How to Use a Corkscrew

Precision is key when using wine tools. Any mistake can negatively impact the wine-tasting experience, so it’s important to handle bottle openers with care and expertise. To open a bottle correctly, familiarize yourself with the steps involved and master each motion.

This guide focuses on using a corkscrew and features our selection of bottle openers. It aims to introduce you to the centuries-old tradition upheld by wine growers, merchants, oenologists, and sommeliers. The guide includes an explanation of each mechanism’s components and detailed instructions for each type of bottle opener.

Contents of this corkscrew user guide:

At L’Atelier du Vin, we strive to make our corkscrews intuitive and user-friendly. As a French manufacturer of wine accessories since 1926, we are constantly working to perfect our models and ensure the robustness of the components, the reliability of the opening mechanism, the ease of use and smoothness of the motion. Our goal is to guide both new and experienced wine enthusiasts in their oenological journey.

How to Use a Waiter’s Corkscrew

A waiter’s corkscrew, also known as a waiter’s friend, is a versatile and portable tool designed for use by waiters and waitresses. It is often mistaken for a sommelier’s corkscrew due to their similarities, but a waiter’s corkscrew consists of the following components:

  • a handle
  • a foldable worm
  • a retractable foil cutter
  • a bottle cap opener, often placed at the end of the handle, in the shape of a loop
  • a notched bootlever at the top of the handle (with 1 or 2 notches)

How to Open a Wine Bottle With a Waiter’s Friend

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Use the foil cutter to remove the foil from under the bottle lip so that the cork can be extracted.
  2. Position the worm vertically and perpendicular to the corkscrew handle, with the tip on the cork.
  3. Carefully twist the worm into the cork, without piercing the other end.
  4. Place the bootlever notch on the bottle lip, holding it in place with your index finger and secure the bottle neck with your other hand.
  5. Lift the handle up with your other hand to extract the worm and cork. For a double notch or double trigger waiter’s friend, lift the handle halfway through until the cork is partially out of the bottle. Then, use the second bootlever notch to repeat the process until the bottle is fully open.

How to Open a Wine Bottle With a Sommelier’s Corkscrew

 

The talented and discrete sommelier corkscrew presents a number of similarities with the waiter’s friend. However, it stands out for its handle made out of wood or another high quality material, as well as its bottle cap opener in the shape of a claw or tooth integrated into the lever (whereas the waiter’s friend tends to have a loop-shaped bottle cap opener at the end of the handle).

The sommelier corkscrew is more sophisticated than the waiter’s corkscrew, boasting a more refined finish. This makes it the better choice for serving wine in upscale restaurants or establishments that value the art of wine service. The components of a sommelier corkscrew include:

  • a handle
  • a foil cutter blade
  • a single or double notched bootlever
  • a clawed bottle cap opener, integrated into the handle or lever

The sommelier’s corkscrew can have one or two notches on its boot lever, which allows for easy cork removal without the need for excessive force. The double trigger sommelier corkscrew, specifically, has two notches on the boot lever for a two-step process: first to extract half of the cork, and then to smoothly open the bottle.

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How to Open a Wine Bottle With a Sommelier Corkscrew

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  1. Use the foil cutter to remove the foil from around the lip of the bottle.
  2. Open the worm and position its tip on top of the cork.
  3. Twist the worm into the cork by screwing it vertically.
  4. Secure the bootlever notch onto the lip of the bottle and hold it firmly while holding the bottle neck.
  5. With the other hand, use the handle to extract the cork from the bottle. For a double-lever corkscrew, secure the first notch on the lip until half of the cork has been removed, then secure the second notch and continue pulling the handle until the bottle is fully open.

How to Use a Lever Corkscrew

 
 

Different models of lever corkscrews exist, and the way to use them can vary depending on the type. However, the basic mechanism for removing the cork remains unchanged. An oenology lever corkscrew is larger than other wine openers and, when operated correctly, can quickly open multiple bottles. These are the essential components of a lever corkscrew:

  • a jaw (and its hand-tightening system), which grips the bottle’s neck to keep the opening system stable during the extraction process
  • a spiral or worm
  • a lever, which plunges the worm into the cork in a two back-and-forth movements
  • a foil cutter, if applicable

Professional-grade lever corkscrews can be equipped with a mounting component for wall installation, transforming the tool into a wall-mounted corkscrew. This configuration enhances the speed of bottle opening and eliminates the chance of spills by providing stability as the sommelier, wine merchant, or oenologist holds the jaw or lever during the opening process.

How to Open a Wine Bottle With a Lever Corkscrew

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  1. Use the built-in blade or a separate foil cutter to remove the foil from the bottle’s lip.
  2. Place the worm in a vertical position on the cork, with the tip touching the cork, and lower the jaw over the bottle’s neck. The lever should automatically open (if not, manually open it).
  3. Secure the jaw onto the bottle neck by holding it firmly.
  4. Using the other hand, push the lever down to insert the worm into the cork.
  5. Pull the lever back up to extract the cork and open the bottle.
  6. Release the jaw and remove the corkscrew from the bottle.
  7. Some models only require a single push and pull of the lever to extract the cork.

How to Use a Winged or Double Lever Corkscrew (Charles de Gaulle)

The iconic winged corkscrew is a familiar sight during social gatherings and casual meals. With just a simple movement of its arms, the corkscrew opens bottles with ease, marking the start of your tasting experience. This bottle opener is prized for its user-friendly design and unique appearance, acting as a small metal statue on the table or kitchen counter. It is also known by several other names, including the Charles de Gaulle corkscrew, double lever corkscrew, or simply winged corkscrew. It consists of the following components:

  • A loop-shaped handle is used to twist the worm into the cork or to cut the foil
  • A rack and pinion mechanism extends from the handle
  • 2 pinions, or small notched cogs, are inserted in the recesses of the rack
  • 2 wings or levers that connect to the pinions (representing Charles de Gaulle’s two raised arms, exclaiming “je vous ai compris !” (“I’ve understood you!”)
  • A spiral worm extends from the rack and pinion mechanism
  • A base surrounds the worm and is placed vertically on the bottle neck to keep it steady.

How to Open a Wine Bottle With a Winged or Double Lever Corkscrew (Charles de Gaulle)

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  1. Use the foil cutter to cut the foil under the bottle lip, making the cork accessible.
  2. Place the worm tip on the cork and position it vertically and perpendicular to the corkscrew handle.
  3. Gently twist the worm into the cork, taking care not to pierce the opposite end.
  4. Secure the bottle neck with one hand while holding the bootlever notch on the bottle lip with your index finger.
  5. Raise the handle with your other hand to remove the worm and cork. For double notch or double trigger waiter’s friend, lift the handle halfway until the cork is partially out of the bottle. Then, use the second bootlever notch to complete the process until the bottle is fully open.

How to Use an Endless Corkscrew

This stylish and effortless bottle opener boasts a seamless extraction mechanism that is hard to resist. The motion is so fluid that you will be amazed to see the cork emerge from the bottle with ease. The components of the endlessly smooth continuous pull corkscrew include:

  • a pointy spiral worm
  • an endless screw mechanism, which uses a twist motion to drive the worm into the cork
  • a handle mounted on top of the endless screw mechanism
  • a ring base around the worm, or another system to grip the neck, with the worm in its centre
Endless screw corkscrew systems on a white wine bottle

How to Open a Wine Bottle With an Endless Corkscrew

Step-By-Step Instructions:


  1. Use a blade or foil cutter to cut the foil under the bottle lip and remove it.
  2. With the worm positioned vertically, place the base of the corkscrew on the bottle neck with the worm’s tip on the cork. Hold it firmly in place with one hand.
  3. Turn the handle with the other hand to insert the worm into the cork. Keep turning until the cork rises from the bottle.
  4. Once the cork is fully extracted, remove the corkscrew and unscrew the cork from the worm manually.

How to use a Twin Blade Corkscrew

A twin blade corkscrew, also known as a wine cork extractor, is perfect for opening delicate vintage bottles with fragile corks. This bottle opener is highly valued by wine enthusiasts and sommeliers. L’Atelier du Vin’s Bilame corkscrew is a patented emblematic model from 1949, recognized for its ability to remove the cork without damaging it and putting it back into the bottle neck without a trace. These simple yet brilliant wine extractor corkscrews are made up of the following parts:

  • a handle
  • 2 pointed curved metal prongs, of slightly different lengths
  • the corkscrew’s body, which joins the handle and 2 prongs together

How to Open a Wine Bottle With a Twin Blade Corkscrew (Without Piercing the Cork)

To open a bottle with a twin blade corkscrew, you need a delicate touch. The process is more intricate compared to other openers, so it’s advisable to start by practicing on table wine bottles before moving on to more delicate vintage or prestigious wines. With some practice, you can master the art of using this elegant wine accessory.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  1. Use a foil cutter to remove the foil from the bottle. Clean the bottle neck and lip if necessary.
  2. Position the cork extractor vertically over the bottle neck, with the tip of the longest prong resting between the cork and the bottle’s glass.
  3. Hold the handle with one hand and the top of the bottle with the other hand. Gently slide the prong into the bottle neck, without piercing the cork, until the other prong is resting between the cork and glass on the other side.
  4. Using a left-right motion, alternate from one prong to the other while gently pressing downwards. Avoid applying strong downward pressure when the handle is in a central, vertical position, so you don’t push the cork into the bottle.
  5. When both prongs are in place, turn the handle clockwise while pulling up to gently extract the cork from the bottle neck.

How to Recork a Bottle Using a Twin Blade Corkscrew

Replacing the cork in a bottle with a twin blade corkscrew, so that it appears untouched, can be a satisfying accomplishment. To accomplish this, simply perform the steps in reverse order from when you initially opened the bottle.

To return the cork to its original position in a bottle using a twin blade corkscrew, follow these steps:

  1. Place the cork between the two prongs, with the top part pressing against the corkscrew’s body.
  2. Insert the two prongs into the neck, between the glass and cork, with the cork ready to be recorked.
  3. Turn the handle to gently insert the two prongs into the bottle, allowing the cork to smoothly return to its original position.
  4. To remove the corkscrew, alternate between pulling each prong upwards with a left-right motion while keeping the bottle still.

Upon completion, the upper portion of the cork should be in line with the top of the bottle neck (full recorking) or stick out slightly (partial or temporary recorking) for easier opening and to prevent the cork from being pushed too far into the bottle.

How to Use a T-Style Corkscrew

T-style corkscrews are the most classic type of bottle openers, showcasing a traditional and rustic charm. With its recognizable handle and straight worm, the T-style bottle opener is simple in appearance but can be challenging to use, requiring skill and strength to smoothly open older bottles of wine.

How to Open a Wine Bottle With a T-Style Corkscrew

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  1. Place the wine bottle on a stable surface and hold the neck with one hand to keep it steady.
  2. Use your other hand to grasp the T-style corkscrew’s handle, with the worm positioned between your middle and ring fingers.
  3. Align the tip of the worm vertically with the center of the cork.
  4. Slowly twist the metal worm into the cork, taking care to not touch the sides of the bottle neck or puncture the cork to prevent it from crumbling into the wine.
  5. Firmly pull the T-style corkscrew until the cork has been fully extracted and you hear a pop, indicating the bottle is open.
Corkscrew T Sanbri L'Atelier du Vin

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