Best Electric Wine Openers

Everyone who enjoys wine or ever hosts dinner parties can benefit from an electric wine opener, as everyone has probably across one of those “impossible” bottles that refuses all human attempts to remove the cork.

If you don’t drink wine yourself, then you could likely benefit from an electric corkscrew nonetheless, as you’ll have less experience with a traditional model that’s more difficult to use. It is much easier to push a button and let the appliance do the work for you. Furthermore, electric wine openers are especially useful for anyone who has problems with their hands, including arthritis sufferers or even just elderly persons with less hand strength. If this sounds like you, using an electric version can be an excellent way to regain some of your freedom and to enable you to open a bottle of wine, without having to ask for help.

While the design may vary slightly from one model to the next, all models essentially follow an identical procedure. Once you’ve selected your vintage and used your foil cutter to remove the foil covering the top of the cork, you’re now ready to open your bottle.

Using an electric corkscrew is extremely simple. Begin by positioning your corkscrew so that the worm is centered over the cork. Press down and hold the button. This will engage the motor and the worm will start to turn, descending down into the cork. Once it is fully descended, the worm will change rotation and begin to bring the cork upwards. This can take a little time depending upon the cork type and how powerful the motor is.

Once removed, keep your finger on the button to have the cork descend again, so you can remove it from your appliance. Once finished, you can then replace it on its base and enjoy your glass of (effortlessly) opened wine.

When you are looking for the best electric wine opener, it’s important to check that your model has the right features to ensure that it’s the best choice for your needs. So, before you hit ‘order’, take a few moments to look through our list of essential electric corkscrew features:

Rechargeable or Battery-Powered

One of the main decisions you’ll have to make between different models is whether you want a battery-powered or a rechargeable model. At first sight, rechargeable models tend to appeal more, as you won’t need to buy replacement batteries and therefore cannot run out of them at those critical moments, like dinner parties or wine nights, for example. Rechargeable wine openers can simply be plugged in as and when you like to keep them fully charged up. Some people find battery powered corkscrews to be more convenient for them, though, because they tend to last a long time on one set of batteries without having to remember to keep the corkscrew charged.

Charging Stand

If you opt for a rechargeable model, be sure to check what it comes with to charge it up. Some come with bases, while others just have a wire that plugs in. If you want to leave your electric wine bottle opener out on display and plan to use it frequently, then you may prefer one with a stylish base. This will ensure that your electric corkscrew remains topped up and ready to use while also looking great.

When you are choosing your model, be sure to pay attention to the dimensions of the stand, especially if you are short on space. Also, take a close look at how the corkscrew fixes into the stand, as some can be tricky to get into the right position without a little effort. Lastly, some stands are back-lit with LED lights, which can be a nice touch. Not everyone appreciates this feature, though, especially if it cannot be turned off.

Capacity

When you purchase an electric wine bottle opener, either rechargeable or battery powered, check to see how many bottles it can open between charges or battery changes. Bear in mind that manufacturers are often a little over optimistic with their estimations. Unless you are throwing a particularly large event, though, you are unlikely to need to open a number of bottles in excess of this figure. Nevertheless, this is still a good indicator of how often you will need to charge up your opener or to change its batteries.

Construction Material

While you would probably prefer a lightweight opener, you need to be sure that your model is made from a durable material that is able to stand up to regular use. Bottle openers tend to undergo a fair amount of mishandling, especially as the night wears on. If you intend to be using your electric corkscrew fairly regularly, you should look for one that’s made from a solid, strong material such as stainless steel. Our top pick, the Secura Electric Wine Bottle Opener is a great example of this.

Transparent Shaft

Not all electric wine openers have a transparent shaft, but it is an important feature to seek. Purchasing a model with a transparent shaft allows you to see whether or not you have correctly centered the worm in the middle of the cork. This will ensure that your cork will be removed intact without any issues or broken off pieces. With a non-transparent shaft you won’t be able to do so, as you cannot see whether it is correctly aligned until it’s too late.

Grip

While grip is less important than it is with a traditional corkscrew, you will still need to make sure that you pick a model that is non-slip, or else you could risk dropping your wine bottle and end up with a rather expensive cleaning bill. An ergonomic grip will also make your wine easier to open and more comfortable for you.

Battery/Charge Indicator

Whether you opt for a battery-powered model or a rechargeable one, you’ll need to know when it’s running low on charge and when it is charging or when it needs new batteries. Some rechargeable models with stands light up when your opener is charging. This is a convenient and often aesthetic way of informing you that your opener has been correctly placed on its base and that it is recharging. Other models may feature a light on the opener itself to let you know when it is running low on charge.

Foil Cutter

The majority of electric bottle openers come with a foil cutter included as they are essential to the wine bottle opening process. When you’re choosing a model, pay close attention to whether the foil cutter is integrated or if it is completely separate. Foil cutters often tend to get lost or easily misplaced, especially when friends are round for a few drinks or if they get stored in the kitchen drawer.

Some models, such as our top pick, have a foil cutter that attaches to the base, making it difficult to lose. Others, like the Ozeri, integrate the foil cutter into the opener itself and you can simply detach it to use, then put it back into place.

Pros

• Ease of Use – Simply press on the button to rotate the worm and again to rotate it back up with your cork; the appliance does the hard work for you.
• Less Waste – With a regular corkscrew, you may find yourself occasionally breaking the cork, potentially ruining your bottle of wine. An electric model will cut down on the chances of this happening.
• Fewer Accidents – Electric wine openers are slow, steady and reliable. Using an electric version means you are much less likely to have any accidents with your wine bottle when removing the cork.
• Suitable for Mobility Issues – Thanks to their one-touch operation, electric wine openers can be used by almost anyone and are suitable for arthritis sufferers, giving you the freedom to open a bottle of wine when you like without having to ask for help.

Cons

• Slow – If you’re an ace at using a traditional corkscrew, then chances are that you’ll find an electric one to be a little on the slow side.
• Noisy – Some electric models make noise; it all depends on their motor, housing and the resistance when removing the cork. Bear in mind that while this can be a little irritating, it doesn’t go on for that long.
• Requires Charging or Batteries  – Unlike traditional models, you’ll need to remember to charge up your electric version, or to keep a stock of batteries ready for replacement.