We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

The 6 Best Corkscrews, According to Our Tests

We tested more than a dozen manual and electric wine openers to find these top-performing picks.

By
Melissa Vogt
Melissa Vogt
Melissa Vogt
Melissa has been writing in the food and wine industry for more than a decade. She contributes to local and national publications as a California Wine Appellation Specialist, with certification through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) at the Advanced Level 3.
Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on April 26, 2024
A person pouring wine into a glass with corkscrews laying on the table
Photo:

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Opening a bottle of wine can be a tricky task for those who don’t do it often or aren’t professionally trained. That’s why becoming a sommelier includes training on how to properly use a corkscrew in addition to how to properly store wine at home, select the right wine glasses, and more. Corkscrews may seem simple, but finding the right one and using it properly makes opening up a bottle of wine seamless — no broken cork, spilled wine, or sloppily cut foil when pouring.

Finding the best corkscrew sets the stage for peak enjoyment of your favorite wines. We tested 13 corkscrew models and connected with sommeliers to get the scoop on how to properly use our favorite picks. After you crack that bottle open, check out our lists of expert-approved wine fridges and wine racks for more tips on home wine storage.

Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Pulltap’s Professional Waiter’s Corkscrew at Amazon ($10)
Jump to Review
Best Value:
True corkscrew at Amazon ($8)
Jump to Review
Best Splurge:
Laguiole En Aubrac Sommelier Waiter's Corkscrew at Amazon ($180)
Jump to Review
Best Winged:
Rabbit Wing Corkscrew at Amazon ($15)
Jump to Review
Best Electric Wine Opener:
Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener at Amazon ($23)
Jump to Review
Best Lever-Style Wine Opener:
Rabbit Wine Corkscrew at Amazon ($33)
Jump to Review

Best Overall

Pulltap’s Professional Waiter’s Corkscrew

Pulltap’s Professional Waiter’s Corkscrew
PHOTO:

Amazon
$10 At Amazon
Pros

  • This Pulltap corkscrew has a serrated knife for cutting the foil and a tight and controlled hinge for easy opening.

Cons

  • No instructions were included in the package, so prior knowledge of opening a bottle of wine is needed — or a how-to video.

The Pulltap Professional Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew is classic and functional. During testing, we found that it was easy to use and felt very comfortable in the hand. This style is most often recommended and used by sommeliers and received the highest rating during our tests. It’s lightweight but sturdy and built well with a tight and controlled hinge that makes uncorking bottles a breeze.

Given its simplicity and affordability, you can’t go wrong with this pick. This necessary wine tool pairs well with one of our favorite wine stoppers once you’ve got the bottle open.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.5 x 0.9 inches | Weight: .04 pounds

Best Value

True corkscrew

True TrueTap Double Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew
PHOTO:

Amazon
$8 At Amazon
Pros

  • The True TruTap corkscrew is lightweight and comfortable, and it offers a seamless design that works every time.

Cons

  • The lightweight nature of this corkscrew may not be everyone’s aesthetic.

This is another double-hinged option that came in close second due to its classic look, accessibility, and great value for its excellent form and function. During our tests, we appreciated the chic, all-black look of this corkscrew — although, for those more color-inclined, this brand offers a rainbow of choices. It fits comfortably in the hand with its lightweight construction.

During testing, we noted that it only takes one turn around the bottleneck with the convenient serrated knife to cut the foil. Keep this handy the next time you’re cooking with wine and need to pop open a bottle quickly.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 4.75 x 1 x 0.5 inches | Weight: .14 pounds

Best Splurge

Laguiole En Aubrac Sommelier Waiter's Corkscrew

Laguiole En Aubrac Sommelier Waiter's Corkscrew
PHOTO:

Amazon
$180 At Amazon $270 At Williams-Sonoma $280 At iwawine.com
Pros

  • This is a beautiful corkscrew with an attractive wood finish that makes it more than adequate for gifting to wine connoisseurs.

Cons

  • We found that the hinges are a bit tight when opening and that the heaviness makes it more cumbersome to operate.

For those who have a fancy wine collection and like to show off when opening bottles, this classy corkscrew is a must-have. With its heavy, weighted design and beautiful wood finish, it’s aesthetically pleasing and feels nice in the hand. During testing, we found that the heavy, larger-scale style made it more challenging to use for those with smaller hands. With that said, the form and function are equally as good as the other options on this list — making this the right choice for those who are looking to splurge on something special.

It’s a beautiful tool to show off the next time you are cooking something like short ribs braised in red wine and wish to offer a knockout pairing with a touch of elegance upon opening.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 4.7 x 0.5 x 1.1 inches | Weight: 10.5 ounces

Best Winged

Rabbit Wing Corkscrew

Rabbit Wing Corkscrew
PHOTO:

Amazon
$15 At Amazon $23 At Walmart $17 At Ace Hardware
Pros

  • The winged style makes this corkscrew easy to use and offers smooth extraction of the cork.

Cons

  • This corkscrew does not have a foil cutter, so unless removing the foil with another tool before uncorking, this corkscrew leaves an unclean foil if the cork is pulled directly through the foil.

While the Rabbit Winged Corkscrew is a larger style than the waiter’s friend corkscrew, it offers similar ease of use. The screw is sharp and penetrates both natural and synthetic cork easily, and the winged arms make this style a favorite of many. During testing, we found that the hinge is very smooth when flexing the arms down during extraction. While the functionality is high, overall we noted that it's a bit bulky for small, crowded kitchen drawers or well-stocked home bar carts.

Material: Plastic and stainless steel | Dimensions: 8 x 3.3 x 1 inches | Weight: 12 ounces

Best Electric Wine Opener

Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener

Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener
PHOTO:

Amazon
$23 At Amazon $33 At Walmart
Pros

  • This electric corkscrew is easy to use and opens bottles very quickly.

Cons

  • This electric corkscrew needs to be plugged in for eight hours to fully charge.

Electric wine openers are the perfect tool for those who prefer high-tech kitchen gadgets and anyone with mobility or strength limitations. The Secure Stainless Steel Electra Wine Opener is made for these users with its uncomplicated electric function. During testing, we found that this was the easiest corkscrew to use, as long as you have the bottle placed on a level surface. This electric wine opener is effortless to hold and seamlessly extracts the cork with a push of a button.

It’s also a sure bet for opening older bottles of wine with stubborn corks. One thing to note: Because it comes with a charging base and cord and is much larger than a traditional waiter’s friend corkscrew, you will need a good place to store all the components.


Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 12 x 2.7 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 1.2 pounds

Best Lever-Style Wine Opener

Rabbit Wine Corkscrew

Rabbit Wine Corkscrew with Foil Cutter
PHOTO:

Amazon
$33 At Amazon $50 At Wayfair $25 At kohls.com
Pros

  • We love the ergonomic grip of this modern corkscrew and the minimal force required to uncork a bottle of wine.

Cons

  • This corkscrew is larger than others and does not come with a stand or bag to keep all the extra parts in one place.

This modern corkscrew functions with a one-two punch mechanism: Lock the opener onto the bottleneck and then pull the handle. Due to its non-traditional style, it might be confusing which way the levers are supposed to face upon first use — but once you figure it out, it’s very intuitive and easy to use. During our tests, we liked the sleek look, the comfortable silicone grip, and the bonus of the foil cutter for use before uncorking the bottle.

Because of its ergonomic grip and design that doesn’t require a ton of force to operate, it’s a logical option for anyone who has joint issues, arthritis, or generally struggles to open a bottle of wine.

Material: Metal and silicone | Dimensions: 7.25 x 2.03 x 5.75 inches | Weight: 1 pound

Our Favorite Corkscrew

The Pulltap’s Professional Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew offers fantastic value for the quality of craftsmanship, simplicity in function, and overall sturdy form. It’s practical for wine enthusiasts of all levels and will remain a dependable corkscrew in your wine-tool collection for years to come. Adding this corkscrew to your collection also comes with the added security of being favored and recommended by sommeliers and beverage directors around the country.

A person using the True TruTap Waiter's Corkscrew to open a wine bottle

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

How We Tested Corkscrews

During our extensive real-world tests, we evaluated the form, function, durability of components, and features of a total of 13 manual and electric corkscrews, including winged and lever-style models. Our testing process included opening bottles of wine by cutting the foil, uncorking, and removing the cork. Our selections are based on the following metrics: ease of use, comfort, performance, and value.

Additionally, we consulted with sommeliers and beverage directors to get recommendations for the best corkscrews, plus a few expert tips on how to properly open wine bottles.

A person using the Rabbit Wine Corkscrew to open a bottle of wine

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Factors to Consider

Type

Francis Kulaga, Certified Sommelier and General Manager & Beverage Director at Birch & Rye in San Francisco, says the most classic corkscrew options are the waiter’s friend style, an ‘ah-so’ two-prong corkscrew, and the Durand, which is a brand that has conveniently combined the two styles into one. Each of these three styles is manual but simple enough to use with some practice. For those looking for something more effortless, an electric corkscrew is a better choice — and for that, look to the Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener.

Material

Generally speaking, classic corkscrews are made of stainless steel. While some are made from plastic, those will break sooner than their stainless steel counterparts. Electric or fancier models are usually a combination of the two materials. We recommend stainless steel or a hybrid for longevity.

Price

Most corkscrews are very affordable, with higher price points for the electric options and some high-end classic styles that are heavier construction. For an everyday corkscrew, there’s no need to break the bank. But for those looking to gift a corkscrew, the Laguiole en Aubrac Waiter’s Corkscrew is a welcome choice because of its weight and elegant style.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you use a corkscrew?

    “Using a corkscrew varies on the type of corkscrew that you are using, but the general principle is simple. You drill a worm into the center of the cork and use a lever as a fulcrum to gain leverage to pull that cork out of the bottle,” Kulaga says.

  • What should you do if the cork breaks off on the corkscrew?

    Kulaga recommends trying to take out the broken half and reinserting the corkscrew “dead center” before gently pulling upwards with slow and steady pressure to extract the remainder of the cork.

  • What are the different types of corkscrews?

    “Corkscrews (and wine openers) come in many shapes and sizes,” says Kulaga. “The three most classic options are the classic wine key or waiter’s/butler’s friend, an ‘ah-so’ [pronged corkscrew], and recently the Durand, which combines elements of both the ‘ah-so’ and the wine key.”

  • What's the best style of corkscrew for beginners?

    Beginners should look into a good ‘two-step’ wine key, Kulaga says. “It is the easiest way to become confident with opening a good bottle of wine.”

  • Which corkscrew is easiest to use?

    “A classic, high-quality wine key is the easiest and best style of corkscrew to use.  From beginners to seasoned wine professionals everyone should have one in their pocket!” Kulaga says.

Other Corkscrews We Tested

Strong Contenders

Viski 24k Gold-Plated Signature Double-Hinged Corkscrew ($20 at Amazon)

Although Viski is a trusted name in glassware, the brand's gold-plated double-hinged corkscrew did not pass our tests. Aesthetically this was one of the more interesting wine openers we tested and we might recommend it as a gift, but there was a bit of inconsistency in its performance and we found it did not remove our corks cleanly and effortlessly.

OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew ($43 at Amazon)

Although this lever-style corkscrew worked well overall as a wine opener, we felt the foil cutter left much to be desired. It left sharp shards on our wine bottle necks, so we wouldn't recommend this one over other lever-style wine openers.

BarVivo Professional Corkscrew ($17 at Amazon)

While we loved the overall aesthetic of this professional corkscrew, in our tests we found the knife to be a bit awkward to use. Additionally, we had difficulty centering the corkscrew in the middle of our corks, which led to several broken corks and unopened bottles of wine.

Brabantia Classic Corkscrew ($29 at Amazon)

We had high hopes for the Brabantia Classic Corkscrew based on its enthusiastic reviews. Although it was easier to use than some other corkscrews we tested, it required significant effort and pressure to operate, which we found to be prohibitive for anyone with joint or mobility issues.

What Didn't Make the List

In our tests of 13 corkscrews, a few models were underwhelming in performance, while others had design flaws like faulty foil cutters, awkwardly placed knives, or other included accessories that ultimately weren't helpful. A few options that didn't make the cut were the KitchenAid Winged Corkscrew, the Trudeau Turbo Double Lever Corkscrew, and the OXO Steel Winged Corkscrew with Removable Foil Cutter.

Our Expertise

  • Years of tasting and writing about food, wine, and spirits guide Melissa Vogt's research. As a tourist, Vogt seeks out the very best in local food and drink, and she's well acquainted with where to find good libations and eats in her hometown of Santa Rosa, Calif. Read more of her writing on her website and in Napa Valley Life, Wine Country This Month, and Medium.
  • As part of her research, Melissa connected with sommeliers and beverage directors around the country. The expertise of Francis Kulaga, Certified Sommelier and General Manager & Beverage Director at Birch & Rye in San Francisco, helped inform her research.
Was this page helpful?