Sarah on November 1, 2013 0 Comments There’s More Than One Way to Open a Bottle We’ve all been there: On a picnic, at the park, or out on the water. Wherever you are, you’re away from home and you’ve brought a fantastic bottle of wine with you. You talk it up to your companions and everyone is itching to try it. You go to open it and realize you forgot to bring a wine opening corkscrew. (Insert expletives here.) This is the precise moment when you realize just how essential that cumbersome tool truly is. They come in all shapes and sizes, but the important thing is that they get the job done (and that you have one with you). Here’s a few of our favorite ways to open a bottle of wine and getting to the good stuff. 1. The Lever Method Lever corkscrews require very little effort from the user and are currently all the rage. They may look a little clunky and awkward but they open a wine bottle after only two smooth lever motions: one to insert the screw and one to remove it with the cork in tow. 2. The Easy Breezy Electric corkscrews require even less effort than lever corkscrews, which is pretty amazing. Simply place the opener over the cork and press the button and voila! The only downside to these is that they typically have to be returned to a charger or plugged in between uses. But if you’re planning on keeping it on the countertop and only using it at home, that shouldn’t be a hassle at all. 3. The Twist This gadget is very middle-of-the-road in terms of both functionality and ease of use. You screw in the cork and then push down the “wings,” which will have risen while you twist. Depending on the quality of the screw, the cork should then be removed. Sometimes you still have to yank a bit to get the cork out, but that could also (in my case anyways) be user error. 4. The Old Reliable This is the tool you should never leave home without. It’s made of quality components, is dependable, and works without any fuss. Much like your most reliable friend, this wine opener will always help you out no matter where you are or what the situation may be. 5. The Show Off Make an event of your wine opening by using an antique wine opener and stand. These over-the-top wine openers are perfect for dinner parties or cellar tastings. They make great statement pieces and add to your decor while not in use. If you’ve ever tried opening a corked bottle of wine sans corkscrew, you know just how worthy of an investment a quality wine opening tool is. Don’t forget to pack one of these guys in your picnic basket or beach bag on your next outing and avoid those (insert expletives here) moments. Happy un-corking!
