The Best Wine Openers

These days, wine lovers have plenty of excellent options for uncorking their favorite wine. From easy-to-use electric wine openers to inexpensive corkscrews, a great wine opener will ensure you aren’t left picking pieces of cork out of your glass.

Buying Guide for Wine Openers

Why buy a wine opener?

Investing in a high-quality wine opener can help you easily open your wine with minimal strain. Seeing as how there are plenty of amazing wine openers on the market less than the cost of a bottle of wine, finding the perfect wine opener for your kitchen just makes sense. They say a glass of wine even has some health benefits, so why not make sure you can easily reap those benefits when the craving for a glass of rosé arises.

What should you look for in a wine opener?

• Design: As most wine lovers know, there are many different types of wine openers that serve the same function. Simple corkscrews are a time-tested option for many and stand out due to their low cost and simple design. Wing (or rabbit) style wine openers are another popular choice. These are easy to use but do leave a little room for error, especially when used with old corks. Electric wine openers are yet another popular method for uncorking the wine. These score top marks for ease of use and are especially handy for those with arthritis or other health issues that make opening wine bottles difficult.
• Versatility: While this might come as a surprise to some, not all wine openers are designed to handle every type of cork. For the best results, invest in a well-rounded wine opener that can effectively remove corks of all kinds. From natural to synthetic, pristine to crumbly, your wine opener shouldn’t let you down when you need it the most.
• Style: Many wine openers come in various unique styles, so investing in a product that suits your taste isn’t a bad idea. Don’t forget to consider the style of your other kitchen accessories as well, especially if you’d like your wine opener to match the unique feel that you have created in your home.

What extras should you look for when buying a wine opener?

Most great wine openers will come with several extra features that can be used in a pinch. Naturally, a sharp, serrated foil cutter is an absolute must for removing the foil from your bottle of wine. Some products even come with an integrated bottle opener, which is great for those who love their beer as much as their wine. Finally, products that throw in an extra screw can be incredibly handy just in case your screw gets damaged while the rest of your wine opener escapes unscathed.

Our Picks for the Best Wine Openers

Pros: Featuring a great battery life and an affordable price tag, the Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener is an excellent option for those who want to open their wine bottle as simply as possible. This sleek electric wine opener works great for both natural and synthetic corks and can open old wine bottles without breaking the aged corks. It comes with a handy foil cutter and sports a battery life that will outlast even the most demanding wine tasting parties.

Cons: While this is one of the best budget-friendly electric wine openers on the market, it’s less intuitive to use than some may think. Thus, it’s highly recommended that you take a minute or two to read the instructions since using this model incorrectly can potentially damage your wine or wine opener.

Bottom Line: While this electric wine opener may not make you feel like a sommelier, it’s still an ideal product for those who want to open their wine bottle with minimal pain and strain. That being the case, those who suffer from arthritis or value simplicity over style will find this product to be a worthy addition to their kitchen.

 

Pros: Sporting a dual-hinged design that is adept at popping even the most stubborn corks, the HiCoup Kitchenware Corkscrew Bottle Opener is a product to consider. This wine opener minimizes user strain via its two fulcrum points and features amazing craftsmanship (as well as durability) given its low cost. To sweeten the deal, this wine opener comes in a wide variety of styles, including plenty of classic wood-inspired options and some bold pops of color.

Cons: Those who have never used a wine opener like this may take a little while to get up to speed. Thankfully, this product comes with clear, illustrated instructions for how to open your favorite bottle of wine. Additionally, some have noted that this wine opener doesn’t come with the sharpest foil cutter, so it may take a couple of passes to do the job.

Bottom Line: Given its affordable price and durable, authentic feel, this product is almost certain to be a hit with wine lovers. In fact, it’s even a great option for those who open wine bottles all day at work since it’s so easy to use in experienced hands. That being said, it does require a learning curve, so those seeking something foolproof and intuitive may be better off investing in another product.

 

Pros: If you’re looking for something simple and dependable, the Beneno Wine Opener is a great choice. This wine opener is incredibly easy to use for beginners and sports a much sturdier build quality than similar “winged” openers at its price range. It also includes a built-in bottle opener for when your wine cooler is empty. Factoring in the various sleek style options this wine opener comes in, it’s a product that should meet the needs of many.

Cons: Although this wine opener works well with natural and synthetic corks alike, it’s not an ideal tool for removing old, crumbly corks from vintage wine. Additionally, if you have a cluttered kitchen and would like to save space, this might not be the best wine opener for you.

Bottom Line: Wing wine openers are known for being effortless to use yet somewhat lacking in durability, but this product from Beneno earns praise in both regards. That being said, if you are the type that regularly pops open older wines, you probably won’t want to risk breaking a cork by using this product.

 

Pros: Don’t let the Chef Craft Select Waiter’s Corkscrew fool you with its bargain bin price; this highly-rated wine opener sports the durable feel of a much pricier product. It’s also a convenient buy thanks to its dishwasher-safe design and integrated bottle opener. If you’re on the lookout for a space-saving wine opener that won’t break your wine bottles (or the bank), this one is a stellar choice.

Cons: The main flaw with this wine opener is its foil cutter, which compensates for lack of sharpness with a serrated edge. Unfortunately, it’s not all that adept at removing foil and can even be difficult for some to pull out of its housing.

Bottom Line: Those looking to get the most value for the smallest investment will find a lot to love about this little wine opener. Two-step wine openers can take a little time to learn how to use, so this is a great product to buy in order to test one out for yourself without parting with too much cash.

 

Pros: Featuring a sturdy design that’s built to outlast its competitors, the OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew definitely impresses in terms of ease of use. Just push the lever down, then lift it up, and you are ready to enjoy your favorite wine. Among non-electric wine openers, this one takes the cake for superior results with minimal physical strain, making it great for those with arthritis. It also comes with an extra screw to extend its lifespan even more.

Cons: While it’s hard to compare this wine opener to other non-electric models, it’s also impossible to disregard the fact that it is much more expensive than most wine openers on the market.

Bottom Line: Although this might be the last wine opener some people will ever need, it won’t be an ideal purchase for everyone, given its expensive price tag. However, its ease of use is comparable to most electric models, so those who don’t mind spending a little extra for a quality product won’t regret their purchase.

Final Thoughts

Thankfully, wine lovers have tons of options when looking for a great wine opener. If you pick one of these sturdy wine openers that cater to your unique style and needs, you are almost certain to love the choice you made.