There are numerous stupid human tricks involving different ways to open a
bottle of wine. I have seen people do it with a phone book, a high heel, hell,
I even did it with a fork once (no at all advisable by the way!) On a recent
trip to Napa and Sonoma, I decided to try my hand in opening a bottle the way
it used to be done.
We have all see the pictures of the old school cork screws.
I even have one as a tattoo. They all consist of the same thing; the screw and
a handle at the top with which to pull. The one thing they lack that most
modern cork screws have is a fulcrum, or point at which the person opening the
bottle has leverage on the cork and can open it easily.
I got my hands on a fairly simple one from the late 1800’s
and decided, since I collect them but had never used one, that it was time for
me to experience this. Now, mind you, this is how sommeliers used to have to
open bottles and there is no graceful way to do this. You have to put the
bottle between your legs and pull hard enough to get the cork out, but not hard
enough you pop it out and spray wine everywhere. Well I achieved the later, but
broke the cork in the process and had to then be even gentler, which is not
always my forte. As a matter of fact, I am not for my strength, not my finesse.
Enjoy the video and the laughs that may ensue. And stay
turned for the next article and as always, drink up!
