The Story of a Mythical Object: The Corkscrew
Whether you are a collector or simply curious, you will learn everything there is to know about this object!
I) The ancestor of the corkscrew: the barrel auger
The barrel auger is an everyday tool used to open wine barrels. No one knows for sure when the first "true" corkscrew was used. It is assumed to have been in the mid-17th century in England.
So, who invented the corkscrew?
From the moment the first glass bottles arrived in England at the end of the 17th century, inventors began creating tools to facilitate the removal of corks. Its form would be continually modified over the next two centuries, resulting in all the different types of corkscrews we know today.
If you like the collection of Antique Corkscrews or want to treat yourself to Vintage Mechanisms, go and take a look at our range of "Antique" type corkscrews .
2) The birth of the modern corkscrew
As the design of the wine bottle changed and to facilitate horizontal storage: tighter cork stoppers were needed.
The first reference to a corkscrew dates back to the 1680s . These instruments were called "steel worms." They were inspired by gun cleaning tools (gun worms) made by gunsmiths. Over the next three centuries, inventors filed numerous patents, all with the aim of improving bottle-opening techniques.
3) The first patented corkscrew
The first patent for a corkscrew was filed by Reverend Samuel Henshall of Oxford in 1795. Its difference from the steel worm was that it had an attached disc which prevented the worm from going too far and getting stuck. Then, in 1802, another patent was issued for a hinged corkscrew.
4) A succession of innovations in bottle openers
The next important design was patented by Sir Edward Thomason in 1802. His ingenious bottle opener mechanism features male and female threads. By inserting the knob into the cork and then continuously turning the handle clockwise, the cork is extracted quickly and easily. This innovation also gave rise to the famous "Zig-Zag" type corkscrew.
From this came the Simple Lever Bottle Openers, Waiter's , Sommelier's , screw-type, wing-type and all modern styles, including the Screwpull type "Rabbit ".
4) The Sommelier's Corkscrew
Initially called "The Waiter's Friend" and "The Wine Key ," the Sommelier's Corkscrew was invented in 1802 by the German Carl F.A. Wienke. Later developed into the Waiter's Corkscrew, this bottle opener has a simple yet practical knife-like shape (hence its nickname, " The Sommelier's Knife "). This corkscrew variant is highly valued in the professional service industry for its practicality and efficiency. It allows you to both cut foils with its small integrated "foil cutter" blade and easily and forcefully uncork bottles. This model can be compared to the Waiter's Corkscrew, which resembles it but appeared later with the advent of plastic. Unlike the Sommelier's Corkscrew, it is not considered a professional corkscrew .
5) The Charles de Gaulle corkscrew (double lever)
The A1 Heeley Double Lever is a double-lever corkscrew invented in 1888. This bottle opener spread throughout the world, particularly in the United States in the 1930s. It was later patented by the Italian Dominick Rosati. Very practical, it quickly became popular because all you have to do is turn the screw in the cork and operate the levers to open the bottle, which is much more convenient than older corkscrews.
Anecdote: It is also called the Gaulle corkscrew or Charles de Gaulle corkscrew because of its design which recalls the gesture of the former president with his arms raised.
6) A modern bottle opener: the Screwpull
The Screwpull corkscrew was designed by Herbert Allen in 1979. This bottle opener is made from polycarbonate and metals such as zinc. With their high-end, even luxurious, look, they are very popular with individuals for their ease of use (semi-automatic) and original design. The prototype of this corkscrew can be found in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
7) The Electric Corkscrew: the technological and ergonomic ideal.
To date, no wine or champagne bottle opener is as efficient as an electric corkscrew . 100% automatic , this technological marvel, which appeared in the 2000s, is often associated with the high-end of corkscrews. It is easy to use and allows you to open wine bottles effortlessly. Initially simple, it is now available in a wide variety of equally sophisticated designs. This bottle opener is not widely used in professional settings because servers have to open a large number of bottles during their shifts, which would pose battery life problems, even with a rechargeable battery.
This article is coming to an end! Feel free to take a look at our Shop; we're a team of wine and corkscrew enthusiasts . We create our articles to share our passion with you, and purchasing an item would greatly help us develop our site and produce more FREE content!
P.S.: For English speakers, you can find information on a very interesting website: https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/history-of-the-wine-corkscrew/
🍷Thank you and see you very soon on bontirebouchon.fr !
