The Auswine Forum

nope not another debate over them... just a quick question, i have had three old (14yr & 16 yr & 20yr) corks now break up on me when i have been trying to take them out of their bottles. i have used the below impliments... and both didnt seem to work. is there anything out there that removes old/soft corks easily without breaking them up??? any tips???

Try one like this:

http://cookshoppl.cart.net.au/details/594226.html

thanks, will definitely have to check this one out

They've been around for years but never got around to seeking one out. With the increasing use of screwcaps...........

I have a fine-meshed stainless steel tea strainer, works well enough for me when the very occasional cork crumbles and the wine should be decanted anyway.

hmmm wrote:

Since using the same style corkscrew as above I have never had any problems no matter the age or condition. You just have to know the right procedure.

1. remove capsule
2. place corkscrew on top of the cork and push DOWN to break the seal between the bottle and the cork. Once it moves time to move on
3. insert cork screw until one half of a turn or the screw is above the cork
4. remove the cork SLOWLY and in two steps as the cork screw allows.
5. Perfect...cork free wine.

If you have problems do it slowly and carefully. I have only broken a few in hundreds doing it this way and there is no need for "arsos" or similar if you do this right.

One tool, one skill....perfect!!!!

hmmm wrote:nope not another debate over them... just a quick question, i have had three old (14yr & 16 yr & 20yr) corks now break up on me when i have been trying to take them out of their bottles. i have used the below impliments... and both didnt seem to work. is there anything out there that removes old/soft corks easily without breaking them up??? any tips???

Likewise, I have crumbled many an old bottle's cork.

Red Bigot wrote:Try one like this:

http://cookshoppl.cart.net.au/details/594226.html

And I am aware this exists. What's more, I own one!!!

BUT BUGGER ME IF I COULD EVER USE ONE CORRECTLY!!!

Thus, what I do now is have a stainless steel funnel with a seive handy to filter out cork bits...

woodwardbrett wrote:

hmmm wrote:

Since using the same style corkscrew as above I have never had any problems no matter the age or condition. You just have to know the right procedure.

1. remove capsule
2. place corkscrew on top of the cork and push DOWN to break the seal between the bottle and the cork. Once it moves time to move on
3. insert cork screw until one half of a turn or the screw is above the cork
4. remove the cork SLOWLY and in two steps as the cork screw allows.
5. Perfect...cork free wine.

If you have problems do it slowly and carefully. I have only broken a few in hundreds doing it this way and there is no need for "arsos" or similar if you do this right.

One tool, one skill....perfect!!!!

It took me awhile to fully understand step number 2, but you know, it has real merit! Many a time I have found that the force required to "break the seal between cork and bottle" causes most of the damage that ultimately crumbles the cork...

Now, where's that '91 or older wine. I've got work to do!

A related question:
When in RSA, I saw a bottle store where, before tasting each of the wines, they were opened using a CO2 canister based opener. (The idea is you put a long needle into the cork, push a button and the air 'pops' the cork out)

Are these good/bad for the wine? Also, are the ones you can get which use an air pump (rather than CO2) as good? (this question premised on the assumption that the CO2 canister based openers are decent)?

Sorry to hijack the thread.

woodwardbrett wrote:
Since using the same style corkscrew as above I have never had any problems no matter the age or condition. You just have to know the right procedure.

1. remove capsule
2. place corkscrew on top of the cork and push DOWN to break the seal between the bottle and the cork. Once it moves time to move on
3. insert cork screw until one half of a turn or the screw is above the cork
4. remove the cork SLOWLY and in two steps as the cork screw allows.
5. Perfect...cork free wine.

If you have problems do it slowly and carefully. I have only broken a few in hundreds doing it this way and there is no need for "arsos" or similar if you do this right.

One tool, one skill....perfect!!!!

u huh step two does make perfect sense!! genius! i think i need more aged wine to try this new technique on.

Red Bigot wrote:Try one like this:

http://cookshoppl.cart.net.au/details/594226.html

Ah So.

Excellent advice

What happened to Fivewells? This Q was right up his alley.

Andre wrote:

I thought the sabres were only for sparkling wines?

Try the CorkPops III here, removes just about any cork in any state without fuss.

woodwardbrett wrote:2. place corkscrew on top of the cork and push DOWN to break the seal between the bottle and the cork. Once it moves time to move on
3. insert cork screw until one half of a turn or the screw is above the cork

You seem to be walking a very fine line between breaking 'the seal' and then ensuring that 'inserting the cork screw' isn't going to push the cork down any further into the bottle.
Does it make sense to screw the thread nearly all the way into the cork, and then push down before pulling up?
I dunno, I tend to go with the Ah so - you get the odd cork that begins to slide down when even a little force is applied to the top to start the corkscrew, and the AH so semms to give you a little more time to get a grip on the thing before it turns to disaster.
cheers,
Graeme

If you look around, you can find an Italian clone of the "Ah-So" made by Ghidini, it sells for the princely sum of $7AUD (Gitano cork puller)

Since using the same style corkscrew as above I have never had any problems no matter the age or condition. You just have to know the right procedure.

agree. i always use the waiters friend style screw for old wines. you can take it slowly and get more 'feel' as to what the cork is doing. occassionally they still break but no where near as often as the screwpull machines.