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The goal is always the same — get into that bottle of wine without ending up with cork floaties bobbing around.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/02/2017 (3208 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The goal is always the same — get into that bottle of wine without ending up with cork floaties bobbing around.
There’s no shortage of devices out there to get your wine bottle open. Corkscrews come in a range of shapes and sizes, and can cost anywhere from a few to a few hundred bucks.
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So which one is right for you? Well, that depends on your budget, how much wine you drink and (to an extent) the age/condition of the wine you’re opening…
Butterfly corkscrew
How it works: The most common type of commercial wine opener, the user places the corkscrew on the top of the bottle and twists the top, which sends the worm/auger into the cork and makes the arms go up. Push the arms back down, and the cork comes most of the way out.
Pros: Simple to use, commonly available, inexpensive
Cons: Often poorly made, auger sometimes shreds corks
Ideal for: The occasional wine drinker
Twist-and-pull corkscrew
How it works: Typically the cheapest of the lot, you spin the opener while pushing down on the cork so the worm goes in. Take a deep breath, grab the handle and pull with all your might. Pray.
Pros: Very inexpensive
Cons: Clumsy, requires physical strength
Ideal for: Honestly, not recommendedWaiter’s corkscrew
How it works: There’s a reason most servers stick with this style of opener: it’s small, easy to use (once you know how) and consistently gets corks out of bottles pretty quickly. Cut the foil with the small knife (aside: always cut/remove the foil before uncorking a bottle), then twist the corkscrew, sending the auger into the cork. Bend the end so the lever portion is resting on the lip of the bottle, then pull up. Some models are hinged, meaning there’s less effort required to get the cork out.
Pros: Inexpensive, compact, gets bottles open fast
Cons: Takes some practice to master
Ideal for: Someone who opens a lot of wineLever-type corkscrew
How it works: These contraptions have caught on in a big way in the last few years. Sometimes called bunny corkscrews, because of their passing resemblance to the long-eared animal, they are quite simple to use once you get used to them. The user squeezes the two lower handles around the top of the bottle with one hand, then pushes down on the top handle, plunging the auger into the cork. A quick pull up on the top handle and the cork comes right out.
Pros: Simple to use after a couple of tries, attractive design
Cons: Bigger in size, pricier, cheaper versions prone to breaking, not recommended with synthetic corks
Ideal for: Beginners, fans of cool gadgetsBelgh Brasse Mons Abbey Dubbel (Amos, Que. – $2.69/330ml bottle, Liquor Marts and select beer vendors)
A Belgian-inspired brew that is “traditionally bottle-conditioned beer infused with spices,” the Mons is cola-ish in colour with a beige head, and brings aromas of caramel, dried fruit/raisin and molasses. On the medium-bodied palate there’s plenty more of the dried fruit and raisin flavours that come through, with modest sweetness and very good intensity (it’s eight per cent alcohol by volume). This is a great example of this style of beer, and is drinking nicely now but could be cellared for a couple of years. ★★★★★Juan Gil 2015 “Yellow Label” Monastrell (Ju
milla, Spain – $13.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)
This big, hearty Spanish red brings blackberry, earth, plum, lacquer and raspberry notes on the nose. On the full-bodied palate there are some spicy, oaky notes that come with the blackberry, plum, earth and black licorice flavours. This Monastrell brings some light tannin, and clocks in at 15 per cent alcohol by volume, meaning there’s some heat on the finish. It’s quite intense and could use some savoury, rustic food — maybe a hunk of meat or a hearty stew. ★★★Mionetto Prosecco Treviso Brut (Prosecco, Italy – $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)
Mionetto’s more popular “il” bottling comes in a distinguishable crown-cap bottle; this is their step up from that popular prosecco. Lime, floral, green apple and chalky lemon notes on the nose are reminiscent of your standard prosecco, albeit with a bit more complexity. On the light-bodied palate it comes across slightly drier, with juicy green apple, lime, grapefruit and modest peach and stony flavours. And hey, no corkscrew required. ★★★Alpha Estate 2015 Malagouzia (Florina, Greece – around $22, private wine stores)
Made entirely from Malagouzia grapes — an indigenous Greek white wine grape variety — there’s intense pear, apple seed, flint and lemon rind aromas. On the light-plus-bodied palate, that citrus note picks up steam, with green apple and pear flavours working well with wet stone notes. It’s an unoaked yet complex white that would work brilliantly with most Greek fare, but drinks very nicely on its own. I got this at Banville & Jones. ★★★★
