Screwpull

This device sounds like a totally useless gadget suitable only for total wine snobs, but it's actually invaluable. I seem to be incapable of getting the foil off a bottle of wine without a fight, and opening the wine with the foil still on has sometimes been disastrous! I was therefore keen to try the foil cutter when I was given it is a present. It's brilliant! The cutter is of smart black plastic, more or less U-shaped, with sharp metal wheels visible inside (far enough inside for your fingers to be safe!). You just place the foilcutter over the wine bottle, squeeze gently and turn for a quarter-turn. The top of the foil comes off easily and ...  Read the complete review

Do you find gadgets irresistible? I normally manage to refrain, but when I saw a Screwpull wine opener in the sale at Boots, I visualised the cork popping out of the 1995 Rioja on the mantlepiece at home. Out of the packaging, it looked less impressive. It is the table version and comprises the screw, its guider and a holder. It’s quite easy to use, you just position it over the top of the cork and turn the screw. It works by having excess space at the top of the screw, so that the cork can work its way upwards, having a lifting effect. After use, my first thought would be that I’d find a chunk of cork floating around in my wine, but was ...  Read the complete review