How to Use a Waiter’s Corkscrew

The waiter’s corkscrew, also known as a wine key, is the most traditional wine opener, largely preferred by restaurant and hospitality professionals. Its name comes from its popularity with waiters. Though small in size, its design makes this common gadget deceivingly complex for first-timers to use. 

It may take some practice to use the tool with flourish and finesse, but don’t be discouraged. Once you have the basics down, you’ll understand why this tool is a must-have for your home bar.

The Anatomy of a Waiter’s Style Corkscrew

Like a Swiss Army Knife, the waiter’s corkscrew is composed of a number of tools that fold into itself. There’s a small knife to cut a bottle’s foil capsule; the screw itself, which is also referred to as “the worm”; and a lever that’s used to pull out the cork.

It tends to be an economical wine opener. You can find cheap versions at most liquor stores, drugstores or department stores with a kitchen section. 

We recommend choosing a quality product from a trusted brand—one that will supply the necessary force to pop out the wine cork fully intact, and that you’ll feel good about using in front of house guests, partners and friends. We’re partial to corkscrews made from natural materials, like wood or horn, which are more durable (and more handsome) than plastic.

How to Open Wine with a Waiter’s Style Corkscrew

Step 1: Remove the foil capsule covering the top of the wine bottle. 

Marshall Tilden III, Chief Education Officer at Wine Enthusiast, recommends cutting below the bottom notch. “If there’s some foil that frays and the wine touches the foil, it can become tainted,” Tilden says.

If using your corkscrew’s built-in knife:

• Put your thumb or index finger at the back of the blade.
• Place the knife just below the lip, and slice horizontally halfway around the neck of the bottle.
• Using the same starting point, cut the other half of the foil in the opposite direction.
• Make a final, vertical cut up across the protruding lip to the top of the bottle.
• Tuck the blade back into the corkscrew.
• Pull away the foil capsule to expose the cork.

Step 2: Open the corkscrew so that it makes a T-shape by lifting the double-hinged piece and pulling out the worm.

Step 3: Grip the corkscrew by the top of the T, with the worm pointing down between your fingers.

Step 4: Pierce the center of the cork with the tip of the worm.

Step 5: Apply pressure as you twist the corkscrew counter-clockwise down into the cork.

Step 6: Continue turning until at least ¾ of the corkscrew is inserted in the cork.

Step 7: Bend the hinge so that the curved notch sits on the lip of the bottle.

Step 8: Hold the notch against the bottle lip for leverage with one hand; with the other, pull the corkscrew upwards.

Step 9: If using a two-step waiter’s key, switch to the second notch and finish pulling the cork out of the bottle.

Step 10: Twist the cork off the worm by hand.

Step 11: Drink and enjoy!

More Wine Serving Coverage

• How to open a bottle of Champagne without spilling a drop.
• Love aged bottles of wine? Then a cork retriever is for you.
• An electric opener is a no-fail method to pop a bottle of Champagne.
• Beware of cork taint and how it can affect your prized bottles of wine.
• Get to know the five enemies of wine and how you can guard against them.
• The 7 best corkscrews and wine keys, according to customer reviews.

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