Having a good corkscrew is essential in order to be able to taste your wine. Faced with the variety of models and brands on the market, as well as the possible price range, it can be difficult to choose the ideal corkscrew. So which type of corkscrew should you choose ?
The easy one : the Charles de Gaulle corkscrew
You may not know, but to buy a Charles De Gaulle corkscrew takes us on a journey through history. Obviously, this corkscrew is aptly named. Charles de Gaulle used to raise his arms in the air during these speeches to the crowd. Invented by the English, this corkscrew honors the general's posture to greet the crowd or as a sign of victory.
It is one of the most used corkscrews, wine lovers love it for its ease of use. However, it is not recommended for old or deteriorated corks. Moreover, Make sure you don't have a piece of cork floating in your bottle, because the wick punctures the cork.
The essential one : the Sommelier corkscrew / waiter's corkscrew
The sommelier is the most popular corkscrew for restaurant professionals. This tool consists of a lever, a screw and ideally a small knife to cut the capsule. It takes a little practice to use it properly, but remains completely accessible.
The sommelier is the corkscrew you absolutely must have, it doesn't take up space and can therefore be transported anywhere. It is also recommended to extract a broken cork by inserting the screw skewed into the neck. The little extra : Be sure to choose a "two-stroke" Sommelier corkscrew. These are those with a lever consisting of two movable parts. They are more practical to use.
The unusual : the pneumatic corkscrew
An air corkscrew allows a bottle to be uncorked by planting a thin Teflon-coated needle in the cork. It works thanks to a pump system that increases the pressure in the bottle. This corkscrew is easy to use and does very little damage to the cork. It can be manual for the more adventurous, electric or gas cartridge for people who don't have to make any effort with the hand.
The expert : the twin blades corkscrew
The twin blades corkscrew is certainly the least known of this selection. As the name suggests, it consists of two blades and a handle. It requires a lot more practice than previous corkscrews. The blades must be slid gently between the bottle's neck and the cork, then all that's left is pull to uncork the bottle.
You will need some practice to master the gesture, but it is particularly effective for corks that are difficult to remove. Its main problem is obviously the risk of pushing the cork inside the bottle.
Why choosing the right corkscrew is key ?
Today, it is increasingly rare to come across a bad cork thanks to the innovation of producers. However, it is not uncommon to choose a bad corkscrew. Don't hesitate to think about your purchase and don't throw yourself on a corkscrew at an unbeatable price. Personally, I made the choice to’a sommelier for his practicality and a twin blades for recalcitrant corks.
And you, which corkscrew do you prefer ?
Jean-Nicolas Mouretin
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