How Not to Get Cork-screwed

Wine paraphenalia found in our kitchen drawer. I'm throwing out that 2-handled corkscrew that snuck in!

Though I live in Wine Central, I'm not much of an amateur de vin (faux ami alert: in French un amateur is an experienced hobbyist). I'm more of a real live "amateur", the English version. But I do know one thing: how to use a proper corkscrew. And since I'm always amazed at how many people do NOT know how to do this,  then should you need one, you get a free lesson today! 

The reason I count this among my few skills is that I put myself through a couple of years of college working at a fancy restaurant, where one had to open wine at the table with a flourish, and fast.

First and most important is choosing your corkscrew. No experienced waiter on either side of the pond would be caught dead with one of those huge bulky rabbit things, or a two-handled affair, or anything other than a classic lever-style corkscrew. Which is called, appropriately, a "waiter's corkscrew". It's compact, efficient, and quick. And do not be intimidated, it's also the easiest one to use, once you're used to it.

And if you happen to be looking for a gift for your favorite amateur de vin, then the PROPER French corkscrew makes a great present. In France, the most famous corkscrews are made in the Aveyron in southern France by Laguiole.  They are not cheap and they are beautiful tools, available in a variety of gorgeous woods and finishes, and heavy in your hand. I've bought them for Ron from my favorite little wine shop in Beaune, Boutique Védrenne (of course a $5 corkscrew works just as well, it's just not as much fun). Here is one of our Laguiole corkscrews:

First up is cutting off the foil.  Many corkscrews come with a little jackknife at the opposite of the business end. This is for cutting your cheese in an emergency, not for slicing the foil, if you're a waiter, or want to look as snappy as one.  Instead this first step is efficiently done with tip of the screw--properly called a worm--which of course you will have already opened up anyway (if you possess a separate foil cutter, please throw that wimpy thing in the poubelle, toute de suite).  Do it like my hand model Ron is doing, cutting around the very top of the lip as you turn the bottle:

Next, put the point of the screw exactly in the center of the cork, press down, and screw it in straight and ALL the way down to the end of the spiral. Like this:

 

Now just put the lever on the lip of the bottle and pull with one hand, holding the bottle in the other. If you've done the above steps correctly, it should pop out nicely without a fight. Now unscrew that cork from the worm with a bit of flair and present the cork to the person who is tasting, so they can give it the sniff test. When you pour, finish the pour with a little turn, to prevent dripping. Et voila. Impressionnant! Now you're un amateur instead of an amateur.

Your homework is to PRACTICE! It may take several bouteilles... oh well, c'est la vie!

 

In the Comments: And speaking of wine, our reader Anita has an amazing blog about wine called The Wine Femme  (love the name). Anita reminded us about the book On Rue Tatin, a great read if you're a francophile and/or food lover. Anne, your Bruno comment cracked me up. I do wonder how he manages to throw together a complicated impromtu dinner for a crowd, chez lui, after a hard day in the trenches, without so much as a visit to the supermarché! Now there's an eligible bachelor for you!

 

 

Comments

[Jane Williamson]

We have a wonderful corkscrew from Domaine Luquet in Fuisse.
It has a litle gizmo on the side which when you press it after centring your corkscrew on the lip and to the right height, lifts out the cork.

[Anita Legault]

Lynn, excellent recommendation!!

These are the kind of corkscrews I have always used even before I jumped into the roller coaster world of running marketing and retail operations for boutique American wineries for 11 years. Now moved on from that world, but still have the passion.

Thanks for the shout-out to my retired wine blog. It was a wonderful walk down memory lane and who knows, maybe I'll revive it with a different perspective.

[Mindy]

Great lesson, and I can't wait to read a Detective Bruno mystery!

[Christine Webb-Curtis]

Alas, we have fallen prey to the battery-powered corkscrew. Otherwise, this all would be "mon habitude." We worked the California State Fair wine competition for a few years and my husband's job was to open the wines. After a day of that, he developed a pretty smooth technique. Beautiful corkscrew, that Laguiole.

[Martin]

if you ever find yourself near to Lagioule, it's well worth a visit. There are several independent knife makers in town, all allowed to put the all important Lagioule Bee trademark on their products.

We have a lovely classic shepherd's knife, given as a gift. In one of the shops, there's a lovely replica of our knife. But whereas our knife with the blade open is 20 cm long, the replica was 3 metres!Not exactly a pocket knife!

PS Lagioule has a very famous 3 starred Michelin restaurant which I can't report on because unfortunately, we didn't get to eat there.

[Colleen Taylor]

What a great tutorial on opening up a wine bottle. We have more corkscrews of every type of assortment.I don't even drink though. Any alcohol just doesn't agree with my stomach. It's still easier for me to hand to bottle to someone else & say, "here, you do it." In case someone doesn't know how, I think I've got this one down pat. Thank you Lynn!

[natalia]

Lynn,thank you for today's really helpful post,including the wonderful pictures to illustrate.
And what a beautiful corkscrew!
I have arthritic hands(actually,arthritic everything)(sigh),so the duties of the wine opening fall to Rod's talents.
Bouteilles?After years of practice,(best of all,sipping!)mais oui!It is a tough job,but,hey,someone's got to do it!!
Sante!!

[Mary Anne MacMorran]

I love this post! I hope that with practice, I will be able to open wine with such élan!

Mary Anne
texasfoodheritage.com

[Monty]

Bonjour Lynn, Well, I have now downloaded 4 Detective Bruno books. So much fun to read about his little village, St. Denis, that shares the same love for life in the French countryside that we have found in southern Burgundy. Thanks for your blog Lynn. It is always interesting and I learn something each and every time.