3 TIPS TO SAVE YOUR CORK

Dealing with Stubborn Corks: How to Save Your Cork?

You have to admit, some corks can give you a hard time—crumbled, broken in half, or pushed down into the bottle...

HOW TO SAVE YOUR CORK?

Here are three tips to help you save your cork from one of these mishaps.

1) If Your Cork Crumbles: Make Small Incisions

One of the most common issues when opening a bottle of wine is a crumbling cork. This usually happens because the cork has dried out due to improper storage. Start by reinserting the corkscrew spiral more firmly to get a better grip on the cork. If that doesn’t work, take a small knife and carefully make incisions along the sides of the cork where it meets the bottle. Press gently and twist the knife slowly, ensuring the blade stays straight. Once this is done, try using the corkscrew again to extract the cork.

2) If Your Cork Is Pushed Down: Use a Cloth

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the cork gets pushed down into the bottle after you insert the corkscrew because it’s too moist. In this case, you have two options: let the cork fall into the wine or try to retrieve it. Pushing it further down is rarely a good idea, so go for the latter. Take a cloth and twist it while inserting it into the bottle. Make sure the tip of the cloth goes in at least 10 cm (about 4 inches). Push the cloth down until it makes contact with the cork. Once the cloth is under the cork, pull it out quickly, and the cork should come with it. If there isn't enough space between the bottle's neck and the cork to fit a cloth, try using a string or small rope. Tie a secure knot at the end, tilt the bottle so the cork falls below the knot, and gently pull it up until the cork rises.

3) If Your Cork Breaks in Half: Change Your Approach

The infamous broken cork is a common problem, usually caused by not inserting the corkscrew deep enough. The most natural reaction is to reinsert the corkscrew in the same spot and try again. However, this often leads to further crumbling. Instead, insert the corkscrew slightly off-center, where the cork is less likely to be dry. Twist gently and pull. If some pieces fall into the bottle, pour out the first few drops of wine into the sink with a sharp tilt of the bottle. This ensures that no cork residue ends up in your wine, and you’ll only lose a minimal amount of your precious nectar.