Gift Guide 2019: Open Up

This is my favorite wine opener.

I bought it for $2 at a thrift shop in Berkeley in 1974, and I’ve used it almost every day since.

It has no bells and no whistles: it just works.  And it wasn’t even designed to open wine.  It’s an antique beer opener. 

If you’re looking for a really thoughtful gift for someone who likes wine (or artisanal beer brews with corks instead of caps), you could not do better than a vintage beer corkscrew.  You can find them in many antique stores, rummage shops and the like.  And there are dozens of online sources at wildly varying prices.  Try this one - or this one. 

And while you’re at, you might consider getting one for yourself.