Almost every wine fan has experienced it: the expensive champagne spills all over the guests when it is opened. Or the cork cannot be removed even with brute force. Is there another way? We tested three sparkling wine openers in everyday use.
Sparkling wines are synonymous with a good mood, and the choice has never been so plentiful: whether prosecco, champagne, cava or crémant and even more so German sparkling wine: almost all origins have improved significantly in quality in recent years. Many wine fans therefore have a bottle ready to hand in the fridge. However, opening the bottle is often an annoying hurdle. Bombproof closures do not match the party atmosphere. In the worst-case scenario, you almost break your fingers. In the end, the cork flies out of the bottle uncontrollably and shatters glasses. Or the well-dressed guests are showered with the expensive contents. This is fine for the award ceremony at Formula 1 races, but for wine fans it is simply embarrassing.
So there's no shame in using a champagne opener that does its job reliably. We tested and compared three models, each with different functions, in everyday use with various young and mature sparkling wines. What do they do better than opening by hand? How reliably and safely do they work?
VacuVin
The Champagne Opener does it in no time at all. First you unwrap the bottle from the tin foil capsule and remove the agraffe. Then place the four prongs over the cork so that the teeth sink into the material. Now place the bottle on the table, hold the Champagne Opener between your thumb, index and middle finger and turn the bottom of the bottle (not the opener). Despite the narrow dimensions, the lever angle is greater than by hand, so even tight corks can be lifted out of the bottle. At the end you have it in your hand with a soft pop and can free it from the firm grip of the metal prongs.
At around 15 euros, the cast metal opener, which is quite inexpensive, lies comfortably in the hand with its smooth metal surface and is ergonomically well designed. However, in the case of extra-stubborn corks, which occur from time to time with bottles that have been matured for a long time, it can happen that you have to grip very hard. In such cases, it is less suitable for delicate hands. The opener is also only recommended to a limited extent for wedding parties, where the Schampus flows in streams and bottles are opened every minute. Otherwise, the Champagne Opener is highly recommended. This virtually indestructible little helper works reliably - and fits easily into your luggage. Just in case.
Le Creuset
The SW-105 is more than just an opener. It has a large thread on the inside that you screw over the cork. As soon as the opener rests on the neck of the bottle, you simply turn it further and the cork is released from the neck of the bottle. This works easier than expected. Interestingly, even with a very cold bottle that has not been shaken, it comes out of the bottle with a nice "pop".
The second advantage is that you don't have to jump for cover to get out of the cork's trajectory. This is because the two arms of the opener converge conically at the top and close with a firmly attached lid. The cork is caught in the taper. This means that nobody has to crawl around on the floor to get it out from under the dresser. This clearly makes it the most practical opener in our comparison.
However, at around 60 euros, the solid metal SW-105 is not exactly cheap. It is made by Le Creuset from France, which has become famous for its cast iron pots. The opener is available in elegantly treated surfaces, such as glossy granite crystal, black nickel or matt silver. There is also a version made of smoked glass-coloured plastic, which is less than half the price at around 23 euros.
L'Atelier du Vin
The trick is so simple. Maybe that's why no one has thought of it yet? In champagne bottles, the wires of the basket run through small grooves in the cork to prevent them from slipping. The Pince à Bouchon makes use of this. It has a metal cap in the exact shape of the cork. The lugs in the opener fit exactly into the notches in the cork. In this way, the champagne tongs (around 25 euros) hold the cork in place without much effort. Anyone who has ever had to unscrew a stuck cork with their bare hands will appreciate this. The device also has a long handle for the whole hand. This creates a very useful leverage effect against stuck corks. Simply place your other hand around the neck of the bottle and your thumb on the cap from above. The cork is then twisted out of the neck with minimal force on the lever. No splashing, no broken nails. It works so simply that you wonder why there isn't something like this in every household.
The manufacturer L'Atelier du Vin from Paris produces fine wine accessories. A Parisian fashion designer creates the moulds. That's why the gadget not only looks good, it also feels very comfortable in the hand. The Pince à Bouchon is also available in combination with a cleverly designed waiter's knife (around 130 euros). The Soft Machine Dandy pries the spindle of the corkscrew out of the bottle neck with much greater force than a conventional waiter's knife - and in one go. Made from stainless steel and brass with acetate handle scales, this piece is an elegant nod to the 1920s. You can't pack much more into such a simply functioning helper.