Open Up
FRIENDS, FOOD AND A NICE SHIRAZ ALL OVER YOUR PANTS. SOUND FAMILIAR?
By Liza Schoenfein

(MONEY Magazine) – You crank the screw, the bottle indecorously pressed between your thighs, and finally, with a grunt, extract a broken cork. Unimpressive. The problem might be the corkscrew. Opening a bottle of wine should be as effortless as taking a sip, especially with so many well-designed tools out there. But which is the quickest, the most surefire? And does it cost a lot? We tested four and found that each offered an anxiety-free experience, although some were faster on the stopwatch than others. --LIZA SCHOENFEIN

Corkex: Automatic Cork Extractor $14.99 OPENED BOTTLE IN: 17.8 seconds[*] + Easy to use: Stick needle all the way through the cork and pump. Also, syringe-like design has heroin-chic appeal. - No foil cutter, so you need a separate knife for that part of the job. Doesn't work on synthetic corks.

MONEY'S PICK

Screwpull Table Corkscrew and Foilcutter $30 OPENED BOTTLE IN: 15.9 seconds[*] + The vertical design is a space saver, and it's very easy to use: Place corkscrew atop neck of bottle and twist handle (without pulling) until cork slides out. - Twisting the handle requires some strength.

Metrokane Rabbit $49.99 OPENED BOTTLE IN: 15 seconds[*] + Feels good in the hand. Once you've figured out all the levers and handles, it's foolproof. And removing the cork after use is another quick, easy motion. - Takes up too much room, requires coordination the first few times and is generally a bit of a production.

Pulltap's Waiter's Corkscrew $9.99 OPENED BOTTLE IN: 36.4 seconds[*] + Most waiter's corkscrews have only one lip rest, so prying out the cork can be awkward toward the end. The Pulltap's has two: One brings the cork out halfway and a second finishes the job. The pocket-size design makes it portable, and the attached serrated blade makes for quick, easy foil removal. - It takes practice, and there's room for error--the screw must be centered on the cork.

[*] Includes foil-cutting time.