In our article, we'll see why you don't need a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine. Try to answer this question, then continue reading to check your answer.

Should you use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine?

We wrote previously that you don't need to use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine! However, we must point out that there is a moment when a corkscrew could be useful.

To open a bottle of sparkling wine you need to:

1. remove the capsule that covers the metal cage: it is in this initial phase that you can use the corkscrew. In particular, the knife integrated into all professional corkscrews is used to cut the capsule. You can then remove it with your hands. But be careful: usually, sparkling wine bottles have a tab that allows you to cut the capsule without needing the corkscrew knife. Just pull this tab with your hands and the capsule is opened easily and safely. In any case, this is the only phase in which you could use the corkscrew.

2. remove the metal cage: you don't need a corkscrew for this operation. Place the thumb of one hand over the cork, to prevent it from suddenly coming out, while with the other hand unscrew the metal tab that holds the metal cage in place. Rotate it counterclockwise and the metal cage can be removed.

3. remove the cork: you do not need to use a corkscrew for this operation. The bottle should be held with one hand while the cork should be held with the index finger, the thumb finger and the palm of the other hand. You should just slowly rotate the cork. With this simple operation you extract the cork and you can also control the release of the internal pressure in the bottle, preventing the cork from exploding and the wine from coming out suddenly.

In short: the structure, the shape and the elements that characterize the closure of the bottles of sparkling wine do NOT require the use of a corkscrew.

Foto di Erwin da Pixabay

Why shouldn't you use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine?

Now let's see, specifically, why you shouldn't use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine.

1. Do not use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine because manual opening is more practical and safe

As we saw in the previous paragraph, each element that characterizes the closure of a bottle of sparkling wine allows you to open it with your hands, without the need to use a corkscrew.

2. Do not use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine because the cork is mushroom-shaped

Sparkling wine bottles have a mushroom-shaped cork, different from that of all other types of wine. The mushroom shape is specifically designed to preserve the effervescence, to ensure greater hermetic sealing and to resist the internal pressure of the bubbles.

This type of cork has a cap that emerges from the neck of the bottle and a body that is inside the neck. The cap, precisely because it is above and outside the neck of the bottle, allows the mushroom cork to be removed by hand. The main advantage of manually removing the cork, through the cap, is to control its extraction and the pressure of the bubbles. In this way, you prevent the cork from coming out violently, as well as the liquid in the bottle, pushed out by the internal pressure.

3. Do not use a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine for safety reasons

Opening a bottle of sparkling wine with a mushroom cork with a corkscrew can be dangerous for the safety of the person opening the bottle and anyone nearby.

Imagine opening a bottle of sparkling wine in the same way you open bottles of other types of wine, that is, by piercing the cork. A small gap would open in the mushroom cork. From this gap, the internal pressure of the bottle could escape in an uncontrolled manner. This could cause a violent escape of the cork and of the wine. Furthermore, a sudden release of internal pressure could cause damage to the glass bottle.

In short, avoid using a corkscrew to open a bottle of sparkling wine. Opening it with your hands is the only solution and, above all, the safest solution.