What corkscrew to choose?
Quick answer
The waiter's friend (double-hinged sommelier corkscrew) is the gold standard — compact, reliable, and used by professionals everywhere. It costs EUR 10-30 and lasts years. For old bottles with fragile corks, get a two-prong 'Ah-So' extractor. For ease of use, a lever-style corkscrew (like Screwpull) works brilliantly but is bulkier and pricier.
Detailed answer
Choosing a corkscrew might seem trivial, but the right tool makes opening wine smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. Here's a practical guide to the main options.
The waiter's friend (double-hinged sommelier knife) is what every wine professional uses, and for good reason. It's small enough for a pocket, has a built-in foil cutter, and the two-step lever system extracts corks cleanly without breaking them. A good one costs EUR 10-30 (Pulltap's and Laguiole are popular brands) and lasts for years. If you only buy one corkscrew, make it this one.
The Ah-So (two-prong extractor) is your secret weapon for old bottles. Instead of piercing the cork (which can crumble a fragile 20-year-old cork), its two thin blades slide down each side of the cork. You then twist and pull to remove it intact. Every serious wine lover should have one of these alongside their sommelier knife. EUR 8-20.
Lever-style corkscrews (Screwpull, Rabbit) are brilliant for ease of use. Place them over the bottle, pull the lever, and the cork comes out effortlessly. Great if you have grip issues or open lots of bottles at gatherings. They cost EUR 25-80 and are bulkier than a waiter's friend.
Electric corkscrews run on rechargeable batteries and do all the work for you. Press a button, cork comes out. EUR 20-60. The downside: the worm (spiral) tends to be shorter than on manual models, which can be a problem with extra-long corks found in premium wines.
Avoid: the basic T-bar corkscrew (requires brute force, breaks corks) and the winged corkscrew (the auger-style worm tears through cork rather than gripping it).
| Corkscrew Type | Price Range | Best Feature | Downside | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waiter's friend (double-hinged) | EUR 10-30 | Compact, precise, built-in foil cutter | Slight learning curve | Everyone — the go-to choice |
| Ah-So (two-prong) | EUR 8-20 | Saves fragile old corks | Takes practice | Old bottles, collectors |
| Lever style (Screwpull) | EUR 25-80 | Effortless extraction | Bulky | Frequent use, grip issues |
| Electric | EUR 20-60 | Fully automatic | Short worm, needs charging | Convenience lovers |
| T-bar (avoid) | EUR 3-8 | Cheap | Breaks corks constantly | Emergency only |