Nothing heralds the beginning of excellent instances greater than the pop of a bottle. However when you’ve ever had a cork crumble at an inopportune second or fumbled with a screw-pull in entrance of a thirsty crowd, you realize the worth of a very good bottle opener.
Most basic designs share core options—a helical screw and a few built-in mechanical leverage—however the perfect wine openers transcend with particulars that make opening a beaujolais a complete lot simpler and, dare we are saying, enjoyable. Choosing the right one comes all the way down to your fashion and desires. If you happen to solely want performance, a chic (however minimalist!) T-shaped screw-pull will suffice. However when you’re a bunch who enjoys gadgetry, an electrical opener with extra bells and whistles could be on the prime of your listing. Listed below are a couple of options to think about, plus seven stand-out choices that do extra than simply get the job executed.
The essential T-shaped screw-pull is the only in design however requires energy and finesse to take away the cork in a single easy movement. Whereas it’s the more than likely to create that anticipated “pop,” it’s also the more than likely to trigger the odd spill or breakage. (First-timers, be warned).
Winged corkscrews could also be your grandparents go-to; it’s robust to argue with their ease of use and easy mechanics. By including leverage and the power to be operated on a flat floor, they’re simpler to maneuver than a screw-pull, making them our on a regular basis selection. The one draw back is that they are typically a bit bigger and subsequently much less transportable.
Light-weight, robust, and sufficiently small to stow in an apron or coat pocket, it’s clear why this device is favored by meals and beverage professionals. Many have foil cutters, nonstick spirals that ease friction when inserting in a cork, and double hinges to leverage cussed stoppers. They’re obtainable at each worth level.
Sometimes, corks are brittle, shrunken from time, or they simply don’t need to cooperate. Utilizing a conventional corkscrew dangers splitting or turning it to mush. The Ah-So is the perfect device for extra delicate jobs. Reasonably than pushing a screw immediately into the center of a cork, the skinny blades of the Ah-So hug the surface and supply sufficient strain to carry older corks intact and free the perimeters of caught ones. If you happen to acquire older wines (or plan to begin), this device is a should.
Electrical wine openers are comparatively new to the scene and make brief work of most corks and youthful vintages, though older bottles might have extra care. Our favorites embody one-touch and no-touch designs, which don’t require any tugging or pulling. An added bonus: battery-operated or rechargeable variations imply by no means bumping your elbows or letting your folks see you sweat.
This waiter’s corkscrew from Pulltap’s affords nearly every part you want in a small, reasonably priced bundle. It’s pocket-size, light-weight, is available in eight colours (together with pure gold), and is even obtainable for left-handed wine lovers. The double-hinge design provides loads of leverage—even for cussed corks—and the opposite facet has a typical bottle cap opener. It received’t clog a kitchen drawer or take up valuable counter house with a charging stand. It’s fairly darn close to excellent.
Suppose again to your childhood kitchen drawers. Behind the guide egg beater and simply past the ever-growing rubber band ball, there most likely was a winged, butterfly-style opener. The design hasn’t wanted to alter a lot over time, however this model gently improves upon it with a sleeker physique and extra ergonomic deal with. A nonstick coating on the screw additionally means fewer conversation-interrupting squeaks.
This class might even have been known as “the one which makes you cheerful each time you see it” or “the one that you simply’ll casually omit when friends arrive.” Laguiole en Aubrac has been making lovely, purposeful, heirloom-quality kitchen and bar tools since 1829. Whereas their corkscrew is mild and lithe, it’s removed from delicate. Crafted from sturdy stainless-steel and good-looking South American snakewood, it could be your subsequent household heirloom for generations to come back. Opening nice bottles of wine ought to really feel a bit ceremonial. Why not use a device that appears each bit pretty much as good because the wine itself?
Peugeot has managed to marry all the greatest qualities of an electrical corkscrew with a clean-lined aesthetic of their Elis Reverse. It removes corks with totally computerized, buttonless operation, then dispenses them with a fast flip of the wrist. The Elis Reverse can open 50 bottles earlier than needing a cost by USB cable—no clunky stand or charging station required.
Internet hosting massive teams is at all times a problem. Why make it more durable? The Secura opener set makes brief work of a number of bottles by automating the method with out the necessity to manually wind the corkscrew each time. Simply set the opener on prime, press one button to insert the screw and one other to free the cork, then get again to the celebration.
Bringing out “the great things” means you’re extra prone to have an viewers when it comes time to pop the cork. However older bottles current challenges that newer ones don’t—particularly crumbly corks. The Durand actually perfects the Ah-So opener fashion by including an elective screw to safe probably fragile stoppers so that they don’t make a large number when everybody’s watching. It’s a trusted high-end opener utilized by sommeliers the world over. On the lookout for a less expensive choice? The Monopol Westmark with its easy, cozy deal with, is our runner-up.
If you happen to don’t plan on ending a whole bottle, this device dispenses wine with out ever eradicating the cork. Coravin’s needle system appears to be like a bit of like magic: Wine flows freely by means of the gadget whereas the needle system pushes inert, food-grade argon fuel into the bottle with every pour, making certain the wine isn’t uncovered to oxygen and stays recent for as much as 4 weeks. It’s an incredible choice for savoring particular vintages over a number of sittings with out risking oxidation and compromising high quality.
What kind of wine opener is most utilized in eating places?
Waiter’s corkscrews, because the title suggests, are the usual for many meals and beverage professionals. They deploy rapidly, are fabricated from sturdy supplies, and received’t break the financial institution if somebody forgot they borrowed yours on the subsequent ceremonial dinner.
How lengthy does wine final after you open it?
Sometimes, wine sealed with a cork is greatest loved inside hours of opening or decanting. If that’s not within the playing cards, it may possibly final a couple of days when resealed with a cork or closure and refrigerated. For greatest outcomes, deliver bottles again as much as serving temperature earlier than uncorking once more. Be certain you don’t retailer wine subsequent to the range; warmth and oxygen are the enemies of excellence right here. The extra instances a bottle will get opened, the extra oxygen it’s uncovered to, hastening the decline in high quality. Warmth equally disrupts wine’s delicate composition, muting extra refined flavors and finally “cooking” it.
How do I clear my wine opener?
Fortunately, most openers are low upkeep as they by no means are available in contact with the wine itself. Some metal or nickel fashions are dishwasher protected, however a fast hand-wash will normally suffice. Take further care with openers made with finer supplies like wooden (which can require the occasional re-seasoning with food-grade oil) or digital openers (the place particular producer directions should be adopted).
