There are many types of wine opener, the most common and traditional style being the corkscrew. Typically, a corkscrew has a pointed metal worm (spiral or screw) with a transverse handle at one end. The most important part of the corkscrew is the worm itself, which should be rounded, thin, and tapered, with a needle-sharp point. The spiral-shaped worm is not itself centered but wrapped around an imaginary perpendicular line—it’s a helix. Fine wines generally have long corks so you want to choose an opener with a worm about 21⁄2 inches long, which will help ensure that the bottom of an older (possibly fragile) cork doesn’t break off. Choose a corkscrew that will give you some leverage to pull out the cork. More importantly, choose one that’s easy for you to use.

There are many varieties of corkscrews, some of which are quite elaborate. Following are the most common styles:

Waiter’s Corkscrew: Also called a waiter’s friend, this small, classic corkscrew contains a worm, a knife, and a lever that doubles as a bottle opener. All of these handy tools fold up like a pocket knife. To use this style of corkscrew, insert the worm slightly off center and screw it all the way into the cork. Prop the lever against the bottle rim and pull straight upwards, easing out the cork.

Winged Corkscrew: This style has a center worm, with a winglike lever on each side. To operate, simply place the mouth of the corkscrew over the bottle’s lip and turn the center handle until the worm is fully inserted into the cork. As the handle’s turned, the “wings” ratchet upwards. Pushing on the upraised wings removes the cork.

Ah-So: Also called a butler’s friend, this is a corkpuller, rather than a corkscrew. It’s comprised of two parallel flat metal prongs connected by a handle. The prongs are pushed down between the inside of the bottle neck and the sides of the cork; then the device is pulled and turned at the same time until the cork comes out.

Screwpull Invented by space and oil industry engineer Herbert Allen, the Screwpull corkscrew is nearly infallible, which is why it’s so frequently copied. Screwpulls, which have extremely long, Teflon-coated worms, come in two basic styles. The Screwpull Table Model is comprised of a worm surrounded by a plastic frame, which fits over the bottle’s neck. Continuous turning of the handle inserts the worm into the cork, then lifts the cork out. The Screwpull Lever Model is a more automated style. It’s comprised of a lever, gripper handles and a rack-and-pinion mechanism. You simply place the opener over the bottle, tighten the gripping handles with one hand, and use the other hand to work the lever, which inserts the worm and pulls out the cork. It’s effortless.













The New wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.  Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and  Sharon Tyler Herbst.  Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.