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Sparkling wine tools

Best Champagne bottle openers for safe, easy pours

A Champagne opener is not required, but it gives you more control over a pressurized cork. That matters when the bottle is cold, wet, expensive, or being opened in front of people.

The short answer

Buy a Champagne opener when you want a dedicated grip on a pressurized cork. Choose the Vacu Vin for a one-tool sequence that leaves the cage in place; choose the Le Creuset Champagne Star for a compact cork grip used after the foil and cage come off.

Sparkling wine tools

Compare two Champagne openers

Champagne corks are under pressure. These tools are designed to grip the closure while you follow each maker's sequence. Match the opener to whether you want the cage to stay on or come off first.

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Neutral illustration of a sparkling-wine cork control tool at a bottle neck
Editor's choiceVacu Vin

Champagne Bottle Opener (68625606-USA)

Best for: a one-tool sequence that leaves the cage in place

Skip if: you prefer removing the foil and cage before attaching a cork-grip tool

Keep the foil and wire cage in place, hook the tool under the cage lip, close its levers around the cork, and twist as directed. The tool removes the foil, cage, and cork together.

  • Handles foil, cage, and cork in the maker's sequence
  • Levers clamp around the cork
  • Stainless-steel construction
  • Dedicated tool needs storage with your other barware
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Neutral illustration of a compact sparkling-wine cork grip at a bottle neck
Best valueLe Creuset

Champagne Star, Black Nickel (49402000006001)

Best for: a compact cork grip after the foil and cage are removed

Skip if: you want one tool to handle the foil, wire cage, and cork together

Remove the foil and wire cage first while controlling the cork. Then push the four-prong Champagne Star onto the cork and use a gentle twist to work it out.

  • Compact four-prong shape
  • Push-and-gentle-twist action
  • Small storage footprint
  • Does not remove foil or cage
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When it helps

Use one when control matters

Traditional hand opening can work, but a dedicated opener changes how you hold or grip the cork. The useful choice depends on whether you want to leave the wire cage in place or remove it first.

You get nervous opening sparkling wine around guests.

The bottle is wet, cold, or hard to grip.

You want a small wine gift that is more useful than novelty glassware.

You often open Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, or another bottle with a cork-and-cage closure.

Opener

For getting the cork out

A Champagne opener grips the cork or cage assembly so you can follow a more controlled removal sequence. It is for unopened sparkling-wine bottles with a cork-and-cage closure.

Stopper

For saving bubbles later

A Champagne stopper seals an already-open bottle. It will not help you remove the cork in the first place.

How to open safely

Follow the sequence for your exact opener

Start with a properly chilled bottle on a stable surface and keep it pointed away from people, glassware, and lights. The two tools differ at the foil-and-cage step, so do not swap their instructions.

Keep the foil and cage in place

Vacu Vin Champagne Bottle Opener

Model 68625606-USA

  1. 01Set the opener over the closure and place its hook beneath the lip of the wire cage.
  2. 02Close the two levers so the tool clamps around the cork.
  3. 03Keep the bottle aimed away from people and breakable objects, then twist as directed. The tool removes the foil, wire cage, and cork together.

Remove the foil and cage first

Le Creuset Champagne Star

Model 49402000006001

  1. 01Keep control of the cork while you remove the foil and loosen and remove the wire cage.
  2. 02Push the Champagne Star's four-prong shape down over the exposed cork.
  3. 03Keep the bottle aimed away from people and breakable objects, then use a gentle twist to work the cork out.

Pair the opener with the right bottle and glass.

Use Corkly's Champagne guide to understand the flavor, then compare the glass shapes that fit how you like to serve it.

Read the Champagne guideCompare flutes vs coupes