🎶“Don’t go Breaking my Cork…”🎶
If the cork looks like this under the foil, you should probably use an ah-so
If you're a wine lover like me, you probably have a collection of fun corkscrews in your kitchen drawer. You know, the ones that look like a twisted metal snake, or a pair of scissors, or a medieval torture device. But have you ever heard of an ah-so wine opener? Until recently I hadn’t either, so let me be the first to introduce you to the tool that will prevent you from ruining a bottle of wine or champagne ever again! Over the past few weeks, I found myself opening some older bottles in the cellar, a 2007 Etude Pinot and 2011 Bordeaux specifically, each with corks that seemed to give out upon opening and I had to filter the pieces out of the wine as I poured. My wife, knowledgeable one that she is, suggested I look into an ah-so… and ah-SO I did….. see what I did there??😉
An “ah-so” wine opener is a remarkably simple device that consists of two thin metal prongs that slide between the cork and the bottle. It works by gently lifting the cork out without piercing it, which prevents any bits of cork from falling into your wine. It also preserves the integrity of the cork, which is great if you want to reseal the bottle or keep it as a souvenir. The name "ah-so" comes from the sound that people make when they see how easily and smoothly the cork comes out of the bottle. It is also known as a two-prong cork puller, a butler's friend, or a cork extractor. The ah-so wine opener was invented in Germany in the 19th century, and is still widely used by sommeliers and wine enthusiasts today.
But how do you use an ah-so wine opener? It's quite easy once you get the hang of it. Here are the steps:
1. Remove the foil from the bottle neck and wipe it clean.
2. Hold the bottle firmly with one hand and insert the longer prong of the ah-so wine opener between the cork and the glass on one side of the bottle.
3. Gently wiggle the prong down until it reaches the bottom of the cork.
4. Repeat with the shorter prong on the opposite side of the bottle.
5. Once both prongs are fully inserted, twist and pull the handle up while holding the bottle steady.
6. Voila! You have successfully removed the cork with an ah-so wine opener.
Sounds easy, right? Well, there are some tips and tricks that can make it even easier:
- Use an ah-so wine opener for older or fragile corks that might crumble with a regular corkscrew.
- If the cork is too tight or dry, you can moisten it with a little water or wine before using the ah-so wine opener.
- If the prongs are too stiff or bent, you can adjust them with a pair of pliers to make them fit better.
- If you have trouble twisting and pulling the handle, you can use a cloth or a rubber band to improve your grip.
- If you want to reinsert the cork, you can use the ah-so wine opener in reverse by pushing it down while twisting it.
Now that you know how to use an ah-so wine opener, you might be wondering where to get one. Well, you can find them online or in specialty wine shops for around $10-$20. While you can also find devices that cost $200+, there really is no need to spend that much. After researching several sites, almost all of them pointed me towards the “Westmark Monopol Edition,” German made and available on Amazon for $25!
So stop dealing with crumbly corks and get you an Ah-So cork puller!!