HOW TO PICK the Perfect Corkscrew

How to remove a damaged cork

Picture the scene. You are about to enjoy a special bottle you’ve been cellaring for years.

You twist in the corkscrew and gently pull on the handle – only to extract a few crumbly bits of cork. Worse still, there’s now a big hole in the cork – what do you do now?

The best solution is to use a two pronged or ‘ah so’ corkscrew. Slip the prongs down the sides of the cork and twist and pull – problem solved.

If you don't have an ah so corkscrew, there are a few alternative methods you can try.

Sliding a normal corkscrew into the side or the cork will often do the trick. As a last resort, push the cork down into the bottle with the handle of a wooden spoon. Remove any lose bits of cork to minimise crumbs in your wine.

Corks vs screw caps – Which is best?

I put this question to Greg Roberts, our in-house product specialist and wine educator. His response? “I honestly don’t care whether my wine is sealed with a screw cap or a cork – it’s what’s in the glass that counts”. 

But of course, Greg doesn’t speak for everyone – so let’s take a look at each in turn.

A natural cork allows a tiny bit of oxygen exposure, which can help the wine to soften and develop complex secondary flavours over time.

There’s also something uniquely satisfying about uncorking a bottle – although can require a little more effort to open.

Screw caps used to be associated with cheaper, mass-produced wines. But top New Zealand Sauvignon producers saw screw caps as a way to reduce the risk of cork taint, while reliably sealing in those famously exuberant aromas. They’re also easier to open and reseal without needing a corkscrew.

The Verdict: When it comes to quality – there’s little to choose between the two.

Personally, for white wines, especially aromatic styles like Sauvignon Blanc, I’m all for screw caps. I like the convenience of grabbing the bottle from the fridge door and just twisting off the cap before pouring. And of course, it’s just as easy to reseal it and pop it back into the fridge to keep it fresh.

For red wines – especially more traditional wines like Rioja or Bordeaux – I like a cork. There’s something about the ritual of pulling a cork that adds to the overall enjoyment of the wine.

Plus of course, corks are a more environmentally friendly option.