3 Ways To Open a Wine Bottle if You Don’t Have a Corkscrew

Let it be known that I’m a big believer in using a traditional wine key corkscrew to open a bottle of wine, mostly because I spent an entire day learning how to properly use one during a long-ago stint as a waitress. After opening several bottles and shredding my fair share of corks, I got the hang of it and never looked back. 

However, I know that we’re not always dining at fancy restaurants with waiters who open bottles of wine for us. I also know that the corkscrew can often go missing at the most unfortunate times. For those reasons, it’s good to have some hacks in your back pocket for how to open a bottle of wine if you don’t have a corkscrew.

How To Open a Bottle of Wine Without a Corkscrew

The hack that works best is the one that has the least potential to harm you or the bottle of wine. For that reason, you won’t find any “flame or fire” recommendations here. Instead, I encourage you to rummage through your toolbox, closet, and keys and try one of these three tricks to open that bottle of wine.

Trick #1: Use a Key

This might be the easiest of all the methods simply because everyone has a key. To use this method, remove the foil around the top of the bottle to reveal the cork. Insert a key into the cork at a 45-degree angle. You’ll need to push it all the way in, so grab a towel or potholder to get a firm grip and protect your hand. 

Use your thumb to rotate the key, while also pulling up a bit as you go. With each turn, the cork should work its way up the bottle. Once there’s enough space to grab the cork, get in there with your hand and pull it out the rest of the way. Don’t forget to pull your key out of the cork—you’ll likely need it to get back into your house at some point.

There’s a chance that some of the cork will end up in your bottle, but great news: a fine mesh strainer will help clean things up for you.

Trick #2: Use a Bike Tire Pump

This method works only if you have a bike pump, but it’s a fun one to try, especially if you have an audience. You’ll need a pump with a needle attachment, like what you use to inflate things like soccer balls and basketballs. 

Remove any foil wrapping and insert the needle all the way through the cork. Once it’s there and you can see it’s in the space between the cork and the wine, give your pump a gentle pump. The pressure should move the corkscrew up with each pump. It’s advisable to have someone hold the bottle while you pump, for extra stabilization. Once there’s enough room, finish pulling the cork out with your hand.

Trick #3: Break Out the Toolbox

If you’ve got a stocked toolbox, you should be good to go for this hack. You’ll need a screw (preferably a long one that will make its way through most of the cork), a screwdriver, and a fork or hammer. 

As with the other tricks, remove any foil wrapping around the cork. Next, insert the screw into the middle of the cork. Once you’ve given it a few turns, grab your screwdriver to finish the job, leaving about a quarter to one-half inch of screw visible (in other words, don’t plunge the screw so deep that the head is flush with the cork). 

Next, grab a sturdy fork, insert the prongs under the head of the screw and pull up. If you’re using a hammer, use the backside to pull up on the screw like you would if you were pulling up a nail from a board. Be sure to pull straight up and not apply force to the bottle.