Uncorking Made Easy: The 7 Best Wine Openers and Corkscrews You Need Chris Lehoux, November 7, 2024 Whether you like to savor an occasional glass of wine with meals or you are a devoted wine lover, having the best wine opener is a must-have in your kitchen. The right openers and corkscrews simplify the task of opening a bottle without mess, preventing any cork fragments from finding their way into your drink. Surprisingly, many corkscrews favored by sommeliers are quite affordable. If you need a dependable choice, we suggest Pulltap’s Waiter’s Corkscrew—a straightforward yet efficient tool beloved by wine experts. The ideal wine openers and corkscrews make opening a bottle a seamless process, ensuring no cork bits … [+] remain in your glass. Opening a wine bottle effectively requires some practice, but having the right tool can significantly ease the process. “Opening a bottle of wine for the first time isn’t simple and demands practice,” explains Jaffer Kovic, owner and sommelier at Dilworth Tasting Room. “It’s essential to seek an opener that isn’t too heavy, is easy to grip, and boasts sturdy construction.” Many professionals advocate for a basic double-hinged corkscrew, commonly referred to as a waiter’s corkscrew. Nonetheless, there are various styles available, such as lever and winged openers, which require less effort to use. Additionally, for those who prefer full automation, electric wine openers can be found, although they may sometimes present complications. Regardless of your choice, here are the top wine openers for your kitchen or home bar. Amazon Type: Waiter’s corkscrew | Dimensions: 4.75 x 0.75 inches | Material: Stainless steel Pros: Cons: The Pulltap’s Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew is highly praised by wine connoisseurs for its practical and effective design. Made from robust stainless steel, this corkscrew features a double-hinged mechanism and a comfortable grip, allowing for the effortless removal of even the most stubborn corks. It is equipped with a nonstick finish and includes an integrated foil remover with a serrated edge. Its compact design enables easy storage in pockets or kitchen drawers. “The Pulltap’s two-stage corkscrew is an essential tool for any kitchen,” comments Kovic. “Patented in 1992, it swiftly became the preferred wine opener among professionals in bustling restaurants. I keep a pair in my kitchen drawer and another pair in my cellar.” Amazon Type: Waiter’s corkscrew | Dimensions: 4.75 x 1 inches | Material: Stainless steel Pros: Cons: The TrueTap Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew features a similar design to our favorite overall choice, but it comes with a more affordable price tag. Its double-hinged structure includes a non-stick worm, a serrated foil cutter, and a built-in bottle opener. Offered in a variety of bright colors, it stands out in a messy drawer. Even with its low price, this wine opener is a preferred choice among wine enthusiasts. “For the majority of bottles, I consistently reach for my reliable, standard waiter’s corkscrew from TrueTap, having opened tens of thousands of bottles with it,” shares Scott Carney, Dean of Wine Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. “The bottle opens nearly automatically, without any fuss.” Amazon Type: Cordless electric | Dimensions: 14.96 x 5.51 inches | Material: Plastic Advantages: Disadvantages: If you often find it challenging to remove corks from wine bottles, an electric wine opener can simplify the process significantly. This cordless model from Oster efficiently eliminates corks in just a few seconds with little effort. The device can open up to 30 bottles on a single charge and comes with a handy charging dock that features a foil cutter conveniently stored at the back. Its one-button operation makes it user-friendly, although you will need to ensure proper alignment on the bottle for optimal results—a step that may require some practice. Amazon Type: Lever corkscrew | Dimensions: 7.6 x 2.5 inches | Material: Zinc and plastic Advantages: Disadvantages: The OXO Vertical Lever Corkscrew stands out as an excellent choice for those seeking an easy cork removal experience. This opener features a generously sized lever with a comfortable grip—simply pull it up to effortlessly extract the cork. Its innovative design ensures improved leverage for a hassle-free bottle opening, and the non-stick corkscrew can be replaced if it ever sustains damage. This lever-action tool also comes with a foil cutter that conveniently stores at the top, providing easy access when needed. However, one downside is that this opener is bulkier than a traditional waiter’s corkscrew, which may pose some challenges for storage. Amazon Type: Wing corkscrew | Dimensions: 8 x 3.3 inches | Material: Zinc alloy and plastic Pros: Cons: Wing corkscrews are a timeless choice for wine openers, and this modern iteration from Rabbit is truly exceptional. It features the classic two-arm design that offers leverage as you raise the wings to extract the cork, enhanced with contemporary innovations like a non-stick worm for easier cork removal. Using it is a breeze—simply align its sides with the edges of the bottle. The large handle facilitates easy twisting of the corkscrew, and the entire opener is safe to clean in a dishwasher, ensuring that maintaining its cleanliness is hassle-free. Amazon Type: Cork puller | Dimensions: 5 x 3 inches | Material: Stainless steel Pros: Cons: Conventional corkscrews may not be suitable for older vintage bottles, as the corks from these bottles can be fragile and prone to breaking. Wine enthusiasts suggest using a specially designed wine opener for these circumstances. “When I deal with my oldest bottles and am unsure about the cork’s condition, I rely on my DeVine Ah-So cork remover,” explains Carney. “This tool features two tapered prongs that slide down the sides of the cork while gently rocking from left to right, avoiding any penetration of the cork.” This technique allows for the careful extraction of the cork in one piece. While the Ah-So opener does require some practice to master, improper usage could result in pushing the cork into the bottle. Thus, it’s most appropriate for those exceptional bottles. It includes a protective sheath for storage, and the handle also serves as a bottle opener, adding to its usefulness in your home bar. Amazon Type: Wine preservation system | Dimensions: 10.3 x 2.4 inches | Material: Plastic Advantages: Disadvantages: If you’re someone who enjoys a single glass of wine at a time, you might want to consider the Coravin Timeless Three+ Wine Preservation System. Rather than taking out the cork, this innovative system uses a hollow needle to puncture it, allowing you to pour a glass or two while substituting the empty space with pure argon gas. This technique helps to maintain the pressure inside the bottle, ensuring the wine remains fresh. Once the needle is withdrawn, the cork naturally reseals, making it easy to store the bottle again. The Coravin system can preserve wine for weeks or even months, making it ideal for those who prefer to gradually savor their wine. It also comes with a wine aerator spout, which eliminates the need for a separate decanter. However, you’ll eventually need to buy replacement argon capsules, which are priced at a little over $50 for a pack of six. The Forbes Vetted team takes a detailed approach to research and offers expert recommendations for the best products in your home bar. They have extensively covered wine accessories and other essentials for home bars, with articles focusing on wine decanters, wine glasses, and even gifts for wine lovers. In addition, to identify the best wine openers suitable for kitchens, home bars, and restaurants, we consulted with specialists and analyzed numerous top-selling products. When choosing a wine opener, there are several factors to keep in mind, such as the type of opener, any included accessories, and how you plan to store it. You can find a variety of wine openers on the market, ranging from manual options to electric versions. Among the manual choices, many wine experts favor a double-hinged corkscrew, like the Pulltap’s Waiter’s Corkscrew, which is often very affordable. “This type of opener is both simple and incredibly effective,” remarks Art DeCaro, a sommelier and director of training at Waters Edge Wineries. “The two-stage mechanism offers leverage at two different points, making it easier to extract longer corks while minimizing the chances of cork breakage or damaging the bottle’s rim.” These corkscrews can also be folded down for compact storage, making them convenient to keep in a pocket or drawer. If you find it difficult to extract wine corks, opting for a corkscrew that provides extra leverage may be beneficial. Lever or winged corkscrews are effective in this regard, although they tend to be bulkier and pricier. For a completely automated experience, consider products such as the Oster Cordless Electric Wine Opener. “These are perfect for individuals with limited hand strength or mobility challenges, as they require minimal physical effort,” explains DeCaro. “However, using an electric opener can take some control away from the user, and improper use or misalignment may cause cork damage, which can lead to cork bits entering the wine.” Many wine openers come equipped with various tools that enhance their functionality. For example, products like the TrueTap Double Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew feature a serrated foil cutter for removing the covering from wine bottles, along with a built-in bottle opener suitable for beer and other beverages. Some corkscrews have these tools integrated, while others may come with separate attachments. If you’re looking for a wine opener that has replaceable parts, you might be interested in the OXO Vertical Lever Corkscrew. This model features a replaceable corkscrew, allowing you to easily swap it out if the original becomes bent or damaged. For those short on space or seeking a highly portable option, a compact waiter’s corkscrew is ideal. These small gadgets fold up neatly, making them easy to store in a drawer or fit into your pocket. In contrast, other types of corkscrews, such as lever or winged variants, tend to be bulkier and are often known to get jammed in kitchen drawers. When considering electric wine openers, it’s important to allocate some space in your kitchen for the dock, which keeps the unit charged and prepared whenever you need it. The Pulltap Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew is frequently lauded by both professionals in the industry and casual wine drinkers for its straightforward, efficient, and cost-effective design. Available for only $10, this corkscrew delivers exceptional value with its compact and sturdy construction, making it an excellent option for both novices and experienced enthusiasts alike. About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored! Wine