Hello there! Im Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And dont worry, Im no wine snob—you can also ask me those “dumb questions” youre too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And dont forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
How do I know if I should use an ah-so pronged cork puller instead of a regular corkscrew?
For those not familiar with what you’re talking about, that two-pronged wine opener designed for extracting crumbly, fragile corks from old wine bottles is called an “ah-so.” The ah-so offers a gentler way of removing the cork, grabbing it from the outside rather than forcing a spiral (known as the “worm”) through the center of the cork (the latter process can cause delicate, old or dried-out corks to crack or crumble).
There’s no timetable for when a cork might become too old and fragile for a traditional corkscrew (and even if you do break or crumble the cork, no harm will come to the wine). The condition of a 10- or 20- or 50-year-old cork can vary greatly depending on the quality of the cork and the bottle’s storage conditions over that time.
Also known as butler’s friend or “Ah-So” (from the German ach so!, meaning “Now I understand!”), the twin-prong cork puller can extract a stopper without damaging it, to allow for sampling the wine before re-inserting the stopper.
Thanks, All. I didn’t really think about the thickness and durability of the blades, which is precisely why I asked the question. So, thanks! I think I’ll go with the Monopol, simply because I don’t open a significant number of mature wines with potentially weak corks, and can’t (in my mind) justify the price of the Durand. Great responses – thanks again. Sarah Kirschbaum:
This. I have or had three Monopols (gifted one to my BIL) and they work great. Once in a while the cork will push into the bottle but I use an original Screwpull to rescue the cork. My Ah-So are all branded made in “West Germany” so they also hold up well ![[wow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/7/7d450e9830889c8943b674446a21b7254cad657e.gif "wow"){kind=small}
With standard corkscrews, there can be a lot of variations: hinges, different materials in the handles, handle shape, quality of craftmaship, etc. In other words, good ones can be great, and bad ones can really suck. I don’t currently own an ah-so, but will be pulling some corks on some 1978s next year and want to buy one. Just like any product related to wine, there’s a whole slew of price ranges. I see fewer “moving” parts in an ah-so versus a corkscrew, so I’m wondering if there’s really much of a difference between the cheapies and the more expensive options. Thoughts or advice? I’d also love recommendations based on your favorites.
On screwpulls though, I’d also note price is no indication of performance. I’ve seen some expensive ones where the hinge mechanism wasn’t very conducive to easy opening. When my wife was a server and opening A LOT of wine, she’d buy her own $5 version from a local kitchen supply place. They commented she must be a server because they all bought the same cheap double hinged version, because it worked.
Ditto…I’m w/ Henry on this one. This Monopol model is the one to buy rather than cheaper models. The cheaper models have thicker blades that can sometime push the cork into the btl on older wines. The Monopol is made w/ high-quality hi-tensile maraging steel that is thinner but holds up well. Occasionally, I’ll get a cork that is so firmly stuck in the neck that you can twist the Ah-So out of alingment and warp it. So if I notice this happening, I back off and don’t force it. I’ve no experience w/ the Durand. As with buying new epee blades, you don’t want to skimp on getting quality steel. Tom
There’s no timetable for when a cork might become too old and fragile for a traditional corkscrew (and even if you do break or crumble the cork, no harm will come to the wine). The condition of a 10- or 20- or 50-year-old cork can vary greatly depending on the quality of the cork and the bottle’s storage conditions over that time.
Hello there! Im Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And dont worry, Im no wine snob—you can also ask me those “dumb questions” youre too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And dont forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
How do I know if I should use an ah-so pronged cork puller instead of a regular corkscrew?
For those not familiar with what you’re talking about, that two-pronged wine opener designed for extracting crumbly, fragile corks from old wine bottles is called an “ah-so.” The ah-so offers a gentler way of removing the cork, grabbing it from the outside rather than forcing a spiral (known as the “worm”) through the center of the cork (the latter process can cause delicate, old or dried-out corks to crack or crumble).
How To Use an Ah-So Wine Opener | Wine Access
FAQ
What is an Ah So wine opener?
Why use an ah so wine opener?
What is the two pronged wine opener known as an ah so?
What is an Ah-So wine opener?
The Ah-So wine opener gets its name because when many people see it for the first time they don’t know what it is for, let alone know how to use it. Once they find out its purpose and then see how it is used, people will often remark “Ah now i see”. The Ah-So is also known as a 2 pronged cork puller or the butlers bottle opener.
How do you open a wine bottle with an Ah So?
Follow these steps to open a bottle like a pro with an ah so. Use a foil cutter or waiter’s corkscrew knife to remove the foil. There is no wine foil cutter on an ah so cork puller, so you’ll need one of these tools first. Insert the long prong first into the tiny crease between the lip of the bottle and the cork.
Is Ah-So a good wine for a 30 year old bottle?
“An ah-so is ideal for older bottles, which may have corks that are breaking down,” says wine pro Derrick Westbrook of Chicago, curator of this month’s Eater Wine Club wines. “It’s saved my life many times in the restaurant when opening a 30- or 40-year-old bottle.”
What is an Ah-So & how does it work?
Perhaps the simplest tool of all, an ah-so has two flat, thin prongs that, when inserted into the neck of the bottle, hug the cork on either side to extract it. “An ah-so is ideal for older bottles, which may have corks that are breaking down,” says wine pro Derrick Westbrook of Chicago, curator of this month’s Eater Wine Club wines.