You’re ready to enjoy a glass of your favourite wine, bottle at the ready. Only one thing stands between you and that first delicious sip. The cork.
Best scenario, you have a corkscrew to hand; you deftly pull the cork from the bottle and you’re good to go. We’ll show you how to pick the perfect corkscrew below. But what do you do if the cork has crumbled, and the corkscrew won’t bite? Worse still, what do you do if you have no corkscrew at all? Rest easy – we have all the answers for you.
How to pick the perfect corkscrew
There are many types of corkscrew, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. But whatever style you plump for, make sure your corkscrew has a hollow spiral – like a spring. Some have a tapered central core, and these are liable to just make a hole in the cork instead of pulling it out it – leaving you in a worse situation than when you started.
Our top five favourite corkscrews
Number 5 – the wing corkscrew
You’ll be familiar with this style of corkscrew – a staple of UK kitchen drawers since at least the 1970s. They’re easy to operate and there’s something satisfying about the way the cork slowly rises up as you push the levers down. But they can be a bit of a faff.
Pros: fairly easy to use.
Cons: they often have a central core that destroys the cork – avoid these at all costs.
Number 4 – the two-pronged or ‘ah-so’ corkscrew
This unusual corkscrew looks like a twist-and-pull (see below) except it has two long flat blades, one slightly longer than the other. Remove the foil, push the blades down the sides of the bottle with a back-and-forth action, and once it’s in, twist and pull to remove.
Pros: a great option for old or crumbly corks.
Cons: takes time and can be fiddly to use.
Number 3 – the lever action corkscrew
The cleverly designed lever action corkscrew makes it really easy to extract a cork from a bottle. No need to twist the screw into the cork – just push the lever down then pull it back up. It can struggle with synthetic corks, however.
Pros: super easy to use and gentle on the cork.
Cons: quite a bulky item to carry around or keep in your drawer.
Number 2 – the twist and pull corkscrew
If you don’t mind using a bit of elbow grease, the traditional twist and screw corkscrew is still a great option. For best results, steady the bottle between your knees and hold with one hand while pulling with the other. Comes as standard on a Swiss army knife.
Pros: still the best way to get that satisfying ‘plop’ sound.
Cons: can be a bit awkward to use. Caution advised especially with tougher corks.
Number 1 – the waiter’s friend corkscrew
Ask any wine professional and they’ll swear by the waiter’s friend corkscrew. A variation on the twist and pull, but with a handy lever that makes it a doddle to remove even the toughest cork. Plus, it comes with a built-in blade for removing the foil.
Pros: the quickest and most reliable way to get a cork from a bottle.
Cons: can take a couple of goes to get the knack of using it.
How to remove a broken or 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 (see above). Slip the prongs down the sides of the cork and twist and pull – problem solved.
If you don't have an ah so corkscrew, sliding a normal corkscrew into the side or the cork will often do the trick. Get in in as deep as you can and pull slowly and gently.
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.
About the author
Chris Larkin
A seasoned copywriter with over two decades experience, Chris has been part of the team since 2021. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find him either working on our latest catalogue or creating informative content for our website. Qualified to WSET Level 3 Wine, Chris is as geeky about wine as he is about copywriting. But when it comes to choosing a special bottle, he is a traditionalist, and loves a good Bordeaux or Mâcon Chardonnay.
