Best Sommelier Corkscrew
By Carlos E Antillano · Last updated: October 22, 2026 · LaguioleEnAubracShop.com, the authorized USA Laguiole en Aubrac distributor
The short answer
There is no single best sommelier corkscrew; there is a best one for how you open wine. Every serious option is a waiter's corkscrew (also called a wine key or sommelier knife): a folding tool with a foil cutter, a worm and a lever that rests on the bottle lip. What separates them is the lever, the worm, the build and how much of it was made by hand.
- Best for opening wine all night, every night, on a budget: Pulltap's Classic, the double-hinged corkscrew from Pulltex in Barcelona. Roughly $10 to $40, light, fast, and cheap enough to lose.
- Best premium working tool: Code38, made in Australia and built for heavy professional service. A premium price: the Elite series starts around $395.
- Best inexpensive French-made corkscrew: Coutale Sommelier, a double-lever corkscrew made in France for around $20.
- The classic luxury sommelier corkscrew: Château Laguiole, designed by sommelier Guy Vialis in the early 1990s and sold by the Court of Master Sommeliers in a special edition. Around $230 at US dealers.
- Best handmade sommelier knife from the Laguiole homeland: Laguiole en Aubrac, made by hand in Espalion, in the Aubrac region of France, since 1992. From $139.95 in brushed stainless steel; the olivewood model is $199.95. Every piece is unique and comes with its certificate.
A word about who is telling you this
We sell Laguiole en Aubrac and nothing else on this list. We have included the others because a sommelier who opens 200 bottles a week has different needs from someone buying a corkscrew they will keep for 30 years, and a recommendation that ignores that is not worth much. Facts about other makers come from their own pages or their authorized sellers, and prices are approximate US street prices as of October 2026. Check current prices with each seller.
What makes a good sommelier corkscrew
Five things matter far more than the name on the handle:
- The worm (helix). Look for an open spiral you can see through, around five turns, with a sharp tip. An open spiral grips the cork without drilling a hole down its middle, and five turns are enough for a long cork without going through the bottom of a short one. A non-stick coating helps it glide into dry corks.
- The lever. A double-hinged lever pulls the cork in two short steps: you lift halfway on the first notch, then finish on the second. A single lever pulls in one longer stroke and asks for a little more technique. More on this below.
- The foil cutter. A serrated blade cuts foil cleanly in one turn and stays useful for longer. A smooth blade can be sharpened, but dulls faster on foil.
- The hinges and build. Loose hinges and a wobbly worm are what wear out first on cheap corkscrews. Rivets should be flush and the worm should sit firmly with no side play.
- Size and feel. Most waiter's corkscrews are 4½ to 5 inches folded. A heavier, solid body feels steadier in the hand; a lighter one is easier to carry in an apron all night.
The main sommelier corkscrews compared
| Corkscrew | Made in | Lever | What stands out | Typical US price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulltap's Classic (Pulltex) | Spain | Double-hinged | Pulltap's patented the double-hinged lever in 1992; serrated foil cutter | $10–$40 | Busy floors, wine bars, anyone who loses corkscrews |
| Coutale Sommelier | France | Double-hinged | Stainless frame, six-turn non-stick worm, patented design | About $20 | A French-made working corkscrew at a low price |
| Code38 | Australia | Varies by model | Heavy-duty construction for professional service; titanium and stainless versions; made with the Court of Master Sommeliers in special editions | Elite series from about $395 | Professionals who want a working tool that lasts |
| Château Laguiole | France | Classic Laguiole style | Designed by sommelier Guy Vialis; Court of Master Sommeliers special edition | About $230 | The classic luxury corkscrew for service |
| Laguiole en Aubrac | Espalion, Aubrac, France | Single lever (classic style) | Made by hand since 1992; every handle is unique; certificate with every piece; over 20 woods plus horn, stone and stainless | $139.95–$649.95 | A handmade sommelier knife to keep for decades, or to give |
We only sell Laguiole en Aubrac. For the other corkscrews, buy from the maker or its authorized sellers.
Single lever or double-hinged: which should a sommelier choose?
The waiter's corkscrew was patented by Karl Wienke in Germany in 1882 with a single lever, and that is still the shape of the classic French sommelier knife, including the Laguiole. The double-hinged lever arrived much later, in the 1990s, and made the pull easier on long or fragile corks.
- Choose double-hinged if you open a lot of bottles fast, are still learning, or often face long corks in older bottles. Less force, less chance of a broken cork.
- Choose a single lever if you want the traditional silhouette and a tool you control by feel. The technique is simple: drive the worm in fully, set the lever on the lip, lift until the cork is most of the way out, then ease the last part out by hand so it doesn't pop.
A practical setup is to own both: a double-hinged corkscrew in the apron for a busy service, and a handmade one for the table, for tastings and for the bottles that matter.
Which Laguiole en Aubrac sommelier to choose
Every Laguiole en Aubrac sommelier has the same three functions, foil cutter, corkscrew and bottle opener, in a 4¾-inch (12 cm) folded body. You are choosing the handle, the finish and how much hand decoration goes on the spine and the bee.
| If you are… | Choose | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| A working sommelier | Brushed stainless steel | $139.95 | No wood or horn to dry out in an apron; the brushed finish hides service marks |
| Wanting a little more shine at the table | Polished stainless steel | $149.95 | The same all-steel body, mirror polished |
| Buying your first handmade corkscrew | Olivewood | $199.95 | Dense, naturally oily wood that is easy to live with; the most popular handle |
| A wine lover, or buying for one | Grapevine wood | $199.95 | A handle cut from vine wood: the one material that means something to a wine person |
| After the traditional Laguiole look | Buffalo horn | $199.95 | Dark, translucent horn; no two handles have the same figure |
| Giving a gift that has to impress | DeLuxe olivewood, twisted bolster | $229.95 | A hand-worked rope-style bolster and crafting along the spine |
To see every line side by side, from classic woods to the numbered DeLuxe pieces, use our corkscrew line comparison. For our picks within the Laguiole name only, read the best Laguiole corkscrew.
Is an expensive sommelier corkscrew worth it?
For opening bottles, no: a $15 double-hinged corkscrew opens the same wine. What a handmade corkscrew buys is different. You get a natural handle no one else has, hand finishing you can see and feel, and an object people notice when you open a bottle at the table. That is why a handmade sommelier knife is a popular gift for wine professionals, and why it makes sense to keep one alongside a working corkscrew.
One warning: "Laguiole" is a knife style, not a brand, and the name is used on many mass-produced corkscrews. A genuine French handmade Laguiole sommelier does not cost $25. Look for the maker's name on the blade next to the word Laguiole, a natural handle with its own grain, and a certificate. Our guide on how to spot a fake Laguiole covers the details.
How to look after a sommelier corkscrew
- Never use the dishwasher. Heat and detergent loosen hinges, dull the foil cutter and crack wood and horn.
- Wipe the worm dry after use; wine sits in the spiral.
- A drop of mineral oil on the hinges a few times a year keeps the lever and the worm opening smoothly.
- Wood and horn handles like a light wipe of food-safe oil once or twice a year, and no long spells in direct sun or next to a radiator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sommelier corkscrew?
It depends on how you use it. For fast, everyday service, a double-hinged corkscrew such as the Pulltap's Classic (about $10 to $40) is the standard. For a premium working tool, Code38 (the Elite series starts around $395). For a handmade corkscrew to keep for decades or to give, a Laguiole sommelier made in France, such as Laguiole en Aubrac, handmade in Espalion since 1992, from $139.95.
What corkscrew do sommeliers use?
Sommeliers use waiter's corkscrews, also called wine keys or sommelier knives, because they fold into a pocket and open a bottle quietly at the table. A common setup is an inexpensive double-hinged model for busy service and a handmade corkscrew, such as a French Laguiole, for the table and for special bottles.
Is a single-lever or double-hinged corkscrew better?
A double-hinged lever pulls the cork in two short steps and needs less force, which helps with long or fragile corks. A single lever is the original 1882 design and the classic shape of the French sommelier knife; it pulls in one stroke and gives more control by feel. Neither is better for every bottle, which is why it is worth owning one of each.
What is a waiter's friend?
Another name for the waiter's corkscrew: a folding tool with a foil cutter, a worm and a lever that rests on the bottle lip. Karl Wienke patented the design in Germany in 1882.
How many turns should a corkscrew worm have?
About five turns on an open spiral is the usual choice. It reaches the full length of a long cork without going through a short one, and the open spiral grips the cork instead of tearing a hole through its center.
What is a good gift for a sommelier?
A handmade sommelier knife they would not buy for themselves. A Laguiole en Aubrac corkscrew in grapevine wood ($199.95) is made from the vine itself, and every piece comes in a French oak box with its certificate. See our holiday gift guide for more ideas.
Where are Laguiole en Aubrac corkscrews made?
In Espalion, in the Aubrac region of France, by Laguiole en Aubrac, founded in 1992. Every item is unique, fully handcrafted, and comes with its certificate. LaguioleEnAubracShop.com is the authorized USA Laguiole en Aubrac distributor.
Can a sommelier corkscrew go in the dishwasher?
No. Wipe it clean by hand and dry it. Dishwasher heat and detergent damage the hinges, the foil cutter and any natural handle.