The 9 Best Electric Wine Openers
Special Honors
Promo Direct Wine Opener Every time your clients uncork a new bottle of wine, they'll think of your business, thanks to the Promo Direct Wine Opener. It offers an imprint area of about 2 inches square, with a variety of colors available to select from; plus, it's packaged in a gift box to enhance its presentation. promodirect.com
Williams Sonoma Electric The sleek, silver body of the Williams Sonoma Electric is crafted from polished stainless steel, which is complemented by handsome copper accents. For ease of use, it boasts a switchless design, and it conveniently arrives with both a charging cord and a velvet storage pouch. williams-sonoma.com
Editor's Notes
September 28, 2020:
For most, we feel that the Oster Inspire still makes a handy choice, one that's easy enough to use while offering a handsome appearance, too. The Ozeri Nouveaux II retains a top spot, as well, since we appreciate its wallet-friendly cost and choice of colors. And speaking of color choices, we added the Secura Automatic for those who want something a little different. In fact, not only does it come in several fun colors, but there's even a version with both a red and blue light. But if you select a Secura model, keep in mind that if you aren't using it very much, you'll still need to charge it every three months to keep the battery in proper working order.
We also kept models that would make good gifts, including the Uncle Viner Gift Set, but we did not include models from popular makers Rabbit or Peugeot. While their manual models are certainly worthy of appreciation, the electric models they offer struggle to live up to the hype, especially considering that they're rather more expensive than most. You're perhaps better off buying any of the affordable models listed here, and saving the extra cash for a wine cooler or aerator.
April 28, 2019:
As electric wine openers are a popular housewarming gift, especially for a younger couple just starting out, we made sure that amongst the reliable picks were several options suitable for gift-giving.
The Oster Inspire took the top spot not just for its reliability, but for its sleek look that will look elegant in upscale kitchens, making it suitable for using while entertaining. The inclusion of a wine chiller also makes it a great gift option. We also included the Uncle Viner Gift Set on this list, as it has good power despite some of its cheaper accessories, and it comes in an attractive gift box.
How To Properly Enjoy A Bottle Of Wine
Oxidation can reduce the flavor quality of a bottle of wine over time, eventually ruining it entirely.
At the end of a long workday, as the perfect accompaniment to a fine meal, or in recognition of a cherished friendship or accomplished goal, there's nothing quite like a great glass of wine. (Or better yet, an entire bottle shared among friends, family, or colleagues.) One could spend a lifetime studying wine and still not learn all there is to know about this complex, nuanced, and beloved beverage, but one need not be a dedicated oenophile to achieve a respectable understanding of this storied fermented fluid.
Enjoying a fine bottle of wine starts with proper storage. All wine bottles, and especially those with traditional wooden corks, should be stored on their sides. This allows the liquid inside the bottle to keep the cork moist, preventing it from drying out and allowing oxygen to seep into bottle. Oxidation can reduce the flavor quality of a bottle of wine over time, eventually ruining it entirely. Wine thus spoiled is often referred to as corked.
The general rule of thumb is that white wines are served chilled, while red wines are served at room temperature. This is not entirely accurate, however, as many red wines, including a French Beaujolais, some simpler (and cheaper) bottles of Pinot Noir, and Red Zinfandels benefit from chilling prior to pouring. Also true is the fact that many white wines are served much too cold, with their flavors blunted by the chill; in general, 50 degrees Fahrenheit is a fine temperature for a white wine, though many refrigerators have a temperature closer to 40 degrees. Thus removing a white wine from the fridge or ice bucket a short while before serving it is advisable.
Once you have your wine cooled (or warmed) to the proper temperature, it's time to consider aeration. Many red wines benefit from having their bottle opened hours before the wine will be served, as that short period of oxidation helps "open" their flavor profiles. Whites and, of course, sparkling wines, should be opened right before being served.
Once you have your glassware selected (not to mention your appetizers or meals prepped and ready), the last step is the actual opening of the wine bottle. This final step, the removing of the wine bottle's cork, can seem a daunting task to many people, but with right tools, it need not merit a moment's concern.
Why Electric Wine Openers Make Sense
Opening a bottle of wine properly is imperative for proper enjoyment of the wine within. A poorly opened cork can crumble apart into bits that awkwardly float about in the bottle and glasses, or worse, the cork can break apart and become lodged in the bottle's stem, making removal all that more difficult.
For these people, an electric wine opener means the chance to enjoy that glass of Chianti or Chablis without the risk of frustration or injury.
In the dextrous hands of skilled wine enthusiasts, an average bottle of wine can be opened using a wine key, or even a more basic corkscrew, in a matter of seconds. Many people turn to the winged-style corkscrew that applies leverage using both hands. Still other people turn to the ultimate modern convenience of the electric wine opener.
With an electric motor providing torque and a tubular shape that applies force evenly, an electric wine opener is indeed the easiest way to open a bottle of wine. In fact, these devices make the process so easy that they might seem frivolous to some, and certainly like a luxury to others.
Keep in mind that for many people, however, an electric wine opener is not at all a luxury, but in fact is essential. For anyone afflicted with arthritis, or with hands or wrists weakened or compromised by age, injury, or another affliction, the twisting motions and sheer force associated with manually leveraging a cork out of a bottle of wine may prove impossible to muster. For these people, an electric wine opener means the chance to enjoy that glass of Chianti or Chablis without the risk of frustration or injury. And even the healthiest among us will eventually experience a sore, tired wrist if he or she has to open enough bottles of wine in a short enough time: caterers, bartenders, and sommeliers alike will agree that an electric corkscrew can be a wonderfully handy tool.
Electric Wine Opener Use And Maintenance
While there are a diverse number of ways to open a bottle of wine, for most types of wine bottle, an electric wine opener is a great choice. For others, such as any bottle under pressure from its sparkling contents, an electric corkscrew is not only a poor choice, but even a dangerous one. If a champagne cork fired across the room is a hazard, the risks caused by a flying electric corkscrew are far worse.
For others, such as any bottle under pressure from its sparkling contents, an electric corkscrew is not only a poor choice, but even a dangerous one.
When using an electric wine opener, don't make the mistake of thinking it does all the work: you still need to hold the gadget upright (as perfectly upright as possible) atop the bottle to make sure it cleanly draws out the cork. And know that some electric cork screws might not be able to extract certain stubborn synthetic corks.
If your electric wine opener seems to be struggling, shut it down and try another method to open the bottle; an electric wine opener can't just decide to use more power and pop out that cork, but it can keep trying fruitlessly and burn out its motor. And in that same vein, always make sure to keep your electric corkscrew charged, because if it is underpowered, it will overstrain itself.