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It happens to servers. It happens to Master Sommeliers. It happens to everyone, usually when other people are watching.
Cork problems are universal. While there’s never a convenient time for a cork to misbehave, don’t let a crumbly cork ruin the evening. Here are a few tips on how to remove a broken cork from a wine bottle in any situation.
There’s never a convenient time for a cork to misbehave / Getty
Be Patient
“I always tell my staff that 90% of the time cork breakage happens out of impatience,” says Laura Staley, wine director at Row 34 in Boston, Massachusetts. “Just take time to assess the situation and don’t panic.”
For example, let’s say your cork completely breaks in half when you go to open the bottle. There’s one piece in the neck and the other snapped off in your hands. In this precarious situation, there are two ways to rescue that lovely bottle of wine.
“Try and see if you can reach your corkscrew in the remaining cork slowly while still applying pressure to pull it out,” says Staley. “If that doesn’t work, you might have to sink the cork and decant the rest of the wine.”
Go Slow
The cork can also be stubborn and not want to budge at all. “In this instance, insert the corkscrew and apply slow and steady firm pressure for 10 seconds,” says Staley.
Sadly, sometimes the cork decides to give up the ghost altogether and crumble into a million pieces within your bottle. It’s okay to silently whisper an expletive or two but, once again, do not panic.
“If the cork is ruined, grab a coffee filter, put the filter in the glass, and strain out the pieces,” says Staley. If you’re serving the wine to others in a professional situation, be upfront with the guests about what happened. “The cork will not affect the taste of the wine.”
Consider Your Corkscrew
Many cork problems can be prevented with a proactive approach. First, consider the type of bottle you plan to open.
“If you know that you’re going to be drinking an older bottle from the cellar, I probably wouldn’t just go for my everyday corkscrew,” says Staley. “It will break the cork. I’d use a Durand for more hold.”
This type of corkscrew has two parts: one akin to a waiter’s corkscrew and another that separates the cork from the glass. If you collect older bottles, a tool designed for delicate corks might be worth considering.
