Handling Wine Emergencies

You're about to open a bottle of wine on a romantic picnic and discover you have no corkscrew. You spill red wine on your boss's white shirt at a business dinner. You're opening the last bottle of wine at your dinner party and the cork breaks in half (or crumbles into the wine). Wine emergencies happen (okay, maybe mishaps is a better word), but there is no need to panic. For tips on handling common wine emergencies, see below.

No Corkscrew
Use the handle of a wooden spoon to push the cork in (this will take some time.) If you are a handy, tool bearing person, twist a screw into the cork with half an inch left out and yank out with a pair of pliers. I have also read (but not tried) that you can wrap the bottle in a blanket or sweater and rap it against a tree until it eases out. This can take some time, though! Please don't break off the neck of the bottle, as this can lead to emergencies of the non-wine type.

Broken or Crumbled Cork
Another mishap high on the list of emergencies. Use a butter knife or a wooden spoon to push the cork the rest of the way into the bottle and then strain with the finest mesh strainer you have. In a pinch, use a coffee filter (unbleached is best)! A piece of cheesecloth will also do the trick. Don't try to put the corkscrew into the broken cork and pull it the rest of the way out - this will just lead to bigger, crumblier emergencies.

Red Wine Spill
The leader of all wine emergencies. Be sure to dab away the spill first (don't rub or smear.) If you don't have any Wine Away on hand, try mixing a teaspoon of laundry detergent with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and the same amount of water to clean it up. Then pick up some Wine Away and keep it handy (at least for gatherings at your home.) It takes red stains out of fabrics and rugs. Tips - don't use a white tablecloth when serving red wines.

Your White is Too Warm
If you have any rock salt handy, add some to a bucket of water and submerge the bottle for instant cooling. Regular salt works too, but not in minutes like the rock salt. Plunging it into a bucket of cold or ice water will also work, though not as quickly. (If you are on a picnic, place it in the melting ice at the bottom of your cooler.) If at home, place it in the freezer for a few minutes, and if dining out, request an ice bucket. This is one of the lesser emergencies, and usually easily dealt with.

Your Wine is Too Cold
Warming the bottle in your hand can sometimes be all you need to do to heat red wine to an acceptable temperature. Or have your guests cup the glass in their hands to warm. Please do not microwave. Cold red isn't really a wine emergency - some reds actually taste better with a little chill - so this may or may not be classified with the other emergencies.

Source List:

Personal experience

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