Little corkscrew customer
Wine opener: this is how you can elegantly get the cork out of the bottle
Wine openers belong in every household. Half a dozen models and ideas have prevailed over the years. From the classic waiter’s knife to the elegant screwpull variant.
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In principle, opening a bottle of wine is no art. But if the noble droplet is clogged with a cork, a kitchen gadget has to be used: the wine opener. What models are available and how they work – an overview.
According to a forecast by the market research institute Statista, an average of more than 20 liters of wine and sparkling wine will be consumed per capita in Germany in 2021. For everyone who doesn’t want to do the math at this point: that’s more than 28 bottles. And of course they want to be opened before Pinot Gris, Merlot and Co. pour into the glasses. This is an easy exercise with screw caps. They are now widespread because their bad reputation has long since faded away. Nevertheless, many winegrowers ‘and winegrowers’ cooperatives still rely on the traditional cork. And it is difficult to pull it out of the bottle neck without tools. If you disregard one or two pragmatic and rather down-to-earth solutions from your student days. Ultimately, you have to use a corkscrew to get the grape juice.
In the following article you will find out which wine openers are available, how they work and which small gadgets should be available for a successful wine evening.
Wine opener: electric or muscle power?
Basically, wine openers can be divided into manual and electric models. The latter, however, tend to be one of those kitchen appliances that are often given away, but are rarely bought by the customer. One can excellently discuss the sense and nonsense of electric wine openers. Presumably, most wine drinkers generally dare to open a corked bottle with muscle power. There are five options for this, which are presented at this point.
1. T-corkscrew
The simplest, but also the least convenient, way to open a wine bottle. Of the T-corkscrew is said to have been the first choice for uncorking small and large bottles as early as the 17th century. It consists of a short coil with a cross handle attached to the upper end. Usually sturdy wood, bone, horn or sterling silver is used for this. All materials that withstand the mechanical forces that act when uncorking. Pocket knives, where the handle scales take on this function, are an exception. The principle of uncorking is as simple as the structure. First, the coil is turned as centrally as possible into the cork. Then clamp the T-piece between your index and middle finger and pull firmly, but not jerkily. With younger wines, the corks usually only defend themselves briefly and can then be pulled out of the bottle without resistance. If, on the other hand, the wine has been standing or lying on the shelf a little longer, corks are stubborn every now and then. Here it is important to screw the coil as far as possible into the (perhaps already somewhat porous) cork. This reduces the risk of the cork breaking or crumbling. There’s a classic one here T-corkscrew from Stelton.
2. Waiter’s or sommelier’s knife
The classic among the wine openers. Incidentally, it was invented by a German. At the end of the 19th century Carl Weinke from Rostock had his brilliant idea patented. Hardly any bar or restaurant now comes without it Waiter’s knife the end. And that’s exactly why the good piece got its name. At first glance, the classic model looks like a pocket knife, but only consists of three parts. Namely…
- a blade for cutting off the capsule, the so-called foil cutter,
- the spindle for screwing into the cork
- and the stop that is placed on the neck of the bottle.
The principle is now similar to that of the T-corkscrew. The spindle is slightly inclined, but screwed in the center and as far as it will go into the cork. Instead of pulling directly, the stop must be folded out and placed on the neck of the bottle. The rest is mundane physics. The lever effect of the stop is used via the handle to pull the cork out of the bottle. The foil cutter is not used in the somewhat simpler models. But with a little skill (and caution) the capsule can also be removed with the tip of the spindle. What beer drinkers are happy about: With some waiter’s knives, the stop can also be used as a bottle opener for normal crown corks. A cheap one Model of Butlers (including bottle opener) is available here.
3. Wing corkscrew
Next to the waiter’s knives are Wing corkscrew Probably most widespread in private households. Here, too, the lever principle is used when uncorking the bottle. It is important that the so-called bell is placed on the edge of the bottle after the capsule has been removed. Only then does the spindle penetrate the center of the cork. The spindle is screwed in using a handle that can usually also be used as a bottle opener. When screwing in, the two wings are pushed upwards. Important: Do not block or hold them with your hands. To pry out the cork, press the wings down again. Here, too, care should be taken to ensure that the spindle is turned into the cork as far as it will go. A classic one Wing corkscrew from GEFU can be found here.
4. Lever corkscrew
Natural and synthetic corks slide even more elegantly from the bottle, if a so-called one Lever corkscrew is put on. Here too – as the name suggests – the lever principle is used. The kitchen helper itself consists of a kind of tong device that surrounds the spindle, as well as a lever that has two tasks at the same time with this type of wine opener. With the first lever he turns the spindle into the cork, on the way back he pulls the cap out of the bottle neck, which is fixed by the clamping device. A very simple and, in addition to the electric version, also the most energy-saving principle of wine opening. A reduced one Model by BarCraft can be found here.
5. Screwpull corkscrew
The children’s game among the wine openers. It couldn’t be easier. The screwpull principle is the only variant with which corks can be pushed out of a bottle without having to pull or pry. The idea of the Screwpull wine opener comes from the American Herbert Allen, who developed this type of wine opener in the 1970s. Instead of the lever, Allen used the torque as a key to uncork. The simple principle: You put the wine opener on the neck of the bottle and turn the thin and slightly elastic long spindle into the cork. Until she pulls the stopper up and out of the bottle. The effort required is minimal. Screwpull wine openers are usually made of easy-care plastic. In some models, the manufacturers have integrated the capsule remover. So also with this one Model by Victorinox.
Wine evening: the three most important tools
After opening is known to be before drinking. If you want to present the wine to your guests in style, it is best to fill it with one Decanter around. Otherwise flexible ones help Pourer made of PET filmthat roll up and put in the neck of the bottle to pour the wine without accidents. White wines feel most comfortable after opening them in the refrigerator or a wine cooler. Here is a WMF model with 33% discount available. For the benefit!
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