To choose a corkscrew, start with how you will use it. For everyday bottles, a double-lever waiter's corkscrew does the job for a few dollars. For effortless opening, a lever or electric wine opener. For an old wine with a fragile cork, a two-prong cork puller. To pour a glass without uncorking the bottle, a Coravin.
What are the main types of corkscrew?
There are six main families: the waiter's corkscrew, also called a sommelier knife, the lever corkscrew, the rack-and-pinion corkscrew, the electric wine opener, the two-prong cork puller and the Coravin. They differ in how much effort they take, how much space they need and which corks they handle best.
| Type | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double-lever waiter's corkscrew | Everyone, at home or in a restaurant | Compact, affordable, built-in foil cutter | Takes a little practice at first |
| Lever corkscrew (rabbit style) | People who open bottles often | One back-and-forth motion, almost no effort | Bulky |
| Rack-and-pinion corkscrew | Lovers of fine mechanical objects | Smooth, steady extraction | Slower and larger |
| Electric | Entertaining, weaker hands | One button, one hand | Battery needs charging |
| Two-prong cork puller | Old vintages, dry or damaged corks | Removes the cork without piercing it | Takes some practice, not ideal for synthetic corks |
| Coravin | Anyone who wants a glass without finishing the bottle | Pours the wine and protects the rest with argon | Higher price, argon capsules to replace |
Why is the double-lever waiter's corkscrew so popular?
A waiter's corkscrew puts a worm, a lever and a foil-cutting blade on a single handle. Its double lever lifts the cork in two stages, without bending or breaking it. It is the sommelier corkscrew you see in most restaurants: compact, reliable and inexpensive. It also fits in a drawer or a picnic basket.
- PulltexVin & Passion Pulltap's lever corkscrew $11.99The classic double lever, for the kitchen drawer or the cottage.
- PulltexPulltap's Evolution $42.99The model most used by restaurant professionals, in several colours.
How do you use a waiter's corkscrew?
Cut the foil below the lip of the bottle, set the tip of the worm in the centre of the cork and turn until only one coil is left showing. Then rest the first notch of the lever on the lip to lift the cork halfway, and finish with the second notch: the cork comes out straight.
- Cut the foil. Open the blade, run it around the neck just below the lip and lift off the top of the foil.
- Position the worm. Set the tip in the centre of the cork at a slight angle, then straighten it.
- Turn. Turn the corkscrew, not the bottle, until about one coil is left showing. Do not go through the cork, or crumbs will fall into the wine.
- First notch. Rest the first notch on the lip of the bottle and lift the handle: the cork rises halfway.
- Second notch. Move to the second notch and lift again.
- Finish by hand. Ease out the last of the cork with a gentle rocking motion, then wipe the neck.
Which wine opener takes the least effort?
If a waiter's corkscrew feels awkward, choose a wine opener that does the work for you. A lever corkscrew pulls the cork with one back-and-forth motion, a rack-and-pinion model draws it out smoothly, and an electric wine opener handles everything at the push of a button. All of them need far less hand strength.
- Atelier du vinL'Atelier du Vin Oeno Motion, silver and wood $239.99A vertical lever corkscrew with a jaw that grips the neck and a built-in foil cutter.
- Final TouchFinal Touch Smooth Move corkscrew $29.99Set it on the neck and turn the handles. Its spring mechanism reduces the effort.
- PulltexBruccart rack-and-pinion corkscrew $149.99A graduated scale keeps you from piercing the cork, then the rack lifts it out with no effort.
- Final TouchFinal Touch rechargeable electric corkscrew $49.99One-handed, about 40 bottles per charge, USB-C charging.
Is there a left-handed corkscrew?
Yes. The blade and lever on a standard waiter's corkscrew are designed for the right hand. Pulltex makes a left-handed corkscrew in black, at $22.99: a lever waiter's corkscrew built for the left hand. Vertical lever and electric models work for either hand.
Which corkscrew is best for an old wine?
For a dry, crumbly or damaged cork, use a two-prong cork puller, also called an ah-so. Its two thin blades slide between the cork and the neck so the cork comes out whole, without being pierced. It often saves an old vintage whose cork would break under an ordinary worm.
- Atelier du vinL'Atelier du Vin Bilame Silver Signature $139.99Made in France, with a genuine leather sheath and presentation box.
The Durand is designed for natural corks in bottles with an inner neck opening of about 19 mm (3/4 in). It is not recommended for synthetic corks.
How do you pour a glass without opening the bottle?
With a Coravin. The Timeless system passes a thin needle through the natural cork, pours the wine and replaces what you poured with argon. Once the needle is removed, the cork reseals and the rest of the bottle keeps for weeks, months or even years.
- CoravinCoravin Pivot+ $279.00You replace the original cork with a Pivot stopper, and the wine keeps for up to four weeks.
Needles, capsules and stoppers are on the Coravin page.
What makes a good corkscrew?
Three details make the difference: a well-shaped worm that grips the cork without tearing it, a lever that sits firmly on the lip of the bottle, and a blade that cuts the foil cleanly. The handle, the finish and the case come down to personal taste.
- The worm. An open spiral with a sharp tip goes into the cork without crumbling it. A solid screw acts like a drill bit and weakens the cork.
- The double lever. Two resting points keep the worm straight and split the effort.
- The foil cutter. It should cut cleanly below the lip, so the wine does not touch the foil as you pour.
Which corkscrew makes a good gift?
Choose a corkscrew that lasts and looks good on the table. A Laguiole sommelier knife, like those Fontenille Pataud makes by hand in Thiers, has a handle of wood, horn or bone, and models that come with a case or gift box present well even without wrapping. Any of them suits a wine lover who already owns the basics.
- Fontenille PataudFontenille Pataud Laguiole Magnum sommelier knife in raw buffalo horn $359.99Handmade in Thiers, with a leather case and gift box. Every handle is unique. The full selection is on the Laguiole page.
- The Bruccart in its gift box, or a Coravin for the wine lover who has everything.
Prefer to try a corkscrew before you buy? Our advisors welcome you in Laval (Centropolis) and Brossard (Quartier DIX30), where in-store pickup is free. Online, delivery is free on orders of $99 or more in eligible areas (see our shipping terms). Browse all our corkscrews.
Frequently asked questions
How do you open a wine bottle without an opener?
Drive a wood screw into the centre of the cork, leaving about a centimetre sticking out, then pull it with pliers or the claw of a hammer. Failing that, push the cork into the bottle with the handle of a wooden spoon and pour the wine into a decanter. Avoid tricks that involve striking the bottle: the glass can break.
What should you do if the cork breaks?
Turn the worm back into the piece left in the neck at an angle, then pull slowly with the lever. A two-prong cork puller, which grips the cork from the sides, works even better. If bits of cork fall into the wine, pour it into a decanter through a fine strainer.
What is a waiter's corkscrew?
It is the sommelier's corkscrew, also called a wine key or sommelier knife: a single tool that combines a worm, a foil-cutting blade and a lever.
Does an electric wine opener work on every cork?
The Final Touch electric corkscrew removes both natural and synthetic corks. For an old, fragile cork, a two-prong cork puller is still the safer choice, because it removes the cork without piercing it.
Does the Coravin work with screw caps?
Yes. The Timeless Three+ includes two Coravin screw caps for screw-cap bottles. The Pivot+ works with every type of closure, since you replace the original closure with a Pivot stopper.
