Step Two:<br>Choosing Your Weapon

There are quite a few different corkpulls on the market nowadays, and we'll cover three of them: the traditional waiter's pull, the winglever, and the two-pronged "dishonest butler" (so named because it doesn't destroy the cork).

• Remove the foil completely from the bottle's neck. Use a sharp tool to slice the bottom edge of the foil and peel it off by turning your hand around the bottle. Wipe off the top of the bottle with a cloth or napkin to remove any metal residue.
  

  
  

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  Using a waiter's pull: place the bottle upright on a flat surface or securely hold it between your knees at a slight angle, with the top easily accessible. Firmly place the point of the corkscrew in the center of the cork and twist it straight in, until the screw part is completely in the cork. Pivot the corkpull so that the forked indentation grips the edge of the bottle's mouth and the pull's handle is pointed down. Grasp the handle firmly and pull straight up.
  

  
  

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  Using a winged pull: place the bottle upright on a flat surface. Position the point of the corkscrew over the center of the cork. Firmly grasp both the bottle neck and the barrel of the pull under the wings with one hand. Twist the corkscrew by the "key" at the top until the round mouth of the pull is seated over the mouth of the bottle. Allow the wings to rise until they won't go up any farther. Put a hand on each wing and push them all the way down. The cork should draw out of the bottle. If any part of the cork remains in the neck, grasp the entire corkpull in one hand and gently pull it straight out.
  

  
  

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  Using the "dishonest butler:" place the bottle upright on a flat surface. Gently insert the tip of the longer prong between the edge of the bottle and the cork. Now, bend the thing so that you can insert the other prong between the other side of the cork and the edge of the bottle. Once you've got both prongs between the cork and the bottle's edge, grasp the top of the pull and rok it back and forth. The prongs should sink further in with each movement. When the handle is right up against the top of the bottle, pull the cork out with a slow twisting motion, clockwise for righties, counterclockwise for lefties.
  

Opening a bottle of sparkling wine: this includes French champagne as well as sparkling white and rosé wines from any other country. The first method here is the correct one to use when you would like the wine to taste its best. Use the second method when consumption is not as important as the fun of watching corks fly around the room.

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• Correct Method, Step 1: Securely hold the bottle at a slight angle, with the top easily accessible. Remove the foil and wire cage from the bottle, being careful not to aim the bottle at anyone (no fooling around here).
  

  
  

• Correct Method, Step 2: Firmly grasp the cork with your palm over the top of it and gently twist the bottle, not the cork. You'll be able to feel the cork sliding free by itself, and you'll need to keep it under control so that the cork "pops" as little as possible. Try to insure that it only makes a little 'gasp' when it comes out, and the wine shouldn't froth.
  

  
  

• Fun Method, Step 1: Securely hold the bottle at a slight angle, with the top easily accessible. Remove the foil and wire cage from the bottle, being careful not to aim the bottle at anyone (no fooling around here either).
  

  
  

Fun Method, Step 2: Now point the bottle away from you and everyone else, and grasp it by the neck with both hands. Press your thumbs against the sides of the cork, and first press on one side, then the other. By rocking the cork like you mean it, it will first creep out, and then pop out of the bottle. After it flies across the room, froth will pour out and everyone will laugh. Have those glasses handy to catch the bubbly.

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