Possible to open a bottle of wine with pocket knife?

I'm pretty happy with my screwpull. But the absolute worst one in my book is the one with the two prongs one shorter than the other, I think its called an ah-so. I hate those things.

It's funny after being into knives for only a few months. The possibility of getting a laguiole doesn't seem as silly or remote as it did at one time.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Don't know... I'll go buy some two dollar wino's special bottles of wine and try it out...


Just make sure you score the glass right below the cork (the cork supports it from shattering) and strike right on the score line. It does require practice and some skill. -- you might also be able to try on empty re-corked bottles (that way if you shatter it, there won't be wine everywhere)
 
No corkscrew, no problem. Just push the cork all the way into the bottle. Its a lot simpler and you wont end up with a bunch of debris floatin around. Once the cork is all the way through, use a straw or a cleaned twig to keep the cork from stopping up the flow. Pour and enjoy! ;)

Dakila
 
My father is/was a carpenter and his tried and tested method of hammering a nail into the cork almost all the way, then prying the nail with the the cork back out again has always worked. He drinks a lot of wine and I have yet to see him use a corkscrew.
 
dayuhan13 said:
No corkscrew, no problem. Just push the cork all the way into the bottle. Its a lot simpler and you wont end up with a bunch of debris floatin around. Once the cork is all the way through, use a straw or a cleaned twig to keep the cork from stopping up the flow. Pour and enjoy! ;)

Dakila


Note of caution: It does take a lot of force to push the cork all the way in, because of the air pressure. Like a piston. I've only done it this way once, and when I finally succeeded in pushing the cork thru, the air pressure blasted a fine spray of wine in my face. A bit of alcohol and acid in the eyes burns like hell!
 
dayuhan13 said:
No corkscrew, no problem. Just push the cork all the way into the bottle. Its a lot simpler and you wont end up with a bunch of debris floatin around. Once the cork is all the way through, use a straw or a cleaned twig to keep the cork from stopping up the flow. Pour and enjoy! ;)
Dakila

Well that cetainly makes sense. I never would have thought of that. Great idea d-13.

-pb
 
Funny - I've never needed a corkscrew - but then, I've never seen a cork used to seal a can of Miller Lite... :D
 
No corkscrew, no problem. Just push the cork all the way into the bottle. Its a lot simpler and you wont end up with a bunch of debris floatin around. Once the cork is all the way through, use a straw or a cleaned twig to keep the cork from stopping up the flow. Pour and enjoy!

Dakila

That is actually a big no-no in the wine world. Its called corking the bottle and is supposed to ruin the taste of the wine. I wouldn't really care iether way but for you real wine lovers it may be a downer knowing you're not getting the most out of that 100 dollar bottle.
 
Pulltaps rule. I waited tables for many years, and they're my favorite..and yes, I have a vino.
 
I bought a SOG Vino for emergencies, and have ended up using it as my main opener. I should mention that I also have a Screwpull Leverpull. I still like the SOG.

It does not have a teflon coated screw, but it really works well.
 
You can even uncork a bottle of wine without tools. Was taught and have tried this method, it's a pain but it works.

You first cut off and remove the foil. Then holding the bottle horizontally in your hand, tap it firmly (quite hard) and repeatedly against a vertical surface, the cork will slowly work it's way out until you can grasp it and pull it out totally. Be warned, it takes many, many taps.

Happened at a picnic when some one brought wine but no corkscrew and some one said that it could be done this way. Used a tree that occasion.
 
la_goata said:
That is actually a big no-no in the wine world. Its called corking the bottle and is supposed to ruin the taste of the wine. I wouldn't really care iether way but for you real wine lovers it may be a downer knowing you're not getting the most out of that 100 dollar bottle.

'Corking' isn't actually caused by cork in the wine, either as a whole or in fragments.

It is where the cork dries out, becuse it is old, cheap, or hasn't been kept moist by storing the bottle on its side. As the cork dries out, air gets into the bottle, oxidising some of the alcohol (to vinegar) and killing the flavour. On more expensive/older wines there is often a mould on the top of the cork, under the foil and I think that this sometimes contributes to the ruination of the wine.

As long as the cork is springy and tight, and there is no mould on top and you don't have a better way of doing it and you're not working in a restaurant, there's no reason not to push the cork into the bottle - apart from the fact that its very hard to do (pressure), the squirt of wine when you do - that'll ruin your $50 white (would be, wouldn't it?) shirt for the sake of a $5 bottle of wine or not shelling out for a $5 corkscrew, and the fact that its a PITA to pour with the cork constantly popping up to block the flow.

airyq:
Thanks for the tip, I've never heard of that one before - might have to get a cheap bottle and give it a try...
 
Little claw, let me know if you have any success. It needs patience and a strong arm. Took about 15 or 20 minutes of consistent banging against the tree, if I remember correctly. You do have to hit quite hard and persist even though the result may not show for some time. It is a good trick to know.
 
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