Wine Openers: And the Cork Comes Off

Opening a bottle of wine can be of great difficulty for some people, particularly the wine novice. This is because wine, unlike other types of alcohol, doesn't always come with a twist-off bottle cap or a pull tab that allows for easy access. Instead, wine usually must be opened in other ways. While some people may get creative - using their teeth or trying to draw the cork out of the bottle with a flute and a snake charmer's attitude - most people simply invest in some sort of wine opener.

The concept of a wine opener, however, isn't exceptionally simple, with several different types of wine openers to choose from. Some people may have no idea what a wine opener looks like, others may have no idea where to buy one. Some people may think that a wine opener is an opening joke bottles of Merlot tell each other ("Okay, two bottles of Chardonnay walked into a bar, one of them spilled."), while others may simply think that a wine opener is a waiter.

But, no matter what preconceived notions people possess regarding wine openers, they are essential to the wine drinking community. Without them, we will remain thirsty.

Types of Wine Openers

It is estimated that there are hundreds of devices designed simply for the purpose of removing a cork from a wine bottle. Most of these involve some sort of corkscrew. Corkscrews are usually either Archimedian Screws or Helix Screws. According to some, Archimedian Screws have a bad reputation, known for chewing into the cork and causing parts to break off, peppering the wine with bits of wood. This is why many wine lovers prefer the Helix Screw, a screw that has a better grip, allowing a more complete cork removal.

As for all the different types of wine openers, there are quite a few. From wine openers encased in silver to those engraved with the initials of people celebrating a 50-year wedding anniversary, wine openers come in all shapes, sizes and forms. The following is a list of some of the most common:

The Waiter’s Corkscrew: The Waiter's Corkscrew is a corkscrew that comes with a knife-edge, a lever, and a Helix screw that all fold neatly into the body. This opener gets its name because it's the type many waiters carry, armed with the ability to open any bottle that may come to the table.

Article Author: Jenn Jordan

Jenn Jordan is a cartoonist in the Denver area. She loves drinking wine, watching sports, and her online gambling addiction could probably use an intervention. For syndication information, please visit her website at Greetings From Mars.

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