For centuries, corks, which come from oak trees grown in Portugal and Spain, have been used to preserve bottled wine. However, the trend is toward using a synthetic cork or Stelvin Screw Caps, which provide tight, vacuum-like seals and won’t flake off into the wine. When opening a corked bottle of wine, first remove the capsule around the cork by cutting the seal on the underside of the bottle’s lip. Once you’ve removed the capsule, wipe the top of the cork clean, removing any dust, mold or other contaminants that have accumulated in storage. Next, insert the corkscrew into the cork and turn it until it’s deep into the cork. Then, lift the cork one-quarter of the way out, turn the screw farther into the cork, and pull the cork three-quarter of the way out. At this point, use your hands to wiggle out the cork.