True Twisted Grip Cork Screw

The True Twisted Grip Cork Screw is a bar tool for opening natural-cork wine bottles. Its name points to a twisted handle, which gives your hand a textured shape to hold while you turn. The listing doesn't give materials, dimensions or finish, so check the product photos for those. Corkscrews in this style usually pair a helical screw (the "worm") with a handle you twist by hand. The handle is the main difference between models, since it sets how comfortably you can hold the tool and how much torque you can apply. To use it, cut the foil below the lip of the bottle and wipe the top of the cork. Centre the tip on the cork and turn steadily, keeping the screw straight so it doesn't drift through the side of the cork. Stop once the worm is almost fully seated, then pull with a slow, even lift. A cork that releases gradually is less likely to crumble or send a spray of sediment into the wine. Older bottles often have drier, more fragile corks, so take them slowly. It suits still wines sealed with natural cork, and it works equally well for a weeknight red or a bottle meant for decanting. The cork should come out before serving, so open red wines a little ahead of time if you want them to breathe, and pour sparkling wines only after the bottle has been properly chilled and handled with the correct sparkling-wine technique. Synthetic corks and screw caps need a different approach, so check the closure before you start.