The 6 Best Wine Openers

Style: Rabbit and accessories | Additional features: Wine stopper, wine pourer, foil cutter & extra worm drill

Due to its ease of use and visually appealing design, the Demenades Wine Opener Kit caught our testing team's eye. The well-engineered lever, rack, and pinion system deliver an effortless experience that will make the Demenades opener feel comfortable in anyone's hands. To add to the aesthetic, the exposed gearing and brass finish give it an industrial, steampunk look that somehow avoided being called pretentious by all but the most casual of testers.

We love that this wine opener includes various useful accessories — bottle stopper, foil cutter, pourer, and spare corkscrew drill. Aside from needing to find a place to store the relatively bulky device and all its extras in your kitchen or dedicated bar area, we didn't find a whole lot to complain about. Easy to operate and visually pleasing, the Demenades Kit will be a perfect gift for any of your favorite wine lovers.

Style: Two-step waiter's corkscrew | Additional features: Foil cutter

Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew is a time-tested bartender's classic. Based on the two-step waiter's corkscrew, this type of wine opener has been working successfully for centuries. A helpful foil cutter is folded into the body of this pocket-sized tool, and the double joint helps prevent cork breakage. This pocket-sized tool is also a serrated foil cutter, and the lever doubles as a bottle cap opener.

Operating this wine opener requires two-handed use and a decent amount of practiced technique, so it's not our top pick for ease of use. Yet, it's a classic design that has stood the test of time. Its affordable price and multifunctional nature make it an all-around favorite for those wanting to get the most out of their wine opener while spending the least amount possible.

Style: Electric corkscrew wine opener | Additional features: See-through base for viewing, LED Bluelight, foil cutter

The cordless Secura Rechargeable Electric wine opener is a straightforward, modern tool that takes no strength and no fuss to use. Line it up, apply downward pressure, press the down button, and presto, let the Secura do the rest. The cordless electric opener mechanically drills into the cork and removes it with no further effort from the user. The transparent plastic base allows you to see what is going on, which is both helpful and a fun design feature. In case that wasn't enough, LED lights turn on upon use and help ensure that you are successful even in the darkest of environments.

For some testers, the plastic material on the base of the Secura appeared to be a cheaper version of the full stainless steel models other manufacturers offer. That said, this transparent material allowed visibility and significantly improved first-time users' success rate during testing, lessening the probability of cork damage. Those who want to take the pressure off opening wine bottles will find this feature appealing, especially in low-light settings such as a candlelit dinner or a power outage.

Style: Twin-prong cork puller | Additional features: Bottle opener incorporated into the handle

A “Butler's friend,” such as the Monopol Westmark Two-Prong Cork Puller, is a favorite wine opener with servers in the fine dining industry, and for good reason. Often referred to as an “Ah-So key,” this nickname supposedly refers to people's exclamations when they finally discover how this ingenious tool works. Once the two prongs are inserted into either side of the cork, a gentle rotational pull squeezes the cork from the bottle. The opener works without piercing the cork, making it particularly useful when working with delicate or damaged corks (think vintage or poorly-stored wine). This feature also enables a careful user to potentially reinsert the intact cork afterward, allowing you to recork your favorite bottle and save the rest for another day.

Unfamiliar users may be intimidated by this minimalist model, as it requires technique and can feel awkward at first. On occasion, our heavy-handed testers accidentally pushed the cork further into the bottle when trying to insert the prongs. The hardened steel prongs and die-cast metal of the cover and handle give this popular tool a particularly refined and polished look. If wine isn't the only drink on the menu, the ergonomic handle doubles as a bottle opener, ensuring that the Monopol is one tool you will want to keep on hand.

Style: Two-step waiter's corkscrew | Additional features: Foil cutter

To create a highly functional and elegant wine opener, HiCoup Waiter's Corkscrew has refined the old-time favorite waiter's corkscrew commonly seen in the hands of sommeliers. A groove notched down the drill worm improves the corkscrew's insertion and performance while lessening the chances of crumbling a delicate cork. The double-hinged fulcrum offers a significant mechanical advantage, and the cork feels easy to extract.

Some gift buyers may find the overall familiarity of this style of wine opener unextraordinary. However, the high level of craftsmanship makes this product more unique than your average opener, and it's likely to be the perfect choice for many wine lovers who might appreciate the simplicity and functionality of this classic.

Style: Air pressure opener | Additional features: Separate foil cutter included

Scoring highly across the metrics, the utilitarian-looking Wine Ziz Air Pressure Pump Bottle Opener is very popular among our test team, particularly because of its ease of use. Due to the uniqueness of this opener's style, most first-time users require some guidance on using it — or at least some encouragement. However, it is hard to believe how easy the job is once you see how this opener works. To use this product, insert the needle into the cork (the circular plastic casing makes lining it up accurately a cinch) and gently pump the plunger about five times. Once enough air has been pushed into the bottle, the cork slides out safely with a triumphant (but controllable) pop. Users report this experience as very satisfying, and it may prompt you to want to pop open another bottle.

The sharp needle at the Wine Ziz tool's center may put off some cautious users. However, users can rest assured that it is well-protected with plastic casing. Though you may want to dismantle the Wine Ziz to clean it thoroughly, the needle should not pose a threat unless you purposefully take apart the tool.

Style: Compressed air | Additional features: None

Of all the models in our test group, the distinctive Cork Pops Original Bottle Opener provided the quickest and most entertaining wine-opening experience. Once you have removed the foil from the bottle, insert the needle fully through the cork's center, and press the canister's top while gently lifting. The cork will pop right out, often leaving a trail of vapor (and occasionally a spray of wine) in its wake.

For the confident showperson, this gadget makes opening bottles one-handed an easy trick to add to your repertoire. However, we found that this opener was not always successful if the cork was particularly crumbly or already damaged. Cautious users also struggled to use it successfully, and due to the sharp needle and pressurized CO2 container, parents may not want an appliance like this lying around the house.

Style: Vertical lever corkscrew | Additional features: Foil cutter

The oversized OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew is easy to hold and comfortable to use. However, this tool requires two hands and a bit of grip strength. Although easy to master through practice, infrequent users were often confused and unsure how to proceed, which resulted in a few damaged corks.

Some testers criticized this opener for being clunky and unbalanced, joking that it should come with a holster so they can lug it around. However, many were impressed with the cleverly hidden foil cutter at the top of the OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew. For those looking for a truly effortless tool or an elegant gift, the Demenades Kit is a slimmed-down version of this opener style that still offers an oversized lever, all for less money (and more style).

Style: Electric corkscrew | Additional features: Foil cutter

Offering a sleek design with simple instructions, the Cuisinart Electric Wine Opener makes for a wine opener that you can easily use one-handed. Despite its simplicity, if you are not patient when lining up this corkscrew, it can be easy to misalign the angle of approach and spoil the cork. Taking an extra second to set up this gadget will pay dividends, allowing you to finish the task with one hand and your eyes closed.

Overall, testers preferred the look of this fully stainless steel gadget over the part-plastic Secura Electric. However, we were significantly more successful when using the Secura, as the plastic base reduced user error by enabling better visualization. You'll have to decide which factor is more important to you.

Style: Wings | Additional features: Bottle opener included

Utilizing the classic wing-lever corkscrew, IPOW Wing Corkscrew is a familiar sight from your parents' kitchen, one which is still going strong. The archetypal design is straightforward and completes the job (as long as you line it up straight). The IPOW Wing Corkscrew adds plastic grips in all the convenient places, resulting in less pressure on those fingers—something to consider if you expect to do this task multiple times in one evening. In addition, the neck of the opener is conveniently designed to serve as a bottle opener.

Recorking a bottle was rarely an option due to the oversized drill piece causing excessive damage to the cork. The corkscrew presented another challenge, as it has to be screwed in all the way; otherwise, it is a strenuous or awkward two-stage process to pull it out.

Why Trust GearLab

In preparing for this review, our lead tester and wine fanatic Sara James reached out to a team of professionals to share their insights. This group included sommeliers, servers, corkscrew collectors, wine growers, and wine enthusiasts. Collecting the experiences of hundreds of hours of testing by different types of users, Sara and the testing team are committed to finding the best wine openers. The team's diverse range of backgrounds, preferences, ages, geographic locations, professions, and budgets helped us to consider the needs of all wine connoisseurs.

To compare and score ease of use and aesthetics, we had a varied panel of testers with a wide range of hand sizes and physical capabilities. These testers tried out each product to measure how easy they were to use for both new and experienced testers. Finally, we evaluated the durability and additional features of each model.

Analysis and Test Results

We started our process by researching more than 40 wine openers and narrowing them down to the products with the most potential to be the best. We then set out by purchasing and opening countless bottles of wine using a diverse panel of testers to critique and analyze each product. Ease of use was considered at the forefront while also factoring in durability, aesthetics as well as additional features.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is measured in multiple ways. Was the opener straightforward for a novice to figure out how to use without instruction? How much hand strength does it require? Could someone with reduced dexterity use this tool effectively? Finally, we tried it out with one hand (and occasionally with our eyes closed).

The easiest wine openers to use required little thought and effort. The Demenades, Secura Electric, and the Wine Ziz all excelled in this area despite their very different approaches to cork removal. Many testers were able to use the latter two with just one hand, and all required minimal strength to use due to the wonderful forces of physics.

The waiter's corkscrew models (HiCoup and Pulltab) and the Monopol fall into a unique category, as they require a technique. Unless you have seen someone use these products, you will likely have trouble figuring it out without instructions, particularly with the Monopol. When you learn to use it and are armed with a well-designed version such as the Westmark Monopol, you are sure to find it easy for all future bottles.

The Cork Pop Original was challenging to evaluate. Many apprehensive users took a moment to use it successfully, as they didn't press the canister enough to release any gas. Overconfident users removed the cork before testers could even start the timer, pressing the canister too much or for too long, and were rewarded with a triumphant pop. Do make sure you insert the needle fully through the cork but not into the actual wine (unless you also want a spray of wine). The Cuisinart Electric is almost as easy to use as the Secura. However, the lack of visibility regarding the drill piece increased user error. The OXO's size made it easier to grip than some tools, but we were disappointed with how cumbersome this appliance felt.

Durability

To ensure that these openers live up to the tasks you need, we tested each opener extensively, putting it through more stress than a standard user probably would. This included battery life tests on the electronic models and clumsy user tests.

Despite our best attempts at being clumsy, we saw no indication of wear and tear or damage on any of our openers. Each tool withstood the challenges we set them up to. This was particularly reassuring with the electric models, as initially, testers considered that they might not withstand multiple drop tests.

The OXO and Demenades included spare drills, though we doubt you would ever need to use either of these. The Cork Pops model requires CO2, which will necessitate a replacement cartridge at some point — we recommend keeping extra on hand.

Aesthetics

Drinking wine is an experience based on aesthetics. The wine's smell, flavors, and feel are all essential aspects of this experience. Because of these crucial components, one may also want to consider the aesthetics of the wine opener they choose to purchase. Despite a diverse range of testers, certain openers are distinct in this particular metric.

After using the Demenades, multiple testers exclaimed that they needed to buy this gadget for someone in their life, either because it just looked so cool or because it felt incredibly easy to use. These qualities can be partially attributed to the visible gearing system, which makes it easy and effective while giving it a unique look that is likely to draw attention.

With a certain aesthetic quality, the Westmark Monopol Two-Pronged Opener piqued several testers' interest. The onlooker is drawn in by the mysterious simplicity of using this cork puller, as well as the smooth lines of the handy tool.

The electric models tested had similar stainless steel finishes that may look polished amongst the other appliances in your kitchen. They may also take up valuable kitchen space. Some testers did worry they would be mistaken for oversized salt and pepper shakers.

Additional Features

You may think a wine opener does not need to be complicated with extra features; however, most users recognized the appeal once they had tested them out.

Most of the options tested came with some type of foil cutter, either built-in (HiCoup, Pulltab) or as a separate attachment (Cuisinart, Secura, Demenades, Wine Ziz). Though some may consider foil cutters unnecessary, these tools undeniably improve efficiency and grace. All of these were easy to use for novices and seasoned wine drinkers alike, and none of our test team struggled here. Our favorite tool for foil cutting is the built-in knife present in the HiCoup and Pulltab waiter's corkscrews.

Of all the options, the Demenades Kit comes with the most accessories, including a wine cutter, bottle stopper, wine pourer, and extra spiral drill. We particularly enjoyed using the pourer as it just looked great when pouring the wine.

The Secura Electric has a built-in LED that glows blue when in use. Although some testers found this feature tacky, it proved particularly useful in low-light conditions. We would be grateful to have this on hand during a power outage.

Conclusion

Drinking wine should be an easy and enjoyable experience, just as opening the bottle should be. With the improved technology of kitchen appliances over the years, pulling a cork out can now be smooth as butter. Just like a winemaker carefully selects the grape to make the best wine, we have selected the best openers to enhance your wine-drinking experience. We hope that you find our research useful.