How to Use a Wine Key Like a Pro

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed)
Jun 3rd 2010 at 4:02PM

Also called 'waiter's friends,' wine keys can be tricky to use successfully if you're not familiar with how they work. Here's a quick 'how to' guide to using them like a pro.

Step 1: Open the blade and use it to cut and remove the foil, letting the ridge of the bottle guide the blade and keep it from slipping.

Step 2: Fold back the blade and open the screw. Hold the wine bottle by the neck with one hand and use the other to center the point of the screw on the cork and turn it firmly several times until the worm (spiral) is solidly anchored. Then continue turning the screw, without pressing down, until it's embedded halfway into the cork.

Step 3: Unfold the lever and anchor it on the lip of the bottle. Use it to help you pull up until the cork is half exposed.

Step 4: Turn the screw again (still being careful not to apply downward pressure) until the worm is all the way through the cork.

Step 5: Pull up until the cork is free.

Broken cork: If the cork breaks and you're left with part of it stuck in the neck of the bottle you have two options: Try gently repeating steps 2, 4, and 5 and see if you can remove it, or if that fails push the cork through the other way into the wine (being careful so it doesn't splash). It won't affect the flavor and the wine is still drinkable, although there may be sediment and bits of cork.

Tags: cork, corkscrew, how to, wine, wine key, wine-pedia

Filed under: Wine

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

dontbeleaveit Jun 4th 2010 10:59PM

Screw cap wine is better don't bother with the cork bottle type. Progress or stgnate.

Luanna Jun 6th 2010 3:53PM

Thank you for writing and posting this HOW-TO on using a wine key for anyone who wishes to learn. Many guys grow up wanting to be romantic, and have no one to show them how to do things deftly. Being able to use the wine key to help uncork wine with at least a working knowledge of how to do so, will, I am sure help some young man have a romantic dinner come off far more smoothly than it might otherwise. For the women in the world who love romance, and for the people that benefit from this article, I thank you.