Corkscrews and wine openers are a necessary part of any foodservice establishment looking to serve wine. These tools seem like a simple subject since they only have one purpose. Yet, there are many options and the choices for the consumer vary greatly. Read on to learn more about the various types of corkscrews!
Waiter's corkscrews - also know as wine keys - are the standard tool of choice for most establishments. They offer the perfect blend of affordability, compact size, and functionality and are considered to be the oldest form of opening a bottle of wine. They’re perfect for front-of-house use for servers who often open and pour wine directly at tables. Many waiter's corkscrews include bottle cap openers and foil cutter blades as well.
Pocket corkscrews have a compact size that's perfect for carrying in apron or pants pockets. Many pocket corkscrews include a sheath to keep the corkscrew worm from poking through fabric or pockets. This sheath is also often used to create a "T" shaped crossbar that provides leverage to twist the worm into the cork and remove the cork. These small, portable corkscrews are great for servers and bartenders to keep on hand at all times. Pocket corkscrews require more strength than electric or counter mount corkscrews.
Wing, or winged, corkscrews are a popular choice for synthetic cork removal due to their ease of use. Additionally, they can be used on corks of all sizes for further versatility. Wing corkscrews are not the best choice for opening vintage wines or wines with natural, brittle corks as they can leave cork crumbs behind. With a small size and easy-to-use design, these corkscrews are great for front-of-house use by waiters.
Electric corkscrews are the easiest way to open wine bottles. Their simple push button operation makes it possible for anyone to open a bottle of wine. These corkscrews are great for back-of-house use, and for quickly opening bottles of wine behind the bar. Electric corkscrews are ideal for anyone with arthritis or little hand strength.
Counter mount corkscrews can be attached to a table or counter for sturdiness and support. Counter mount corkscrews provide additional torque and can open bottles faster and with less effort than many other types of corkscrews. Therefore, this style of corkscrew is ideal for high-volume establishments. These corkscrews are great for back-of-house use, and attach easily to bars for a convenient way to open bottles of wine.
Lever corkscrews are quickly gaining popularity thanks to their ease of use. Most lever corkscrews only require two motions, one forward motion in which the worm is inserted into the cork and another that gently pulls the cork from the bottle. The real benefit of using a lever corkscrew is the amount of control they provide as the handle firmly holds the neck of the bottle while the corkscrew is in use. These corkscrews are great for front-of-house use, and feature a compact size to keep hidden behind the bar.
Wine cork extractors feature prongs that slide down between the wine bottle and cork to remove the cork from the bottle. They're ideally used with vintage corks made from natural cork. Best of all, extractors won't damage vintage wine corks or cause them to break apart dropping crumbs into the wine. Due to their small size, these extractors are great for keeping behind the bar or in aprons for convenient access.
Wall mount corkscrews mount to a beam or wall for optimal stability and security when removing wine corks. Wall mount corkscrews can be set for different penetration depths. This is useful for partial wine cork extraction at banquet room functions where the wine will be placed on the tables before the event begins. These corkscrews are great for back-of-house use, and ensure wine corks will not be lost or misplaced.
Continuous pull corkscrews work using a twist motion to drive the worm into the cork. Additionally, the sides of the continuous pull corkscrew sit on the sit on the neck of the bottle, and many styles have hinges on the handles so you can squeeze them around the bottles neck to get a better grip. Due to their small size and easy-to-use design, these corkscrews are great for front-of-house use by servers and bartenders.