Opening a bottle of wine without stress

With the right approach you open any bottle cleanly and safely, from a simple cork to a bottle of champagne.

A corked bottle

Cut the foil below the lip of the neck. Screw the corkscrew into the centre of the cork until one turn is still visible, then pull the cork out gently and straight. A waiter's friend with a double lever makes it easy.

An old bottle

Old corks can be brittle. Screw gently, pull slowly and if in doubt use a two-prong cork puller. Bits of cork in the wine? Pour through a fine sieve: the wine itself is fine.

Sparkling wine

Chill the bottle well, hold it at an angle away from people and always keep a hand on the cork. Turn the bottle, not the cork, and let the pressure escape gently: a soft sigh, not a bang.

Screw cap

Hold the cap and turn the bottle: one short twist and the seal breaks. A screw cap is no sign of lower quality.