7 Best Wine Openers, According to Wine Experts

This inexpensive yet heavy-duty corkscrew is for anyone who wants a go-to trusty bottle opener. (So, all of us?) The Rabbit won't fold or get jammed, and its corkscrew is coated in teflon to ensure a smooth grip of the cork. Bonus: It's made with stainless steel to take on your most stubborn bottle of vino.

"It's one of my favorite wine keys," says Arjav Ezekiel, owner of Birdie’s in Austin and one of Esquire’s 2022 wine gurus of the year. "It goes in and out of the cork with a lot of ease. The knife is wonderful. It's got the perfect serration that allows you to cut the foil without jagged tears."

You've probably heard of Le Creuset. The brand's variety of colorways and sturdy cottage-core dutch oven designs are both, in a word, iconic. But we bet you've never tried their bottle opener, which is just as reliable and useful as anything else they make. The Le Creuset Waiters Corkscrew is not only sleek in design but also highly functional—and it'll definitely last you through many many bottles of wine.

"This is my entry level recommendation." Aaron Thompson, co-owner of the bar Brother Wolf and restaurant Osteria Stella says. "It's simple and durable. I have one, and it's great and so easy to use."

The Laguiole Corkscrew is the gold standard that all other corkscrews are measured by. According to our experts, it is the sturdiest, most functional, and also beautiful opener on the market.

"Corkscrews were originally invented for perfume bottles, because they used to be corked," Victoria James says, beverage director at the Michelin-starred Cote in NYC and Miami. "This is the classic one I recommend." Rose Previte, co-owner of Go There Wines and Compass Rose restaurant in Washington, D.C. adds: "This is a luxury. It has a big beautiful wood handle, and it’s smooth as a butter. It's a delight to work with."

The Durand is a no frills, highly proficient piece of hardware especially tailored for hard-to-open vintage bottles. (So if your cork is looking ready to fall apart into that dusty, special occasion selection, grab this.) With dual-sided blades that slide alongside the neck of the bottle to gently grasp the cork whole, The Durand will make sure you never sift cork out of your glass again.

"If you open a lot of older bottles, the Durand is really great because the cork won't break," James says. "It's absolutely essential for vintage wines." Adds Ezekiel: "I highly recommend it for any wine over ten or fifteen years old."

The affordable take on The Durand bottle opener, the Ah So Opener also boasts the ability to take on your oldest bottles. With its two prong puller, the Ah So holds the cork to keep it intact during uncorking. If all else fails to pull loose a stubborn crumbling cork, you can rely on the Ah So.

"An absolutely essential tool, if you open older bottles of wine at home," says James.

Code38's P-Type Pro wine key may be expensive, but it'll last you a lifetime. The heavyweight design gives any user a good handle on whatever bottle they're uncorking. It's the perfect gift or splurge for any true wine lover.

"I love this one," says Amy Racine, beverage director of Iris in NYC. (Iris is a former Best New Restaurant at Esquire, and in 2021, we awarded Racine our Beverage Director of the Year award.) "I use mine multiple times a day, and it has a really long warranty. The blade can cut through metal, but it's not serrated—you won't cut yourself. It's an industry favorite."

The ultimate luxury purchase for the wine obsessive in your life. The handle is made of burled walnut, and each piece is handcrafted by an artisan. Added to the appeal, the ergonomic design makes it easy to use for any skill level. In short, this is the Cadillac of bottle openers.

"For serious wine enthusiasts without a budget, this one is gorgeous," says Thompson. "It's made of incredible materials and hand made in France. And they all have a warranties. It'll last you a lifetime."