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Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Want to see more of them? Check out my archive. And here are my most Frequently Asked Questions.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

What is the purpose of the brush on old corkscrews?

—Demetris, Nicosia, Cyprus

Dear Demetris,

You don't see them on new models anymore, but older corkscrews from the late 18th and early to mid-19th centuries often had stiff bristles on one end of the corkscrew. These dusting brushes were used to remove debris from wax used to help seal the bottle (which was more common back then) or any dust or fungus that might have accumulated on the cork.

—Dr. Vinny

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