Find A High-tech Or Low-tech Wine Opener

Just about every modern kitchen possesses a wine opener of some kind. Since the grape continues popular, with quality wines available at decent prices, reds and whites will continue to feature at meal times, parties, and over a game of monopoly. Many bottles feature corks in spite of a move towards screw caps in some cases.

The list of restaurants serving wine is long. Certain fine establishments boast whole cellars awaiting the pleasure of consumers while smaller establishments stick to a proven list of inexpensive favorites sold by the glass. That can still amount to a lot of wine each night. Though new technology offers continued innovations in the art of opening chardonnay, there are also old favorites which continue to work with little or no change to their manufacture.

The very cheapest form of corkscrew is perhaps a plastic travel item. This comes in two parts. One holds the metal corkscrew, the other is a cover. When the cover comes off it forms a T over the other which then becomes a grip for pushing in the metal before pulling out the cork. Slide the cover back on and no one gets hurt.

These devices often amount to just a corkscrew with a wooden bar across the top. Other forms include brightly colored plastic makes. The cover slides off to form a T, sliding back on to protect anyone from a sharp poke.

Only slightly more technical is the leverage-operated opener. These are only slightly more expensive. Push the screw in, but forget brute force for getting the cork out. A metal arm opens out to slip under your bottle rim. Push down on the other part and you will be pouring Riesling in under a minute.

A favorite of housewives is the ratchet opener. This uses similar principles to the lever, only with a bit of help turning the screw. Do this using the handle, which doubles as a bottle opener in some versions. While twisting, the handle or handles come up to be pulled down, releasing the cork. Stainless steel, bright blue: there are frequent additions to this market for those who want to match opener with other kitchen accessories.

Recently, electric products have been stirring up interest. These take much of the effort out of opening wine as well as strain from repetitive pulling and twisting actions. Make sure your battery is charged and you may only need to press a button to release the heavenly aroma your guests or patrons are waiting for.

If there is a simpler way, inventors are out there looking for it. The industry changes all the time, with openers specific to types of wine. For example one product available on-line is a simple, low-tech opener made particularly for champagne and sparkling wines. Consumers will find just about every color of plastic, all kinds of metal, even personalized and novelty openers. The best way to discover your kind of wine opener is to see a few in action at wine bars and fine restaurants. Style is great, but the most important aspect is that your device works easily and no one is left disappointed.