The Best Wine Openers
Unlike other beverages, most wines require a special tool to remove the bottle's cork. Finding a good corkscrew makes opening a wine bottle much easier. The key to finding an opener that will be a go-to tool is as simple as looking for certain components in the corkscrew's design. Does this Spark an idea?
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Corks
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While some wines are sold in bottles with a screw cap, most are sealed with a cork. Cork is a natural material that allows wine, which is a living substance due to the action of yeast and sugars, to breathe and mature. When a wine bottle is stored on its side, the wine moistens the cork, swelling it to seal out excessive air that would otherwise prematurely deteriorate it. This is especially important for expensive wines that are aged in a cellar. Since it is a wooden stopper, a cork must be extracted with a tool that removes it cleanly, completely and without crumbling (in the case of an old bottle of wine).
The Worm and Corkscrew
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In selecting a good wine opener, the most important consideration is the curly part of the corkscrew called the worm. It must be an open spiral with round edges whose diameter is at least 50 percent of the width of the end of the cork. A worm that has sharp edges, is not open, or is too narrow or short, may rip through the cork without removing it. In restaurants where bottled wine is sold frequently, waiters use a folding corkscrew that features a worm that makes removing the cork quick and efficient. This type of corkscrew is available at virtually every wine shop and wherever high-quality kitchen wares are sold. The tip of the worm is inserted slightly off center before turning it so that, when fully engaged, the worm is centered into the cork. If the tip is inserted directly in the center, the worm will be skewed to the side, making removal more difficult because the corkscrew may break through the side of the cork.
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Leverage
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When the worm is fully and firmly engaged, the flange on the waiter's corkscrew sits on the lip of the bottle. The handle is lifted with the flange serving as leverage. Some folding corkscrews feature two cutouts on the flange -- one to start lifting the cork and a second for when the cork is about halfway out of the bottle. This process requires less strength and is easier for novices.
Folding Corkscrew Alternates
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Another good design is the twisting pull corkscrew. The worm is centered over the top of the bottle and the handle is turned clockwise, which lowers and inserts the worm into the cork. Once fully engaged, the continual clockwise rotation removes the cork. Many wine lovers swear by this corkscrew and won't use any other. Some cork screws have two curved metal prongs. One prong is longer than the other and is inserted between the cork and the inside of the bottle neck. Holding the handle, the prongs are rocked down into place. When the prongs are fully inserted, the handle is then twisted while pulling out the cork. Some wine connoisseurs prefer this device because the cork is not damaged in the process.
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References
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