Electric Wine Openers

WINE TALK
1

We’ve been asked for them a couple times, so Carrie ordered some up, the “Napa Valley Electric Wine Opener.” The box claims it will open "up to 70 bottles per set of batteries. It has a stand that doubles as a foil cutter. It takes four AA batteries and stands about 11 inches tall.

I put new batteries in it and pushed the button see how it works. It sounded like it wouldn’t have enough power to unscrew a Stelvin, let alone pull a cork from a bottle. Grabbed an 08 Ketcham RR Pinot, (imagine that), to try it out on. To my surprise, the auger deftly screwed into the cork and without hesitation removed the cork from the bottle. Pressing the reverse button delivered the cork into my hand. The darn thing works! Wish we had purchased them before Christmas as they are the perfect gift for that person with everything.

Any body else own one? What do you think of it?

2

My wife got me one a few years ago. I used it for a few months and then it completely stopped working.

3

I don’t own one, but used one that a buddy brought over that he got as a gift.

For the older set, or those with arthritis, this product is phenomenal.

For the rest of us, it’s just lazy.

4

Perfect Christmas gift!

5

Anthony, that’s what I envision, or once the batteries die, it goes into the junk drawer.

Tom, I cut the foil on the bottle tonight with a screw pull and almost started to remove the cork with the screw pull out of habit. Arthritis might keep you from holding the darn thing, just like a cork screw. Lazy is appropriate, but I’m betting they will be popular at the local country club. [cheers.gif]

6

that about sums it up

pulltaps for me

7

My wife and I were goofing on one of these at costco a few months ago, later that night at my boss’ house guess what he pulls out to crack a bottle of Ledson for us [help.gif] He was quite proud of his new gadget, and yes the country club analogy is perfect.

I can say it works. The arthritis angle is a good one. Personally I’ve never been a fan of complexity when the simple solution (Screwpull) works just as well.

8

Ledson? Release the hounds!

9

Next time I’ll hit him with the Kenny G. [tease.gif]

10

I bought it for my mom X-mas 2009 and she loves it but be warned it can shred an older cork as I learned with an old Hafner Cabernet.

11

Received one as a gift. I tried it a couple times and never used it again. I’ve seen others use it as well, but have found it has a hard time with any cork that is not 100% - whether it be soaked, old, etc. I’ll stick to my screwpull and maybe someday the Durand, if I ever own enough old bottles to warrant it.

12

I bought the wife a Hamilton Beach rechargeable opener at Best Buy for the holidays in 2008. It works fine except that it barely holds a charge for five or more bottles these days so it constantly needs to be on the charging base. She likes it, but I prefer the Rabbit. I can think of all kinds of jokes now… [oops.gif]

13

They are useless on Champagne &
Sparkling wines…
they won’t peirce the metal cap
or even undo the wire cage! neener

Cheers
Rip

14

You can get an electric carving knife to sabre those bottles.