Drive a wood screw 5–6cm into the cork and pull it out with the claw of a hammer. It works almost every time, takes under a minute, and needs nothing you would not find in a toolbox. No screw? Push the cork into the bottle with a blunt handle. It is inelegant but safe — and you still get to drink the wine.
Last updated 4 September 2026 · Written by the Lindner & Co editorial team
Which methods work, and what do they risk?
| Method | Does it work? | What you need | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood screw + hammer claw | Almost always | 5–6cm screw, hammer | Low |
| Wood screw + pliers | Almost always | Screw, pliers | Low |
| Screw eye or hook | Almost always | Screw eye, pen to pull with | Low |
| Push the cork in | Always | Blunt handle, tea towel | Low for you, cork in the wine |
| Air pressure with a needle | Usually | Pump with a ball needle | Low to medium |
| Key at an angle | Sometimes | A sturdy key | Medium, cork crumbles |
| The shoe trick | Sometimes | Shoe and a wall | High, the bottle can crack |
| Heat on the bottle neck | Sometimes | Naked flame | High, the glass can crack |
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The top three are the only ones we would recommend without reservation. The bottom two you should skip — a bottle that shatters in your hand is a hospital trip, not a good story.
How to do it with a wood screw
Pick a screw long enough. 5–6cm is right; a short screw cannot get purchase and tears out of the cork.
Drive it straight down the middle of the cork and leave 1–1.5cm standing proud. Screw it all the way in and you have nothing to grip.
Put the hammer claw under the screw head and lever gently. Use the bottle neck as support, not as a fulcrum — steady pull, no jerking.
If the cork is stuck hard, twist slightly back and forth as you pull. That breaks the friction against the glass.
The cork type decides the method
| Cork type | How to spot it | Best method without a corkscrew | Pitfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural cork, young bottle | Whole and springy | Wood screw and hammer claw | Sits tight, needs force |
| Natural cork, 10 years or older | Dry, dark on top | Push in and strain | Crumbles under anything else |
| Agglomerated cork | Visible granules in the cut face | Push in | Splits into layers |
| Synthetic cork | Smooth and even in colour | Wood screw or air pressure | The screw can slip in plastic |
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If the bottle turns out to be too warm once it is finally open, there are methods that take a few degrees off in minutes.
An old, dry natural cork is the hardest. There it is often wiser to push it in straight away than to fight it — it will crumble either way.
Cork ended up in the wine?
It makes no difference to the taste. Pour the wine through a tea strainer, a coffee filter or a clean cloth into a decanter or another bottle and you are done.
If the wine is going to sit for a while afterwards, it is worth knowing that an opened bottle keeps three to five days in the fridge — and a bottle with no cork keeps less, because it cannot be sealed properly.
What not to try
The shoe trick — bottle in a shoe, sole against a wall — is the one that circulates online. It works on some bottles, but the pressure wave hits the base of the glass, and the base is where a bottle fails. We do not recommend it.
Heat on the bottle neck relies on the air under the cork expanding. The problem is that glass does not tolerate uneven heating. If the bottle is cold from the fridge, the chance of a crack is real.
Once the wine is open and should be served cold, a pre-frozen wine chiller stick at £29.99 holds the temperature for up to two hours without ice and without diluting anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest method without a corkscrew?
A wood screw and a hammer claw. Low risk, works on most cork types, and it damages neither bottle nor cork.
Can you push the cork into the bottle?
Yes, and it always works. Use a blunt handle and hold a tea towel round the bottle — it splashes. Strain the wine afterwards.
Can I open sparkling wine without a corkscrew?
Sparkling does not use a corkscrew cork. Twist the cork out by hand with your thumb over it — never force or heat, the pressure is already high.
Does hitting the base of the bottle work?
Sometimes, but it is the method that breaks the most bottles. Leave it alone.
Why does the cork crumble?
Because it is dry. Natural cork stored upright, or over ten years old, loses its elasticity. Push it in rather than pulling.
Is wine with bits of cork in it unsafe?
No. Cork fragments are annoying, not harmful. Strain them out and the wine is unchanged.