How do you open a bottle of wine?

After removing the foil, how to open a bottle of wine more or less depends on the wine opener you’re using. A waiter’s corkscrew for instance is used by inserting the corkscrew into the center of the cork and twisting it until fully inserted. Then, hook the notch on the metal arm onto the lip of the bottle and pull the handle—and cork—upwards. Meanwhile, a winged corkscrew is used by pushing down its two metal arms after twisting the metal screw into the cork. (The cork should rise right up). And an electric wine opener should uncork your bottle on contact or with the push of a button.

How long does wine last after opening?

Most sommeliers say that the majority of wines can last five days after opening, although this depends on the type of wine . Red wine is typically good for three to five days, while some white and rosé wines can be left uncorked for five to seven days before becoming over-oxidized and the taste deteriorating.

The 10 Best Wine Openers of 2023

Before you reach for that celebratory or wedding planning bottle of wine (trust us—you’ll need one once you start coordinating vendors and sending out save-the-dates), you’re going to need a reliable wine opener to open that baby up. It's also a great (and often overlooked) addition to your registry—especially if your current wine opener is a flimsy version from your college days or first apartment. A good bottle opener will set you up for seamless entertaining for years to come—think wine and cheese parties, date nights, and more.

If you’re in the market for a new wine opener, it’s worth giving that purchase some thought. There are a ton of different variations out there, from electric models to waiter’s corkscrews to lever wine openers—and we tracked down the best of them all. Ultimately, any oenophile should look for a wine opener that’s durable, reliable, and doesn’t require too much strength to operate.

To help you get that vino into your glass ASAP, we researched the best options available. A few of our favorite picks include the Rabbit Original Lever Corkscrew Wine Opener, the Oster Electric Wine Opener, and the Hanee Wing Corkscrew Set.

Read on for the best wine openers.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for in a Wine Bottle Opener
FAQ
Why Trust Us

Courtesy of Rabbit Wine

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Take your wine from inside that uncorked bottle to your glass in just three seconds flat via The Original Rabbit Corkscrew. Hailing from the iconic wine tools brand, it automatically pulls up and then releases corks of all types effortlessly. The ergonomic handle and durable construction ensure comfortable, long-term use (there’s a 10-year warranty, too!) and it even includes a foil cutter and extra spiral. Available in three colors, this ultra-cool corkscrew will cut down on the time and energy between you and that well-deserved glass of vino.

Price at time of publish: $78

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Another pick from Rabbit, this electric wine opener uncorks your bottle upon contact—oh and ejects the cork, too—without so much as a button for you to push. An integrated foil cutter sits atop of the cap and it’s rechargeable, with a single chargeable to open 30+ bottles of wine. Ready, set, uncork!

Price at time of publish: $52

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oster-cordless-electric-wine-bottle-opener-with-foil-cutter

Amazon

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An electric wine opener at an amazing wallet-friendly price? Yes, please! At the touch of a button, this techy tool can open up to 30 bottles of wine on a single charge and comes with a compact base for recharging and storage. A soft-grip handle and included foil cutter are the perfect finishing touches.

Price at time of publish: $30

Coravin Model Eleven Bluetooth Wine Collector

Courtesy of Macy's

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Do you fear the ticking clock of oxidation the moment you uncork a bottle? Then splurge on this high-tech, Bluetooth-enabled wine opener and preservation system. Instead of completely uncorking the bottle, this device works by inserting a needle through the cork. Then just tip the bottle, pour, and save the rest for later. No more wasted wine for you.

Price at time of publish: $549

Courtesy of Williams Sonoma

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We love this quintessential wine opener for its simple and timeless design. And thanks to its compact size, it's also great for tossing in a tote if you’re heading to a BYOB restaurant or a picnic in the park. Crafted with sturdy stainless steel, this nifty option features an outer handle coated with Teflon for a smooth, secure grip, so you won't have to worry about spills.

Price at time of publish: $50

Hanee Premium Wing Corkscrew with Foil Cutter and Pouch

Courtesy of Amazon

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Another classic design, a winged corkscrew features a pair of wings that raise as the corkscrew is twisted into the cork. Pressing down the wings will allow you to pop out the cork with ease. With sturdy stainless steel and zinc alloy construction, this Hanee model will stand up to countless corks and is resistant to rust and corrosion. It also comes complete with a foil cutter and boasts a price many can afford. Plus, we just love the pretty rose gold hue!

Courtesy of Crate & Barrel

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Fast and efficient (which is exactly what you want when you go to open a bottle of wine!), lever corkscrews allow you to uncork the bottle in a single, push-pull motion. Consider this model from L’atelier Du Vin the crème de la crème of lever wine openers: With beautiful solid walnut and black steel construction and compact size, it features an integrated foil cutter (so you don’t have to go digging in your cutlery drawer for yet another tool) and allows for a secure and comfortable grip for quick and easy uncorking.

Royal Selangor Pewter Wine Celebration Cork Extractor

Courtesy of Wayfair

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Not familiar with this type of wine opener? Well, it’s specifically used to open older bottles of wine to avoid the brittle cork from breaking apart. This pretty pewter model features two steel prongs and a fan-like handle for better grip control. It comes complete with a matching pewter sheath to protect the steel prongs until it's time to open another vintage bottle.

Price at time of publish: $100

Courtesy of Amazon

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Perfect for gifting (along with a bottle of wine, of course!), this set comes with all the essentials for openeing and pouring a gorgeous glass. It includes an air pressure opener, foil cutter, aerator pourer to accelerate the oxidation process, a vacuum stopper, and a chiller pourer for crisp white wines. It's the ultimate pick for the amateur sommelier.

Price at time of publish: $70

Brayden Studio Hardison Tabletop Corkscrew

Courtesy of Wayfair

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Why open your bottle in the kitchen before guests arrive when you can open it tableside with this stunning set-up? Made for entertaining, this tabletop wine opener features a stainless steel lever that can be adjusted to accommodate bottles of various sizes, while its gleaming gold platform tilts and stabilizes the bottle for easy opening via the corkscrew.

Price at time of publish: $165

What to Look for in a Wine Bottle Opener

Function and Usability

Ready to pop that bottle? Then you'll want to look for something that's functional and easy to use, based on your needs and preferences. Electric wine openers—such as the Rabbit Original Lever Corkscrew Wine Opener and the Rabbit Automatic Electric Corkscrew—make opening wine as simple as the click of a button. On a budget? Go for the Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener that’ll effortlessly uncork your bottle in seconds with a similarly no-sweat price tag. If you prefer manual or traditional wine opener designs, there are tons of options available–from winged corkscrews to waiter corkscrews.

Occasion and Purpose

When shopping for a new wine opener, consider the occasions you'll need it for and the reason for opening up bottles of wine. If you're an avid host, you might consider a display piece that'll impress all your guests and serve them a delicious glass of red or white–we love the Brayden Studio Hardison Tabletop Corkscrew. If you want a simple, no-fuss design you can use for weekly wine nights or a date night at home, opt for handheld, compact options you can stick in a kitchen drawer.

FAQ

How do you open a bottle of wine?

After removing the foil, how to open a bottle of wine more or less depends on the wine opener you’re using. A waiter’s corkscrew for instance is used by inserting the corkscrew into the center of the cork and twisting it until fully inserted. Then, hook the notch on the metal arm onto the lip of the bottle and pull the handle—and cork—upwards.
Meanwhile, a winged corkscrew is used by pushing down its two metal arms after twisting the metal screw into the cork. (The cork should rise right up). And an electric wine opener should uncork your bottle on contact or with the push of a button.
How long does wine last after opening?

Most sommeliers say that the majority of wines can last five days after opening, although this depends on the type of wine. Red wine is typically good for three to five days, while some white and rosé wines can be left uncorked for five to seven days before becoming over-oxidized and the taste deteriorating.

Why trust Brides?

Brides contributor Jamie Cuccinelli has several years of experience in the wedding and lifestyle industries, first as an editor of Brides.com and then as a writer for home and lifestyle websites like MyDomaine, where she became seasoned in outfitting a killer wedding registry and kitchen cutlery drawer. Plus, she’s opened quite a few bottles of wine in her day (not to brag or anything…) and knows the task can only go as smoothly as your wine opener is sturdy.