Wine

Use a long metal screw and pliers: twist the screw into the center of the cork, leave part of the screw exposed, then pull it straight up with the pliers. Another option is to press the cork into the wine bottle with the blunt handle of a wooden spoon. If the cork crumbles, pour the wine through a coffee filter or strainer.

Prosecco is an Italian wine usually made as a light, fruity sparkling white from Glera grapes. It comes from protected areas in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions. Secondary fermentation generally takes place in large steel tanks, preserving fresh flavors such as green apple, pear, white peach, and white flowers. Styles range from fully sparkling to gently fizzy, with rare still versions.

Wine does not usually have a strict expiration date, but it can decline in quality or spoil through oxidation, poor storage, or aging beyond its peak. Most everyday wines are intended to be enjoyed young rather than aged. Warning signs include vinegar, nail-polish-remover, wet-cardboard, or musty aromas, along with flat, sharp, or sour flavors. Keep unopened wine cool and dark, and refrigerate opened bottles after recorking.

Cabernet Sauvignon is generally a dry red wine, not a sweet one. During fermentation, yeast converts nearly all of the grapes’ natural sugar into alcohol, leaving little residual sweetness. Blackberry, black cherry, and blackcurrant flavors can create a fruit-forward impression, while oak may add vanilla, spice, and toast notes. Its prominent tannins typically produce a bold, structured, drying finish.

Hold a traditional wine glass by the stem, lightly pinching it between your thumb and index finger near the base. Your other fingers can rest loosely beside the stem or against the foot for balance. Keeping your hand off the bowl limits heat transfer into the wine and prevents fingerprints, while also making it easier to view the wine’s color and swirl the glass.