Customer Reviews

OXO Good Grips Winged Corkscrew, Black

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I'll admit it - I own the $200 Leverpull because it's prettydoggone cool. But this opener, for a [lot less], has the exact samepart that makes the whole Screwpull line of corkscrews so easy to use; the teflon-coated "worm" screw.

I've used five different models that feature this very thin, slippery screw and it's definitely the way to go regardless of the mechanism for driving it into the cork. It slides in like a surgical instrument, with minimal effort and maximum effect.

One warning: These corkscrews make the job so effortless that you can't wait to open another bottle. Some self-retraint will be required...

Winged corkscrews are generally easier to use than their single-lever-action counterparts, but they have their drawbacks. Chief among these is the comparative gracelessness with which a bottle can be opened with a winged corkscrew. You have to put the bottle down on a table and use both hands to pull the wings apart. If the cork breaks in the bottle, it's difficult to salvage with this type of corkscrew. More than that, winged corkscrews have a tendency to lose a wing over time, making them much harder (though not impossible) to use.

And even though you can open a bottle quicker and more stylishly with a traditional corkscrew, it takes time to learn how. By contrast, this winged baby can be used successfully right out of the box. The mechanism on this model is particularly smooth, especially given the price.

This product is thus recommendable for casual, low-volume wine drinkers. If you're going to be opening bottles with any frequency in front of guests, I would tend to suggest you learn how to use a more traditional, single-lever model.

My lady friend got me a couple of these recently as summertime presents because I am such a klutz with corks, and now I am becoming quite a bon vivant. Credit due, as one of John LeCarre's characters quips in "The Russia House", to the winged corkscrew. Even with friends over, I now actually look like I know what I am doing regardless of the fact that I am not much of a wine drinker or one to stand on ceremony or table manners. Give me some corn on the cob and a steak and I am as likely to rip into them with both hands than to use proper utensils and observe standard table manners.

But even I must now admit I am being slowly and surely civilized, at least within tolerable operating limits. And chief among the convenient and effortless gadgets I have been given to speed me on my way is this terrific little winged corkscrew. Buy yourself a couple, though. When your friends' wives see how well they transform even the most hopeless of confirmed mountain men into well behaved and handy hosts, they may not be able to resist swiping one. Enjoy!

This is the best corkscrew that I have ever used. Light and strong and easy on the hands for those of us who are arthritic, like the other members of the "Good Grips" family of products. A first quality product. Easy to clean, (just rinse under cool running water). It is absolutely wonderful and I have no hesistation in fully recommending the "Good Grips" corkscrew especially at this bargin price!

I recommend this item for anyone who enjoys wine, but doesn't have the manual ability to deal with the hard to use all-metal corkscrew gadgets. I appreciate the easy grip on the top and the way the screw part doesn't jam with the cork.

I initially was introduced to the OXO Good Grips line through a family member with Multiple Sclerosis. The Good Grips products seemed to be the only thing she could easily use and that would not break easily when dropped. I quickly learned, however, that the line of products is not limited to use by folks with dexterity issues and have since fallen in kitchen love with my various OXO food gadgets.

The OXO corkscrew consists of a black plastic corkscrew that screws down into the cork, surrounded by a black plastic skirt-like surround with wing-like handles and a wide twist-top. But maybe this will make more sense if I try to explain how you use it.

You raise the handles, which lifts up the surround, exposing the corkscrew. You grasp the handle at the top, press the tip of the corkscrew against the cork, and twist, pushing, so that the corkscrew enters into the cork and spirals down through it. Once it's firmly embedded you grasp the wing-like handles and push them down. This lowers the surround and raises the corkscrew, pulling the cork free of the bottle.

Disadvantages: It's easy to get the corkscrew off-center and end up having to start over.

Advantages: The wing-handles give you so much leverage that it's child's play to get most corks out of their bottles. This is absolutely fantastic for those of us with hand-problems.

This is one of the few OXO items we have that hasn't in some way broken down; admittedly we don't use it as often as some items, but it has certainly withstood what use we have put it through. It's a nifty-looking design that makes opening bottles very easy on my hands despite my tendonitis. I only occasionally have troubles with the corkscrew going in off-center (I think because the surround can partially block your view of the corkscrew as you put it in, and the distance between handle and corkscrew tip decreases accuracy), and it isn't that large of a problem.

I like this winged corkscrew but I had to repair the plastic once when the cap near the wings busted off. Superglue did the job, and I haven't had trouble since.

I've been into sampling wine now for about 6 months. I read the reviews, looked at the prices, and decided to start with this device as a "de-corker."

Well, by now I've decided that if I've got more money I want to spend, it's for wine not for a different corkscrew since this one has opened many bottles with zero failures.

You line up the opener, turn the screw, watch the wings unfold, turn down the wings and the cork comes out with no problems. It has not yet failed to remove all of the cork, whole, with no fragments. It's fast, clean, relatively effortless, and cheap.

I'm an obvious "newbie" to wine, but seriously - this thing is really underpriced. I'm ordering another for a backup.

When I thought of OXO I though of great grips. Nice soft quality weighty feel. When I got this corkscrew I was shocked to find out that it was flimsy black plastic. Looks like OXO in the picture but it is nothing more then cheap plastic bits. OXO degraded their name with this product.

This product is garbage. I bought it for the OXO name, but I will never do that again. During a dinner party, the plastic split right near the top, and exposed the metal rod that attaches the screw to the plastic mechanism. The corkscrew would not work after this piece broke. (Note: the corkscrew broke after a total of less than 10 corks were removed in approximately 3 months...not heavy use by any standards. Wish I'd kept my receipt.)

I also had the same problem other reviewers had with the wings not allowing for any room to grasp the top of the bottle.

Moral of the story: Buy an all metal winged corkscrew. >$5 at most grocery stores.