How to Avoid Breaking a Cork

A broken cork spells disaster for a wine lover.

Breaking the cork is a wine lover's worst fear when opening a favorite bottle of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. Learning how to properly open a wine bottle without breaking the cork will make you the hit of your next wine and cheese party. Using the proper equipment is the first step to avoid breaking the cork of a wine bottle.

Things You'll Need

• Corkscrew

Instructions

1. Cut the foil covering off the wine bottle using the open blade of the corkscrew or a foil cutter designed for this purpose to expose the cork.

2. Wipe the top of the cork with a damp paper towel to remove any dirt or pieces of foil.

3. Hold the neck of the wine bottle in one hand while holding the corkscrew in the other. Tilt the bottle at a 45-degree angle and center the tip of the corkscrew on the cork. Gently push down until you feel the tip of the corkscrew penetrate the cork.

4. Twist the corkscrew until the spiral is almost through the cork. Twisting the corkscrew far enough into the cork is the most important step to prevent the corkscrew from breaking upon removal.

5. Use firm pressure to pull up on the cork until it is about two thirds of the way out of the bottle neck. Slowly begin to twist the cork until you hear it pop and it releases from the bottle.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase wine with a screw-top lid if you are extremely worried about breaking the cork. Many fine wines are now available in a screw-top bottle design.

References

• Tree: Learn How to Uncork a Bottle of Wine

Resources

• Wine Tastings Guide: How to Open a Wine Bottle