With the multitude of corkscrews available today, selecting the right one for your wine preferences can be a daunting task. Consider factors such as your frequency of wine consumption, whether you prefer younger or aged bottles, and any mobility challenges you may have. Professionals often favor the waiter’s friend, known in the industry as a wine key, especially those with a double hinge. Renowned wine entrepreneur Regine Rousseau insists on its indispensability in the trade.
The waiter’s friend is commonly seen in restaurants, hotel rooms, airport lounges, and even included in gift bags, making it versatile for any setting, including home use. However, for non-professional use, there are numerous other styles worth exploring, each offering unique advantages. Our comprehensive testing covered a range of corkscrews, from electric to traditional and two-pronged designs, ensuring there’s a suitable option that matches your lifestyle, preferences, and requirements.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Pulltap’s Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew
Carrie Wynkoop, founder of Oregon wine club Cellar 503, swears by the double-hinged waiter’s corkscrew: “As long as it’s a double-hinged waiter’s corkscrew, I’m happy.” She sources hers from TSA auctions, but you can enjoy the same reliability at home with Pulltap’s Double-Hinged Waiter Corkscrew. This Barcelona-based brand offers a robust option featuring a foldaway serrated blade for foil-cutting, a nickel-plated double-hinged lever, and a Teflon-coated worm that works seamlessly on natural and synthetic corks. Affordable and compact, it’s perfect for keeping close at hand.
Wine professionals and online reviewers alike praise its durability and ease of use, noting its ability to remove corks after just 3.5 turns while keeping them intact. It’s worth noting that this corkscrew doesn’t come with instructions, assuming familiarity with its operation.
Dimensions: 4.72 x 0.79 x 0.51 inches | Material: Metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual
Best Winged
Rabbit Wing Corkscrew
For those who prefer winged corkscrews, the Rabbit Wing Corkscrew stands out for its sleek design and functionality. Unlike typical winged corkscrews that can be flimsy, this model from Rabbit offers superior stability and ease of operation. Featuring a slip ring for alignment and an anti-rotation clamp, it ensures a smooth opening experience. Made from brass-finished stainless steel and matte black plastic, it’s backed by a 1-year warranty for peace of mind.
We found it straightforward to use, with the black plastic providing a secure grip during operation. Its hinge action is reliable, making it a standout among winged corkscrews.
Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 3 inches | Material: Metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual
Best Electric
Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener
Electric wine openers like the Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener offer convenience for those who find traditional methods challenging. This model features a sleek design with one-touch functionality and includes a foil cutter. It’s rechargeable and can open up to 30 bottles on a single charge, making it ideal for events. The built-in LED light ensures precise operation, though it requires firm pressure for optimal performance.
We were impressed by its speed and efficiency compared to manual corkscrews, although caution is needed to ensure proper contact with the cork.
Dimensions: 12 x 2.7 x 7.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Manual or Automatic: Automatic
Best Budget
True Truetap Waiter’s Corkscrew
The True Truetap Waiter’s Corkscrew offers a budget-friendly alternative without compromising on quality. With a double-hinged design, nonstick screw, and included serrated foil cutter, it provides reliable performance at an affordable price. Available in various colors, it’s a practical choice for both personal use and bulk purchases.
While not a luxury item, it excels in functionality, effortlessly handling natural and synthetic corks with consistent results.
Dimensions: 4.75 x 0.75 x 1 inches | Material: Plastic and metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual
Best Lever
OXO Vertical Corkscrew with Removable Foil Cutter
The OXO Vertical Corkscrew offers a sleek and sturdy design for effortless cork removal. Featuring a lever mechanism and a removable foil cutter, it accommodates both natural and synthetic corks with ease. Its die-cast zinc handle and nonstick worm ensure durability and smooth operation, though synthetic cork extraction may require more effort.
Ideal for those who prefer lever-style corkscrews, it combines functionality with an attractive design.
Dimensions: 2.5 x 7.6 x 7.2 inches | Material: Zinc, Stainless steel | Manual or Automatic: Manual
Best Design
RBT by Rabbit Vertical Lever Wine Opener
The RBT by Rabbit Vertical Lever Wine Opener blends modern aesthetics with functionality. Constructed from elegantly finished metal, it offers a seamless bottle-opening experience with a foil cutter included. Its ergonomic design and smooth operation make it a standout addition to any home bar.
While pricier, it delivers on both style and performance, ensuring a sophisticated opening ritual.
Dimensions: 8.39 x 8.27 x 2.68 inches | Material: Metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual
Best Splurge
Laguiole En Aubrac Solid Horn Waiters Corkscrew
For those seeking luxury, the Laguiole En Aubrac Solid Horn Waiters Corkscrew is a premium choice. Handcrafted in France with Sandvik stainless steel and solid Nigerian Zebu horn, it exudes elegance and durability. While its hefty price tag reflects its craftsmanship, it’s an ideal gift for wine enthusiasts or special occasions.
Despite its bulk, it offers a unique opening experience, making it worth the investment for connoisseurs.
Dimensions: 6.4 x 3 x 1.3 inches | Material: Horn, Stainless steel | Manual or Automatic: Manual
The Final Verdict
For the ultimate all-purpose corkscrew, we suggest Pulltap’s Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew. Renowned for its durability and reliability, this tool is favored by professionals across the board. If you’re seeking a more economical option, the True Truetap Waiter’s Corkscrew offers similar features to the Pulltap’s model—such as a foil cutter, double-hinged mechanism, and nonstick worm—but at a more affordable price.
How We Tested
We conducted a comprehensive review by sending 17 top-rated corkscrew models to our editors for testing in their own homes. Our evaluation focused on criteria such as aesthetics, comfort, ease of use, and overall value. Testers performed various assessments, including foil cutting and the extraction of both natural and synthetic corks. We analyzed each corkscrew based on cork extraction efficiency, potential for cork breakage, comfort during use, and overall value to determine our performance ratings.
What to Look for in a Corkscrew
Type
Preferences for corkscrews vary widely. Many beverage professionals swear by the traditional wine key or waiter’s corkscrew, considering it essential. However, if you prefer winged models or electric options, those can be equally effective. The key is choosing the tool that best suits your needs for opening wine bottles.
“I rely heavily on wine keys to open my bottles,” shares Adam Goddu, retail operations manager at Stone’s Throw Pizza in Vermont. “They’re simple and affordable, and I always carry one in my backpack, just in case.”
Material
Stainless steel is widely recommended for corkscrews due to its durability, resistance to rust, and attractive appearance. Some models also feature a silicone or rubber grip, which enhances handling, particularly useful when hands are moist. It’s important to store these corkscrews properly after use to prevent dust and debris accumulation. Regardless of the material, regular hand-washing, especially after gatherings, is advisable.
Price
Quality wine keys can be found for under $20, with winged corkscrews generally falling in a similar price range but occasionally reaching up to $30 or more. Electric models typically range from $20 to $75, though higher-end versions can exceed this range. However, affordable options can still provide reliable performance.
“There’s a misconception that expensive, high-tech corkscrews are always better and easier to use, but that hasn’t been my experience,” notes Goddu. “Choose what works best for you—I stick with my dependable wine key.”
FAQs
How do you operate a corkscrew?
The process varies depending on the type of corkscrew, but for a basic wine key (also known as a waiter’s corkscrew), here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Start by cutting the foil just below the bottle’s lip using the serrated blade. For informal settings, you can simply remove the foil, as it’s usually lightly attached with glue.
- Position the spiral metal part (often called the “worm”) at the center of the cork, then screw it in until it’s about 3/4 of the way into the cork.
- Fold down the lever and place the lower of the two hinged metal arms against the lip of the bottle. Use this leverage to lift the cork about halfway out of the bottle.
- Remove the lower arm from the bottle by folding back the handle. Next, pivot the metal arm back towards the bottle and position the shorter arm on the bottle’s lip. This will provide the necessary leverage to fully remove the cork from the bottle.
What should you do if the cork breaks off inside the corkscrew?
While it can be frustrating, the solution is straightforward. Unscrew the portion of the cork that’s stuck on the corkscrew and then reinsert the corkscrew into the remaining cork inside the bottle, following the same procedure as before.
