other hand.
The ideal result is a quiet sigh rather than a dramatic pop. That keeps more of the wine in the bottle and gives you better control.
The Opening Wine video on this page demonstrates the basic technique.
What to remember
- A simple waiter’s corkscrew is usually all you need for still wine.
- Center the screw and pull slowly to reduce the chance of breaking the cork.
- For sparkling wine, keep control of the cork at all times and turn the bottle slowly.
- Opening wine well is about confidence and control, not performance.