Bottle Opening 'Trick'

[hartley]

I once saw a guy at a BBQ who, in the absence of a corkscrew, opened a bottle of wine by striking the base of the bottle sharply with the blade of a large kitchen knife. He performed it as a bit of magic trick and refused to give the secret away, although someone was sure that anyone can do this and it's down to the fact that vibrations travel differently through the bottle and the wine forcing the cork out. Does anyone know how this is done? p.s it was not sparkling wine and the cork gently worked it's way up rather than being fired out.

[wildwood]

Can't think of any forces that would work the cork up that way, especially with still wine. It is almost certainly a trick bottle.

[darth vader]

no it isn't a trick bottle. Can't remember how it's done but basically the vibrations cause the cork to move. Yes there is pressure (even in non-sparkling wine) as the cork is forced down into the bottle at the factory (see the small pocket of air at the top? this is pressurised), this pressure pushes the cork out. I think the tapping on the bottomn causes mini shock waves which help to move the cork. I think you can do it by simply banging the bottom of the bottle on the table btw this trick is dangerous as the bottle often shatters (cutting up the person's hand in the process)

[FTVS]

I have seen this tried 3 times and everytime it has resulted in a smashed bottle and wine all over the shop. Stick to facing the cork into the bottle if your stuck without a corkscrew!

[darth vader]

2 stars? whaddyawant a demo? easiest way (in absence of a corckscrew) is to use the knife to push the cork into the bottle, use the knife again to hold the cork away from the spout while you pour

[IndieSinger]

Also if when the cork is in the bottle you find it hard to keep it from blocking up the bottle neck, stick a bendy straw in (and let's face it, if you're drinking wine, you should have bendy straws) and it keeps the wine flowing freely.

[rinkytink]

Be careful using the 'knife to push the cork into the bottle' method. I was doing this once, using a knife that could wholly fit in the neck of the bottle, and dropped the knife in - knocking the entire bottom of the bottle out. The result was me covered in wine instead of full of it.

[coggles]

...and if you accidently cork the wine while doing any of the above, a stocking (preferably clean, but your choice) works very well as a strainer to catch all those little bits of cork.

[fly258]

Once the cork is pushed into the bottle, a piece of cord with a knot in the end (a clean shoe lace works well) can be pursuaded into the bottle and past the cork. With a bit of jiggling the cork can be pulled out of the bottle once the knot has jammed between the cork and bottle. This does work as I have tried it several times myself

[cheyenne]

fly 258 have you ever tried buying a bottle opener mind you yuor way sounds more fun

[aloha]

I love that bendy-straw answer.