Shop Wine Openers on Amazon Reviews of the Best Wine Openers

Corkscrews have a long and fascinating history. The traditional twist corkscrew was the original design and is still popular to this day. It was first developed by Reverend Samuel Henshall in 1975. Since then, many designs and new types of wine openers have been developed.

Many are highly effective while some are better known for their novelty value and are not entirely practical.

The twist corkscrew

The twist corkscrew is the most basic design but it works. It simply twists or screws into the cork and is then manually pulled to release the cork from the bottle. They come in all shapes and designs but the mechanism and action is the same. It does require some effort and stubborn corks will require a bit of strength to pull.

Waiter’s Corkscrews or waiter’s friend

Also sometimes known as the Sommelier knife, this is the corkscrew of choice for many connoisseurs and those in the restaurant and wine business. It was invented in 1882 by Karl Wienke from Germany.

It has an arm that fits on the mouth of the bottle giving the user leverage. This allows one to open the bottle gracefully with minimal effort. Of all the various designs, the waiter’s friend is generally considered to be the most practical. It does take some time to get used to but once you have mastered it, it is a pleasure to use.

It also includes a short foldaway knife to neatly cut the foil before removing the cork. Many also feature a built-inbottle opener.

DeVine Accessories Premium Waiter’s Corkscrew  

You can’t go wrong with the compact and stylish waiter’s friend by DeVine Accessories. It has a foil cutter, a metallic handle and double hinged lever. Removing even the most stubborn cork is a breeze with this stylish device.

It is well designed and not only looks great but is comfortable to use. It is a popular top selling product. It is made from 100% chrome so it will keep looking good and working hard for decades. If you wanted to give this item as a gift, it comes in an elegant gift box.

Winged Corkscrews

Another popular design that is also extremely practical is the winged corkscrew, sometimes known as the butterfly corkscrew. While they work well, you want to ensure you get one that is robust and made from quality materials. Less expensive models tend to disappoint.

The screw twists into the cork and one simply has to push the two levers down to lift the cork up and down. When done correctly it requires very little effort. Many home users are not comfortable with the waiter’s friend so this is a great alternative. This is the perfect choice for beginners or anyone wanting a simple but effective corkscrew.

Fantes Wing Corkscrew 

This Italian made corkscrew has been around since 1906 and is a very popular choice at an extremely reasonable price. It is a compact device in a chrome finish and features a strong nickel-plated worm (the screw part). It is a durable design that is easy to clean and it looks great. It also has a built-in bottle opener.

Air Pressure Wine Openers

Moving ontoto a more hi-tech option, the air pressure wine openers works by pushing a hollow needle through the cork and releasing a small amount of CO2 from a cartridge. The pressure from the air pushes the cork up and out. This takes almost no effort at all and the actions isfast and effective. It is particularly popular with older people that might have arthritis or just a general weakness of the hands.

The only minor downside is that the Co2 will only be good for about 80 to 100 uses.

Another popular variation of this idea is the air pressure pump opener. It works on the same principle but in this instance,you pump the opener a few times to force air into the bottle to push the cork out. These do require a bit more effort but they are still easy to operate. They are also a lot less expensive.

Kato Wine Air Pressure Pump Opener Set 

This opener comes as complete sent and makes a great gift. It has a separate foil cutter and a fast and easy to use pump action air pressure wine opener all presented in a smart gift box.

The opener is effective on even the most stubborn corks and ideal for broken or crumbling corks. It is easy to remove the cork with minimal effort and no mess. It is well built with aluminium alloy and a stainless steel with a Teflon coated needle.

Twin-prong cork puller or Ah So Openers

These are less common but perfect for damaged corks or instances where you wish to replace the cork without causing it any damage. The two prongs fit in between the neck of the bottle and the cork and you simply twist to open. This will remove the cork unharmed. If you have vintage wine this device is a must. It requires a bit of finesse to operate but you will soon get the hang of it. For fragile or damaged corks, a twin-prong cork puller is the wayto go.

Franmara Ahh Super! Two-Prong Cork Extractor 

This basic yet effective brass plated cork extractor is perfect for your vintage wines or tricky corks. It works well and comes with a protective sheath.

Final thoughts

There are a number of options available and you need to decide on the best option for your needs. Given the reasonable price of these handy tools, it might be an idea to get a few different styles to use according to your requirements.

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