How to Make Wine Stoppers

Whether you are storing your opened bottle of wine for a few days, or simply pausing between glasses, it is a good idea to use a wine bottle stopper. By keeping air and dust out of the bottle, the wine stopper will help your wine stay fresher longer. Why not make this wine-enthusiast's essential into a beautiful, decorative piece? In addition to enhancing your own wine bottles, home-made wine stoppers make a thoughtful and personalized gift.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drawer or cabinet pull Headless screw Drill bit Cork Craft glue

1. Go to your local hardware or home improvement store to select a decorative drawer pull. When making your decision, keep the colors that are prominent in your home--or the home of the person you intend to give the stopper to--in mind and make a choice that will complement and enhance them.

2. Find a headless screw that will fit into your drawer pull. If you are not sure what size screw you need, ask an associate at the store for help. You are looking for a screw that will extend about one-half inch after one end is screwed into the drawer pull.

3. Assemble the wine stopper when you have your chosen pull and the right size headless screw. Hold the cork firmly in the fingers of one hand. With the other, take the drill bit and carefully twist it into the center of the larger end of the cork. Making sure to drill in a straight line, create at least a one-quarter inch channel in the top of the cork.

4. Put a small amount of craft glue on one end of the headless screw, then screw that end into the shaft of the drawer pull until it cannot go in any further.

5. Twist the opposite end of the headless screw into the channel you created in the top of the cork, holding the drawer pull. Continue twisting until the end of the drawer pull is tightly up against the cork top. Your wine stopper is now ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a matching set of these wine stoppers and place them in a good quality wooden box for a nice home-made gift. Be sure to refrigerate your partially used wine bottles with their stoppers in order to best preserve freshness.

References

• Wine Intro

[Cherst1031]

on 11/11/2009 Clever idea! Thanks for sharing it!