Do you know how to open a bottle of wine like an expert? 3 mistakes that almost everyone makes
Uncorking a bottle of wine takes patience and practice. We take a look at the methods that give the best results and common pitfalls.
Cracking open a bottle of wine may appear a relatively simple task but in fact, there are number of ways of getting it wrong. And when the plan is to sit down and relax with family or friends, for a glass of wine over dinner or just socially, the last thing you want is the stress of trying to get the bottle open.
There are a number of ways of opening that bottle of vintage Bordeaux or ice cool, sparkling, spumante correctly - and there are also many ways to make a mess of it.
What’s the foil seal on a bottle of wine for?
So first, let’s take a look at the most common errors. Generally, most bottles of win will have a foil seal, or capsule covering the opening of the bottle to protect the cork. These metallic seals were originally introduced to prevent rodents from gnawing at the cork stoppers in years gone by when wine bottles were stored in cellars.
What is ‘cork taint’?
Breaking the seal requires patience and if not done correctly, it can cause cork taint - a chemical reaction involving mold, yeast or other organisms that causes the cork stopper to deteriorate and eventually break down. This is bad as it will affect how the wine tastes.
The foil wrapper must be completely removed to reveal the cork in the bottle opening - if part of it is still covering the top of the bottle, it could impede the cork from being extracted or cause it to crumble and end up with bits of cork floating inside the bottle.
After removing the foil, it’s time to uncork the bottle. It’s advisable to buy a good quality corkscrew, or bottle opener. There are several different types available, from double levered models to the traditional wooden handled varieties - bear in mind that low, price models can sometimes damage the cork.
Opening the bottle should be fairly quick. Position the screw in the centre if the cork, twist until the screw has a good grip on the cork then pull. The cork should pop out whole, simply and without too much effort. Remember to keep your hands steady and be patient if the cork doesn’t start moving right away.
What should I do if the cork breaks?
Don’t panic if the cork starts to break or crumble. If cork residue falls into the bottle, you can always filter the wine out using a funnel and a clean piece of cloth. If the cork breaks or snaps in two as you are removing it, just push the trapped piece inside the bottle, then filter the wine out. Damaged cork are usually caused by poor storage - it’s a common issue, so be prepared. And like most things, it’s a question of practice - uncorking gets easier the more times you do it!
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