Based on the popularity of our recent post about how to shop for a Waiter’s style corkscrew, we thought it only fair to represent the lever style as well. Lever Style corkscrews have grown in popularity over the years because they have revolutionized the ease of uncorking a bottle of wine. The power of leverage in the handle removes the cork almost effortlessly.  And over the years, slick designs from manufacturers like Metrokane (makers of the Rabbit wine opener) and Le Creuset (makers of the Screwpull brand of corkscrews) have turned these into chic collectibles, too.

Much like shopping for any style of corkscrew, the level of craftsmanship will determine a lever-style corkscrew’s ability to extract the cork…as well as its price. All lever style corkscrews function the same way, but levers made from a heavier, more durable material, will extract all corks more easily. Models made from polycarbon require a bit more force than other models and may not be strong enough for use with synthetic corks which require stronger leverage. You may want to check out Wine Enthusiast’s own value-priced Concorde Lever Style Corkscrew, recently recommended by Cook’s Illustrated.

The latest craze in lever-style models is the vertical or horizontal design option. Traditionally, lever style corkscrews had wings that operated perpendicular to the wine bottle. But now, these newer models have upright wings that are tucked into the sides, allowing for a more compact design and even better ease-of-use. The sleek, Screwpull LM-400 and the Vertical Rabbits are two great examples.

No matter which  model you select, a lever style corkscrew will  make uncorking a breeze. Not sure how to use a lever style corkscrew? Check out our quick video tutorial with a Rabbit corkscrew, which brings the lever style corkscrew to life!

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