OXO Vertical Lever Corkscrew with Removable Foil Cutter, Steel, Silver, 18.7 x 18.7 x 6.1 cm

Product Information

Everyone has their favorite kind of corkscrew. For most beverage professionals, a good old wine key or waiter’s corkscrew is the holy grail tool, but if you prefer a winged model or electric option, that’s great, too. Whatever will best help you open your favorite wine bottles is the one you should choose. If you’re looking for a foolproof lever-style wine opener without any manual stress or labor, consider the Rabbit. This also makes for one hell of a gift for that wine lover in your life. While pros love it, it does require a bit of a learning curve. Consider testing out a Durand with low-stakes bottles to get the hang of it (and read the instructions carefully, too). Wine collectors with high-end cellars swear by this corkscrew. The compact cork (cute!) carrying case helps protect the legs from bending or snapping. It's definitely not the least expensive option among this selection, but if you have an extensive wine cellar and don't ever want to gamble on breaking a cork, this is the go-to special tool. Our frontrunners required little to no setup prior to use, and each model included additional helpful tools to aid with the opening process, like foil cutters or replacement corkscrews. We really appreciated the aesthetics of the Laguiole en Aubrac, and the way that it felt solid and substantial in the hand, but we did note that the hinges are a bit tight. We also felt that the bulk makes it slightly hard to maneuver, especially for someone with smaller hands. That said, we agree that a pricey bottle of wine deserves special attention, and this glamorous corkscrew certainly feels special.

We appreciate the simplicity and straightforwardness of this classic corkscrew: while it's not a prestige piece, it works consistently, and we had no difficulty opening bottles sealed with either natural or synthetic cork. This model also comes in various colors, which adds to its value and versatility. Despite the bargain price, the Truetap offers everything you need out of a corkscrew. Wine key: Also known as a waiter's corkscrew. It's typically double hinged and contains a foil cutter and handle on one side, a screw in the middle, and two notched pieces on the other side. To use it, open up both sides and insert the screw. Bring the side with the notched pieces down vertically and push the top piece inwards to rest on the lip of the bottle. Pull the handle on the other side to bring the cork out halfway. The notched piece should provide enough leverage. Once there's enough space, switch to and move the bottom notched piece to the lip of the bottle and continue pulling the handle to completely remove the cork. The chunky lever-style corkscrew is the fastest way to open a bottle of wine, but that ease comes at a price: It's much larger than the other corkscrew styles, eating up significantly more drawer or counter space. Lever corkscrew: A wine opener with a lever on one side. To use it, insert the screw, then squeeze the bottom of the opener and pull the lever upwards to remove the cork. Center the squiqqly metal part (sometimes called the “worm”) atop the cork, and then screw it in until it’s about 3/4 of the way inside the cork.The best waiter’s corkscrew versions are the variations with a hinged leg or boot lever, or alternately, models with two boot levers,” says Vayda. “This allows you to start at the hinge or smaller leg and finish opening with the entire lever, giving more leverage at the beginning of the process."

There isn't an easy answer to this per se, but you're more likely to find corks in older vintages of wine. But that being said, just because a wine has a screw cap, it doesn't mean it's poor quality and that you should steer clear of purchasing it. There are plenty of great wines being made with screw caps. The best budget corkscrew: Pulltap Wine Essentials Waiter’s Friend Double Lever Corkscrew | Buy now It depends a bit on the corkscrew, but for a simple wine key (sometimes called a waiter’s corkscrew), the process is as follows:

Our top picks for the best wine openers

Take it slow and be firm with it. "Good old careful muscle is the best way to get out a stubborn cork," said Jordan Salcito, founder of wine brand Ramona and former beverage director at Momofuku. For wine enthusiasts, it’s a great way to do comparative tastings or enjoy just a taste of a specific wine without committing to a full bottle. While the initial price is hefty, note that it allows you to work through more special bottles without opening the full thing. (Though, the cost of refilling canisters can get pricey.) If your wine-drinking situations are more everyday and straightforward, then this expensive product isn't for you. The foil cutter seamlessly slides into the opener for easy storage. In case one screw breaks, an additional one is included, which is helpful, just in case. You can't enjoy a good bottle of wine without a trusty wine opener. Some wine openers break after just a couple uses, some require too much strength, and others simply take up too much space. That's why we asked the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute for their personal recommendations and favorites.

For most, a corkscrew made primarily from stainless steel is the best way to go. It’s sturdy, won’t rust, and has a nice shine to it. Many corkscrew do have a grippy silicone or rubber exterior. This can be extremely helpful during the extraction process, especially if your hands are a bit wet. But make sure to put those corkscrews away after opening the bottle since the material can easily collect dust and dander. No matter what material you chose, it's also good practice to hand-wash your corkscrew, especially after a party. The Oxo wasn't a difficult device to use, and worked exactly as the instructions detailed. The foil cutter was a bit flimsy, and we lamented that extracting synthetic corks wasn't as seamless as regular corks. Overall, though, we thought the Oxo lever corkscrew would make a great gift for someone who's into gadgets, or a caterer who needs to open multiple bottles of wine at a time. Who is it for? Those who need a bit of assistance removing stubborn corks from bottles and don’t mind paying a premium. How much should I spend?

Lever corkscrew: Simply push down and pull up with this wine opener. It requires a bit of arm strength, but the two-motion mechanism is attractive to those who want a seamless experience. 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. If you’re looking for a great version of a classic, then the Beneno Premium Wing is an excellent fit. With a sturdier build than your average winged corkscrew, the Beneno also boasts not only a capped bottle opener, but wings that are fitted with a soft grip to make pulling them down that much easier. And best of all, if you have any problems with it, it comes with a lifetime warranty. Being a winged corkscrew, it isn’t as compact or pretty as some of the others, but if you want a reliable corkscrew that is far less easy to lose – this is a great choice. If you’re looking for a classic waiter’s corkscrew, we recommend this sturdy OXO Steel Double Lever Waiter’s Corkscrew. Compact and easy to store or carry with you anyplace (picnic, anyone?), this stainless steel corkscrew has a balanced hand feel and a comfortable, nonslip silicone grip. And it has a longer lever than the other waiter’s friend-style openers we looked at, giving you more leverage and an easier time opening tougher bottles. With a household kitchen name like Le Creuset, we initially trusted this manual wine corkscrew to deliver. While this model worked to effectively dislodge the cork, we found the OXO Double Lever to be more comfortable and sturdy in-hand.