Wine Openers: The easiest manual remover is the self-pulling, which relies on levers or a continuous screw to do the work. These can be used on all kinds of bottles.
The most commonly used cork remover is the slim Waiters Corkscrew. Its compact lever design, and versatility for use with any kind of bottle, make it a favorite especially with servers in restaurants. Helix shaped spirals are generally preferred over auger shapes, as they generally grab better with the least displacement in the cork. Air Injection and Gas cork removers work well and are relatively easy to use, but can only be used on regular wine bottles. Dry corks are best removed with the Cork Puller, which blades fit between the cork and the bottle. The blades grab the cork and remove it as you pull while twisting the handle. If the cork breaks inside the bottle, you can remove it with a Cork Retriever. Filter and decant the wine (see Accessories) to remove small pieces of cork that might remain.
Wine Storage: Corks (from tree bark) make a good airtight seal when wet. Bottles that hold liquids, like wine, for example, should be stored on their side to keep the cork constantly wet. Bottles with rubber corks don't need to be stored on their side. All corked bottles that hold oils should be stored upright after opening.
Sparkling Wine and Champagne: Unless otherwise indicated in the product's description, these stoppers are intended to fit glass bottle necks of the regular wine or soda pop size. Care should be taken when using a stopper with carbonated beverage bottles, as the pressure that can built up in the bottle can unintentionally shoot out the stopper.
