How to open a bottle of wine
Wine is intimidating. After you’ve sorted out red or white, foreign or domestic, you must still open the bottle – a formidable chore to many. While it may take years to become an expert in choosing a proper bottle of wine, you can become an expert in opening wine – or at least look like one – with just a little practice. Focus exclusively on still (non-sparkling) wine – the most widely consumed – with the most common enclosure: a cork (although the “cork” may be plastic or some other material). However, don’t be surprised to find a few fine wines with a screw top: some “super-premium” (over $100 a bottle) California red wines are now being fitted with them. ... Of course you will need a wine opener. ... The knife does not have to be razor sharp, but it should be sharp enough to cut the foil on the neck of the bottle easily. ... Although not required, consider having a clean cloth to wipe the rim of the bottle after the foil is removed.