Consider the corkscrew. There may not be a device in the world that better exemplifies the moment of need, the kind of thing we almost forget about until the exact moment we need it. If you have a trusty corkscrew, the world is your wine oyster, but if you don’t have a corkscrew at the critical moment, you’re in trouble.
Few things in life have a wider range of tastes and expenses than wine, which is at once an everyday drink for the masses and a plaything for the rich, the kind of hobby where one might spend $20 or $20,000 on a 750ml bottle. The same goes for the corkscrew, which ranges in price and functionality from the humblest plastic pocket tool to the grandest sommelier status symbol made of titanium alloy. There are electric corkscrews the size of a personal massager, large winged corkscrews that look more like something you’d find at the dentist, no-name imports that do a surprisingly good job, and brand-name favorites that surprisingly disappoint. Every bottle of wine sets you in the mood, but no two bottles of wine are alike, even from the same producer in the same year; at the same time, every corkscrew opens a bottle of wine, but no two corkscrews are exactly alike, even if they use the same general style and approach. The two entities are eternally linked, like that couple you know who seem undeniably made for each other: the cork needs the screw and vice versa. I find there to be something poetic about all this.
Check out our other drink-related guides, such as the best tableware and the best non-alcoholic wines.
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What type of corkscrew should you buy?
Honestly, this depends largely on what kind of wine you like to drink. For casual wine drinkers, it makes sense to spend as little as possible and aim for a basic level of functionality. The most basic and traditional style of corkscrew is known as the “waiter style” and has been used for the last hundred years or more by hospitality workers around the world. All of these corkscrews have the same basic parts: a hinge at the top; a worm or spiral that pierces the cork; and a blade that allows the foil to be cut off the top of the bottle. Open one bottle with this style of screw and you can open a thousand.
From there, things get more esoteric. Winged corkscrews use a base and lever system, but are considerably larger than waiter’s corkscrews and are better suited for home use. A wide range of electric corkscrews leverage technology to do the work of removing the cork for you, typically requiring a battery and sometimes even a bulky countertop charging station. Less well-known is the infinity corkscrew, which uses a simple twist of the wrist to remove the cork. There are also highly specialized corkscrews such as the Durandwhich is a revelation in the complicated art of removing corks from vintage wine, as well as designer and conceptual corkscrews costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
