The first written mention is contained in the work of Hugh Johnson, a wine critic, “The History of Wine”. In 1681, he wrote of “a steel worm that was used to get corks out of bottles.” In the XNUMXst century, there is a large selection of corkscrews that will help you pull out the cork without much effort.
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Types of corkscrews
Butterfly corkscrew
The most common type. It is in many kitchens because it is pretty much reliable. Placed right above the top of the bottle, drills a hole in the middle of the cork. To pull out the cork, press the lever.
Pros: cheap, efficient, easy to use.
Cons: bulky, leaves the cork completely mangled.
Corkscrew screw
Reliable as a butterfly, but not so rude. Easily fits on the top of the bottle and screw in. You just keep spinning it, and like magic, the cork pops out. A universal corkscrew will fit almost any bottle of wine, even those with fragile, damaged corks.
Pros: versatile, compact, gentle.
Cons: twice as much work, more expensive.
Gypsy Corkscrew (Butler’s Friend)
In fact, it cannot be called a corkscrew due to the lack of a screw. It consists of a long and shorter blade. Insert them between the glass and the cork, wiggle back and forth a little until the blades are completely immersed in the container, and then pull.
Pros: the best choice for loose or very dense corks. Looks impressive. Leaves the cork intact, which will appeal to collectors.
Sommelier knife (waiter’s corkscrew)
It is used by professionals. Looks like a pocket knife with a screw, lever, blade. Should be practiced before use. Once the screw is inside, turn once.
Continue screwing by turning the knob. Strictly at an angle of 90 °. Stop one turn before the end. Put the first notch on the neck of the container, raise the handle as much as possible. The cork should partially come out.
Install the second notch, raise the handle again.
Pros: portable, versatile, makes you look like a pro. Great for removing damaged plugs (simply insert the screw at a 45° angle).
Cons: requires training.
Electric corkscrew
Has the shape of a tube. Battery operated, rechargeable via Micro USB. Easily and quickly opens bottles. Inside it is a good old steel screw.
Pros: smart, modern, stylish.
Cons: price, size.
Electric wine corkscrew from Jardeko
Interesting Facts
Corks of perennial wines lose their hardness, become oily, plasticine. It is useless to open them with a screw. A “gypsy corkscrew” with blades on the sides that wrap around the cork without damaging it will do. Hence the name. This property was used by the servant, who could quietly drink wine and pour into the container of another.
The prototype for bottle dispensers was the champagne corkscrews of ancient times. They had the shape of a tube, a spiral and left a cork in the neck.
Devices with a century of history become part of the collections. Three thousand copies in the Spanish museum of the Dinastia Vivanko winery, more than two and a half thousand in the Greek winery Domaine Gerovassiliou, almost fifteen thousand in the French Museum Le Secq des Tournelles.
Once or twice a year, auctions are held where wine accessories are sold. The most expensive corkscrew cost $30. It was made in the 18th century from silver. Went under the hammer in 1997 at Christie’s.
Relevance: 06.05.2020
Tags: Encyclopedia