How to Use a Double Pull Wine Key

A wine key, or corkscrew, is the tool used for removing the cork from a bottle of wine. There are several styles of wine keys that can range in price. The simple double-pull wine key most often used in restaurants and bars is inexpensive and effective.

Things You'll Need

• double-pull wine key
• wine bottle sealed with a cork

Instructions

1. Remove the foil seal. Use the retractable small knife on the wine key to cut around the neck of the foil and remove.

2. Center the worm, or the spiral rod, on the top of the cork. While holding the wine bottle steady with one hand, turn the wine key slowly in a clockwise motion to thread the worm in the cork. Stop when you've reached the last rung of the worm.

3. Tilt the handle of the wine key in order to place the lever onto the lip of the wine bottle. Hold it in place firmly with your thumb.

4. While pressing the lever with your thumb for stability, pull on the wine key handle with slow, firm force to ease the cork out of the bottle.

Tips & Warnings

• If the cork begins to crack, you will have to use a knife to push the cork into the bottle and strain the wine with a coffee filter before serving it. Straining the wine will allow you to keep any remaining pieces of cork out of the wine you serve.

References

• Pop Goes the Cork
• Corkscrew essentials