How to Avoid Breaking the Cork

We’ve all been there. You open a bottle of wine, and oops – the cork breaks. Here’s how to avoid breaking the wine cork and ensure your wine isn’t tainted! 

Opening the Bottle like a Pro

When you’re ready to open the bottle, here’s what to do:

1. Step one: Breathe. Remember, you’ve got this! 
2. Next, place the bottle on a flat surface and cut the foil below the lower lip. Mind your fingers as you do this! 
3. After you remove the foil, line up the “worm” of the corkscrew with the center of the cork. 
4. Turn the corkscrew until only one loop of the worm is visible – usually, this will be about 6 rotations. 
5. Then, lever the cork out. Using a double lever corkscrew, you may need to do this action twice to get the cork all the way out. If you’re using a winged corkscrew, press the wings down and pull it out from the handle on top. 
6. Finally, wipe down the rim of the bottle with a cloth or napkin to remove any sediment. 
7. Pour out and enjoy! 

If only the top half of the cork comes out, you can simply repeat the process (steps 3 – 5) to get the remaining cork out, and no one will know. 

What to do if the Cork Falls in 

Sometimes, bits of the cork may fall in and go swimming in your wine. No judgment – it happens! 

The good news is that when there are bits of cork floating in your wine, you can still drink it. All you have to do is get the cork out. 

How do you do that?

Pour the wine through a sieve or cheesecloth either directly into each glass or into a pitcher. And voilà – your wine is good as new! 

In Vino Finito

If you really want to impress your friends, practice the Veronese cork trick by leaving a bit of the foil intact, creating a handy spot to store the cork. 

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