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Wine 101 – Types of Corkscrews/ wine openers

Confused about all the different types of wine openers/ corkscrews? Here is an easy guide to five major types of wine openers.

 

1. Waiter’s corkscrew (aka sommelier corkscrew or compact corkscrew)

This type of wine opener includes a small knife that is used to remove bottle foil. The screw is driven into the cork and a hinged lever is braced against the lip of the bottle to make pulling the cork easier.

Advantage: As its name suggests, it is slim enough to be carried around by a waiter in a pocket and looks professional. The knife portion can be folded and tucked safely away. In addition, the leverage created by the hinged lever makes pulling out the cork much easier.

Disadvantage: This type of corkscrew might be slightly more difficult to operate than other types, and sometimes the worm of a cheap waiter’s corkscrew will break if it is not applied at the proper angle.

 

 

 

2. Lever style corkscrew

 

A clamp holds the top of the bottle in place and the worm is lowered into the cork.

Advantage: Easy to use. You just need to clamp it, push down and pull up – you do not need much strength to use this type of corkscrew.

Disadvantage: May be more expensive than other types of corkscrews and are also larger.

 

 

3. Twisting Pull corkscrew (aka continuous-turn corkscrew)

This type of corkscrew has a large turning handle on top. The head fits on top of the wine bottle and the worm is lowered into the cork. When it is lowered completely, just continue to turn the handle in the same direction, and magically the cork will be pulled out.

Advantage: Easy to use. Relatively inexpensive.

Disadvantage: Bigger than other types of corkscrews (but smaller than a lever-style corkscrew)

 

 

4. Winged corkscrews (aka butterfly corkscrew)

The screw is driven into the cork while the “wings” lift higher and higher. Then, you push down the wings to pull the cork out of the bottle.

Advantage: Reliable and easy to use.

Disadvantage: The screw may not be long enough/too long for the cork. In the former case, it may be hard to pull out the cork; in the latter, cork crumbles may get into the wine.

 

 

 

5. Two-pronged corkscrew (aka double-prong corkscrew or the butler’s friend)

This is an old type of corkscrew. It does not have an actual screw and has two prongs instead. These are pushed into opposite sides of the cork in the bottle. With a twist, you pull up the screw.

Advantage: Slim and works well for wine with deteriorated cork.

Disadvantage: Difficult to use.

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Opening wine without a cork screw