To effectively make the most of your wine cork and bottles, it is important to understand some essential “how-to’s” tips to equip you with the best practices for using wine corks and bottles. In this concise guide, we answered some fundamental “how to” questions from how to cork, bottles and properly store wine, to how to upcycle empty bottles and corks.
1. How to Cork and Bottle Wine
To cork and bottle your wine, you will need the following:
- A clean and sanitised cork (you can explore a wide range of quality cheap wine corks available in our collection).
- A wine corker.
Begin by softening the wine cork in a cold sulfite-water bath for a few hours to make inserting it easier. Insert the wine cork into the bottle’s neck by compressing it with a corker and carefully pushing it into its mouth. Over the years, we’ve been trusted by both individuals and businesses to provide high-quality cheap wine corks and bottles. Explore our collection.
2. How to Open a Wine Bottle in Different Ways
Using Corkscrew
- Hold the glass bottle in a firm position on a flat surface.
- Remove the foil using a knife if available.
- Set the corkscrew at the center of the cork then insert it.
- Rotate the corkscrew into the cork until you see only one curl remaining.
- Once done, pull the cork out of the bottle.
Using A Key
- Get a key and a piece of clothing
- At an angle of 45 degrees, insert the tip of the key into the cork and begin skewering the cork then cross the centre
- Once firmly in place, use the piece of clothing to cover the key then press it down with force.
- Begin rotating the key as you lift it carefully; automatically, the cork will start coming out gradually.
3. How to Store Wine Properly
To properly store your corked wine bottle, consider the tips below:
The Temperature and Storage Position
The ideal temperature for storing wine in bottles is between 10-14°c (52-57°F) to maintain the flavour and freshness. It’s advised to position the bottles horizontally with the cork moist to avoid drying or inflow of air.
Exposure to Light
Avoid keeping your wine bottles in direct contact with sunlight. It can degrade it easily hence, store them in a cool, dark environment or preferably a cellar.
4. How to Recork Wine
Once you’ve opened a bottle of wine and cannot finish it, you will need to recork it to retain its freshness and flavour. To do this, ensure you have a cork at hand then carefully reinsert it into the bottle by firmly pushing it in. It is advised to have some extra corks or bottles at home or the office so that you can always use them for bottles that use screw caps. Explore our collection for some high-quality cheap wine corks.
5. How to Reuse Wine Corks and Bottles
One unique fact about wine corks and bottles is how versatile they are in their usage below are ways you can repurpose them:
Upcycling Bottles
You can reuse empty wine bottles to store and preserve juices, nuts or even flower vases or candle holders after they’ve been cleaned and sterilised.
Upcycling Wine Corks
Wine corks are greatly being reused as craft items. You can reuse wine corks as bulletin board pins, coasters, miniature boats, photo clips, wall art, and so many exciting crafts projects you can use as home or office decor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is cork suitable to be used as the bottle lid?
Wine cork is a recognised top choice for a bottle lid because of its airtight sealing effect, and its elasticity.
What are three things that you should look for on a cork when opening a bottle?
The things you should look out for on a cork when you open a bottle are:
- Signs of damage or mould.
- Signs of leakage (wine sipping around the cork).
- Signs of crumbliness because it can easily contaminate the wine if it crumbles.
What type of corkscrew is commonly used to assist in opening wine bottles and extracting corks at the table?
The most commonly used and most popular corkscrew is the waiter’s corkscrew otherwise known as the “wine key.”