After Opening 35 Bottles of Wine, These Are the 7 Best Corkscrews (2024)

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"As long as it's a double-hinged waiter’s corkscrew, I'm happy,” says Carrie Wynkoop, the founder of Oregon wine club Cellar 503. While Wynkoop buys her corkscrew of choice in bulk at auction from the TSA, you can now pop open some of your own bottles at home with Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiter Corkscrew. This Barcelona-based brand's corkscrew is our top choice, since it's an ever-sturdy and reliable option featuring a foldaway serrated blade for foil-cutting, a nickel-plated double-hinged lever, and a Teflon-coated worm (the screw part) that works perfectly on both natural and synthetic corks. It's also affordable and small—perfect since wine openers can often be misplaced and need a replacement!

Many wine pros and online reviewers swear by this durable, classic option. We appreciated that the bottle opened after just 3.5 full turns, and the fact that the cork stayed in good shape after extraction. We noted, though, that no instructions were included in the package, so prior knowledge of opening a bottle of wine with a double-hinged waiter's corkscrew would be helpful here.

Dimensions: 4.72 x 0.79 x 0.51 inches | Material: Metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual

Winged corkscrews can sometimes be a bit flimsy since their arms can go rogue whenever handled (there’s a reason they’re referred to as "cheerleaders"), but Rabbit is known to offer some seriously sturdy tools that just so happen to be even more functional and aesthetically pleasing than its standard counterparts. With supreme leverage for easy bottle-opening, the Rabbit winged corkscrew could not be more simple to operate, largely thanks to its slip ring at the base—this helps to ensure perfect alignment with the cork—and anti-rotation clamp feature, the answer to a common problem with everyday winged corkscrews. This corkscrew is made up of brass-finished stainless steel and matte black plastic parts, and it comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.

We found this winged corkscrew very easy to manage, and appreciated that the black plastic part acts as a gripper to help keep the corkscrew stable during entry. In addition, we found the action of the hinge to be smooth and reliable—not flimsy or variable at all. In a world of questionable winged corkscrews, we found this to be one of the winners.

Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 3 inches | Material: Metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual

While electric wine openers aren’t necessarily a go-to for serious oenophiles, they do have their moments, especially for those who might otherwise struggle to remove a cork. Electric wine openers are also perfect for anyone who just isn’t comfortable with a wine key, lever system, winged corkscrew, or other manual tool. Plus, they're fast, easy, rechargeable (if not battery-powered), and often come with a display base and an accessory or two.

Such is the case with the top-rated Secura electric wine opener, a stainless-steel device that comes with a charging base and a great foil cutter, which is always great to have on hand no matter what kind of corkscrew you’re using. This model can remove up to 30 corks on one full charge (perfect for events), and the built-in LED light helps immensely with visibility—though the device is designed to guide the worm in nice and straight without extra effort on the user’s part.

We were impressed with how quickly and cleanly the cork comes out with this tool, especially compared with a traditional corkscrew. We observed, however, that you have to make sure to press down firmly on the opener—otherwise it will just rotate but fail to make contact with the cork.

Dimensions: 12 x 2.7 x 7.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Manual or Automatic: Automatic

Though Pulltap’s standard waiter’s friend is relatively affordable, there is a less expensive equivalent for those who love a bargain. Enter the True Truetap Waiter's Corkscrew. You’ll get all the same bells and whistles that the Pulltap offers—serrated foil cutter, compact size, double-hinged design, nonstick worm, and thoughtful design—at a significantly lower price point. This is a great option if you’re buying in bulk for an event or gifting endeavor, or simply stocking up on wine keys (the more, the merrier).

We appreciate the simplicity and straightforwardness of this classic corkscrew: while it's not a prestige piece, it works consistently, and we had no difficulty opening bottles sealed with either natural or synthetic cork. This model also comes in various colors, which adds to its value and versatility. Despite the bargain price, the Truetap offers everything you need out of a corkscrew.

Dimensions: 4.75 x 0.75 x 1 inches | Material: Plastic and metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual

Lever-style corkscrews are another smart alternative to traditional wine keys for wine drinkers who just prefer an easier means of opening a bottle of wine. This type of tool is generally made up of two long clamps that secure around the base of a bottle’s mouth, with the corkscrew attached to a single lever that drives the screw downward into the cork at the ideal angle.

Oxo’s steel vertical lever corkscrew, which comes with a nifty foil cutter, is made up of a die-cast zinc handle and nonstick worm (plus a replacement screw), meaning it works well with natural and synthetic corks alike. It’s also incredibly easy to use, requiring minimal physical effort to remove any cork. Plus, it’s easy on the eyes, thanks to its sleek, smart design.

The Oxo wasn't a difficult device to use, and worked exactly as the instructions detailed. The foil cutter was a bit flimsy, and we lamented that extracting synthetic corks wasn't as seamless as regular corks. Overall, though, we thought the Oxo lever corkscrew would make a great gift for someone who's into gadgets, or a caterer who needs to open multiple bottles of wine at a time.

Dimensions: 2.5 x 7.6 x 7.2 inches | Material: Zinc, Stainless steel | Manual or Automatic: Manual

If the look of your wine opener sitting on your home bar is just as important to you as its functionality, the RBT Lever Corkscrew from Rabbit might just be the sleek, eye-catching unit you've been dreaming of. Simultaneously modern and timeless, this corkscrew equally connotes a brand new luxury car and a gilded lobby bar in a century-old hotel.

Constructed of elegantly-finished metal, and possessing a nice weight to it in the hand, the RBT Lever Corkscrew makes the experience of opening a bottle of wine as sensorially satisfying as it is straightforward. Simply place the unit over the mouth of the bottle and secure the clamps with one hand while rotating the lever with the other. When we tested the RBT, the extraction was quick and smooth, and we had no trouble getting the unit to release the cork afterward.

With its included foil cutter (finished in black and gold, of course), the RBT Lever Corkscrew is a statement piece that delivers seamless performance and looks classy while doing it.

Dimensions: 8.39 x 8.27 x 2.68 inches | Material: Metal | Manual or Automatic: Manual

Some occasions, such as impressing guests or gifting the wine expert in your life, call for an extremely fancy wine key—and nothing really fits the bill quite like the Laguiole en Aubrac Solid Horn Waiters Corkscrew. This is a tried-and-true brand known for its heirloom-quality products, and this particular corkscrew is the product of great craftsmanship and top-of-the-line materials (e.g. Sandvik stainless steel combined with solid Nigerian Zebu horn). If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re cutting through a stick of butter when opening a bottle of wine, this is the ticket. The ebony storage and gift box is a nice touch, too.

We really appreciated the aesthetics of the Laguiole en Aubrac, and the way that it felt solid and substantial in the hand, but we did note that the hinges are a bit tight. We also felt that the bulk makes it slightly hard to maneuver, especially for someone with smaller hands. That said, we agree that a pricey bottle of wine deserves special attention, and this glamorous corkscrew certainly feels special.

Dimensions: 6.4 x 3 x 1.3 inches | Material: Horn, Stainless steel | Manual or Automatic: Manual

The Final Verdict

If you’re looking for the best all-around corkscrew, we recommend Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew. It’s a durable, high-quality bottle opener that professionals swear by. If you prefer something more budget-friendly, consider the True Truetap Waiter’s Corkscrew. It has all the features of Pulltap's opener—foil cutter, double-hinged design, a nonstick worm—with an even friendlier price point.

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