Wine Openers: Reviews

Updated September 2009

When it comes to choosing a wine opener, experts say nearly any type will do. Lever-style wine openers are easiest to use, but simple corkscrews will do the trick, too. Despite a lack of consensus on which type is best, reviews indicate that some specific wine openers are definitely better than others. ConsumerSearch recommends both lever and corkscrew wine openers, based on professional and user opinion.

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Best wine opener overall

Le Creuset Screwpull Lever Model Elegance

*Est. $100 Compare Prices

Although it's expensive, reviewers identify the Le Creuset Screwpull Lever Model Elegance as the best wine opener. Like other lever wine openers, the Screwpull Elegance doesn't require nearly as much arm or hand strength… expandas a regular corkscrew. Reviewers say the Screwpull Elegance is simple to use, with durable metal handles and an included foil cutter. It also comes with a gift box and an extra corkscrew. Experts prefer this model to the Screwpull Classic (*Est. $85), which has plastic handles. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: Good Housekeeping calls the Le Creuset Screwpull Lever Model Elegance wine opener the "ultimate investment." The Screwpull Elegance wine opener is praised for its durability, precision and eye appeal.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org reviews 19 wine openers, and though the magazine has some great information on the different types, details on the best wine openers are sparse.

Amazon.com: About a dozen user reviews are posted here for the Le Creuset Screwpull Lever Model Elegance wine opener.

Buzzillions.com: Just a handful of owner-written reviews are listed for the Le Creuset Screwpull Lever Model Elegance wine opener at the time of our visit to this website, and they are overwhelmingly positive.

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Best value wine opener

Vacu Vin Winemaster

*Est. $40 Compare Prices

While the more expensive Screwpull lever wine opener gets better reviews overall, experts say the Vacu Vin Winemaster is an excellent value. It also uses levers to extract the cork with minimal effort, but reviewers say… expandthe Vacu Vin has a bit of a learning curve. Still, it's a far better value than the Screwpull wine openers, and many owners like it just as much. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: Good Housekeeping chooses the Vacu Vin Corkscrew Winemaster as the most reliable of the 24 wine openers in their test.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests 19 wine openers, also outlining the differences between types.

Amazon.com: More than 40 owners rate the Vacu Vin Winemaster wine opener, with the majority giving it a five-star rating.

Cooking.com: At the time of our visit to this website, only half a dozen owner-written reviews were listed for Vacu Vin Winemaster wine opener.

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Buy from Amazon for $64.99
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Budget corkscrew

Oxo Good Grips CorkPull

*Est. $20 Compare Prices

If you don't want anything fancy, experts say that continuous-turn corkscrews are an improvement over traditional screw-and-pull corkscrews. The Oxo Good Grips CorkPull doesn't actually require pulling -- you just keep… expandtwisting the worm in the same direction and the cork rides up the spiral. Reviewers like the large handle and simple operation. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Choice magazine: Testers at Choice rate wine openers based on ease of use and ergonomics.

Good Housekeeping: Experts at Good Housekeeping headline the Oxo Good Grips CorkPull as "easy to use." They find the rubber handle comfortable, but they say the foil cutter is awkward to use.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests 19 wine openers of various types, three of which are of the continuous-turn variety.

Amazon.com: About two dozen owners of the Oxo Good Grips CorkPull give it mixed scores overall.

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Buy from Amazon for $22.50
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Waiter's wine opener

Oxo Good Grips Waiter's Corkscrew

*Est. $12 Compare Prices

Corkscrews don't get much more low-tech than a so-called "waiter's friend" corkscrew. Experts say it takes some practice to use this type of restaurant-style corkscrew, but once you get the hang of it, it's rewarding.… expandUsing a waiter's wine opener requires good hand and arm strength. Most reviewers say lever-style and continuous-turn wine openers are easier to use, but a waiter's corkscrew is easily portable and can last forever. In one review, the simple Oxo Good Grips Waiter's Corkscrew wins over models that cost four times as much. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: Reviewers at Good Housekeeping unanimously prefer the Oxo Waiter's Corkscrew over the 24 other wine openers they test.

Amazon.com: We found close to 20 user reviews for the OXO Good Grips Waiter's Corkscrew, the majority of which are positive.

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Buy from Amazon for $12.99
SimplySmart- Living.com for $14.50	Amazon for $12.99

Electric wine opener

Oster Inspire Cordless Wine Opener

*Est. $20 Compare Prices

If you will be opening multiple wine bottles during a party or if you have difficulty using more traditional openers, an electric wine bottle opener may be a good alternative to traditional wine openers. Reviewers… expandrecommend the Oster Inspire Cordless Wine Opener because it allows for easy removal of corks with minimal effort. Owners and reviewers note that the Oster Inspire is a little noisy, and you need to keep it plugged in and charged up. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Cook's Illustrated editors test three rechargeable electric wine openers, judging performance based on speed, accuracy and handling.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org discusses the reasons one might opt for an electric model, and reviews three models.

Amazon.com: At the time of our visit, nearly 400 owners had reviewed the Oster Inspire Cordless Wine Opener.

Target.com: About two dozen owners review the Oster Inspire Cordless Wine Opener, giving it an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five.

RateItAll.com: About a half-dozen owners review the Oster Inspire Cordless Wine Opener, and comments are mixed.

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