When I started writing this article, I had a small list of corkscrew types, but I had forgotten all the dark types, so the list grew a lot more. I decided to start with the three most popular ones like Waiter’s Corkscrew, Wing Corkscrew, and Lever-Type Wine Opener. I know everyone is familiar with these. The first thing is to remove the aluminum foil from the top of the bottle before using any corkscrew, it makes things easier and it looks so much better.
Tea waiter’s corkscrew it is the most popular and used in most restaurants. I have read some articles that say that the waiter’s corkscrew is difficult to use, but I do not agree. To use a bartender’s corkscrew, start with the tip of the screw in the center of the cork and simply turn the screw down into the cork until the last bend of the screw has penetrated the cork, place the notched lever on the edge of the cork. bottle and then lift the handle and remove the cork. Once you open a few bottles, it will be like riding a bike. They are very reliable and practically last forever. If you need more information on waiter’s corkscrew, check out my article “Waiter’s Corkscrew Styles – Which ones are right for you.”
Tea winged corkscrew It is also a popular type with this corkscrew, you need to align the screw with the center of the cork as you did with the bartender’s corkscrew and then turn the entire corkscrew (with the wings out) until the bottle is flush with the bottom of the corkscrew . Simply push both wings down and the cork will be removed.
Tea Lever wine opener (rabbit or thread puller) it is one of the easiest to operate. The first thing you do is lift the lever, place the opener on the bottle and squeeze the handles (ears), then push down the lever that inserts the screw into the cork, finally when you lift the lever upwards the cork will be easily removed. To remove the cork from the corkscrew, first lower the lever so that the cork returns to the lower position, then squeeze the handles and lift the lever and the cork will fall off. If this is your choice, buy a high-quality one, it will last longer and work better.
Twist Pull corkscrew it’s easy to use. Simply place the corkscrew over the mouth of the bottle and twist the handle. The screw will penetrate the cork and when it bottoms out, the cork will be pulled out while continuously turning the handle.
Tea T-handle corkscrew It is a simple design, dating back to the 1800s. The screw is twisted into the cork as described above, but once it is fully inserted, simply pull the T-handle to remove the cork, which is easier to what it sounds like. You will need some arm strength. This one is inexpensive but not very popular. Many wineries put their logo on it and give it away. It’s nice to carry it in a picnic basket in case you forget to bring your favorite, but it’s not something you would use regularly.
Two-point twist It does not have a screw, but rather tines of different lengths that slide between the cork and the bottle. You will need to move this tool while inserting it into the bottle. Once fully inserted, you need to pull the T-handle while turning the tool to remove the cork. It’s complicated, since I broke a bottle with one I have avoided them. They are inexpensive and are sometimes also used as a gift to wineries.
Multi-purpose corkscrew remove wine corks, champagne corks, bottle caps, screw caps. These look weird, but if you want one tool that does it all, this is the ticket. These openers use the same technique as the waiter’s corkscrew.
Air pump style corkscrew it has a needle that is inserted into the cork instead of a screw and it has a pump cylinder, which pushes the air through the needle into the bottle causing the cork to come out. I had one, it worked for a while but it wasn’t really reliable.
Cork pallets (Co2) it is a much improved version of the air pump and has received good feedback. This works with natural or synthetic corks. No manual pumping required with this Co2 cartridge and an attractive design, but you will need to order additional cartridges to keep on hand.
Electric corkscrew are becoming increasingly popular and come with a refill stand, but they don’t recommend using them with synthetic corks. Simply press a button to insert the screw and remove the cork, then press a button to eject it from the screw. It doesn’t get much simpler.
Uncorking machines (counter or wall mounted) are designed for high volume and really look good in a wine cellar. Expensive and perhaps over the top for the average wine drinker, but they work well. These are easy to use, but still require 2 hands, one to hold the bottle and the other to pull the lever, which removes the cork from the bottle and ejects the cork removed from the screw, all in one motion. For more information on uncorking machines, see my article “Uncorking Machines: Are They Worth It?”
Apart from the special corkscrews like the Piscis Multi-Lever (fish shaped) corkscrew, Winemaster or the Replica Antique Vintage style corkscrew that cover it.
As you can see, there is a lot to choose from, some even eject the cork after it has been removed, but others require you to manually remove the cork from the screw. I have several types of corkscrew, but most of the time I use a waiter’s corkscrew, but that’s just my preference.
