# Alternative uncorking techniques **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 30, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248 "2017-10-30T21:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/1 "2017-10-30T21:11:25Z")
I was able to open a bottle of wine by giving it a few good whacks, cushioned, axially against a solid wall. The cork gradually worked itself out. What was the mechanism at work? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/2 "2017-10-30T21:12:13Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I was able to open a bottle of wine by giving it a few good whacks, cushioned, axially against a solid wall. The cork gradually worked itself out. > > What was the mechanism at work? Desperation? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/3 "2017-10-30T21:20:15Z")
Had to be pressure. Higher pressure inside than outside the bottle. Was the wine at all sparkling? Somehow, gas was released from the wine, increasing the pressure on the cork from the inside. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/4 "2017-10-30T21:28:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Had to be pressure. Higher pressure inside than outside the bottle. Was the wine at all sparkling? Somehow, gas was released from the wine, increasing the pressure on the cork from the inside. Cheap table wine containing some Merlot, Petite Syrah, and other varieties, not sparkling. I did notice some small bubbles become visible, but it could have been from the agitation. Nothing gushed out when I finally pulled the cork. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/5 "2017-10-30T21:36:39Z")
I’ve done it before with a Côtes-du-rhône. I do not think the composition of the wine makes much difference. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/6 "2017-10-30T21:36:54Z")
I’ve seen video of this technique. I’m guessing some combination of the wine getting bashed from one end of the bottle to the other and the divot/indent on the bottom of the bottle providing some sort of fluid dynamic trampoline type effect. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/7 "2017-10-30T22:21:13Z")
Buy a cork screw guys. Reminds of the time in college, some one brought a party ball ( a keg like thing) and forgot the tap. Them boys got that beer outta there, I tell you! Quite funny!! ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/8 "2017-10-31T05:37:11Z")
Didn’t we do this recently? I believe it is hydraulic shock reflected off the bottom of the bottle, like water hammer. My favorite alternative method is how to remove a cork pushed into the bottle. You use a napkin, or even the corner of the table cloth and it shoots across the room at considerable velocity. I used to be pretty good at it. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/9 "2017-10-31T14:29:33Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Didn’t we do this recently? I believe it is hydraulic shock reflected off the bottom of the bottle, like water hammer. > > My favorite alternative method is how to remove a cork pushed into the bottle. You use a napkin, or even the corner of the table cloth and it shoots across the room at considerable velocity. I used to be pretty good at it. > > Dennis Explanation? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/10 "2017-10-31T14:32:07Z")
There used to be a cork opener that used a CO[sub]2[/sub] cartridge. You stabbed it through the cork and the CO[sub]2[/sub] would force the cork out. I wonder if the still make them or if there was a safety concern as I haven’t seen them since I was a kid except on a Columbo from the 70s. Checking [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002S6BNU/ref=asc_df_B0002S6BNU5242513/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0002S6BNU&linkCode=df0&hvadid=194812759407&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10837696104510982268&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003680&hvtargid=pla-313438836366), it appears there is still a selection of them available. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/11 "2017-10-31T14:53:50Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > There used to be a cork opener that used a CO[sub]2[/sub] cartridge. You stabbed it through the cork and the CO[sub]2[/sub] would force the cork out. I wonder if the still make them or if there was a safety concern as I haven’t seen them since I was a kid except on a Columbo from the 70s. > > Checking [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002S6BNU/ref=asc_df_B0002S6BNU5242513/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0002S6BNU&linkCode=df0&hvadid=194812759407&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10837696104510982268&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003680&hvtargid=pla-313438836366), it appears there is still a selection of them available. I use it exclusively. Great way to open a bottle of wine. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-uncorking-techniques/800248/12 "2017-10-31T21:47:49Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Explanation? Professor Google informs me that it’s done by essentially [maneuvering the cork in the (empty) bottle into a loose fold of napkin inserted through the bottle neck and then pulling both napkin and cork out together](http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/06/how-to-get-a-cork-out-of-a-wine-bottle-with-a-napkin.html).