Hands up if you have ever been that person who shies away from opening a bottle of wine with a cork skrew?
Well, don't feel embarrassed or alone, I'm just the same. In fact, I often default to the guy closest to me when it comes to that specific task.
So if you, like me, find yourself, in such a position, KWV Wines, who have been around since 1918, take the hassle out of the process with these top four tips.
#1 Remove the Capsule
With the small knife hidden in the corkscrew, cut the outer shell just below the curve of the neck of the bottle. If you want to be fancy, and impress your guests, hold the knife against your index finger, pointing inward. Then score the foil around the top of the bottle, pinching the bottle between the knife and the thumb. The foil should now be cut below the lip.
If the corkscrew has no knife, it’s okay for you to use that kitchen knife – the result, after all, is the same.
#2 Open that bottle
Twist the corkscrew right through the center of the cork to the bottom, keeping it straight. It takes about six or seven turns to insert the metal spiral into the best part of the cork. Pull towards you or upwards and slowly remove the cork, ending with that inviting and reassuring ‘pop'. Of course, if you have a screw top, the only thing you need to worry about it where to have it.
#3 Wipe the Bottle
Once you’ve removed the cap, you can wipe the bottle with a cloth or paper towel to avoid spillage, and of course, wastage (because every drop counts).
#4 The Fun Part
Pour and drink! You may want to decant your wine and let it breath for a while, but we understand if you don't have the willpower to wait before diving in to that glass – it's an impossible ask for many, there's no shame in that.
BONUS TIP
If for some unbeknownst reason you are left with an unfinished bottle of wine, you may ask how long does a bottle of wine really last for? There’s no one answer across all varietals. The first thing to do should you have wine leftover in the bottle is to cork the bottle, and put it in the refrigerator, by doing this, you are limiting the wines exposure to oxygen, heat and light. A bottle of red or white will then last approximately between two and five days.