Written by: Tim Edison

Updated: July 13, 2023

The Best Wine Corker For Your Bottles

The Best Wine Corker For Your Bottles

You have worked hard and finally made your own wine. You aged it in an old oak barrel and achieved the desired aromas and flavors, and now it is time to fill the bottles and display them on your carefully chosen wine rack.

It all sounds good, but this means that you’ll need the best wine corker to cap the bottles. Use the links below to see our wine corker selection or, if this is the first time you bottle wine, read on to find out which are the various steps of the process.

Bottling is the last step of the winemaking process. However, although rewarding, bottling is not really a game. There are many aspects you should take into account. On one hand, you’ll have to choose the right corks and bottles. On the other hand, you will have to invest in an excellent wine corker.

If this is the first time you made wine at home, you might welcome a piece of advice. Let’s see how to cork wine like a pro and which are the different types of corkers you can use.

How To Bottle Wine With A Wine Corker

Bottling means transferring the wine from the barrel or demijohn to the bottles. Bottling is essential if you want to preserve the organoleptic properties of the beverage for a long time and, if you want, you can even use your homemade wine as a gift.

To bottle wine at home you will need an adequate number of bottles and corks, racking equipment and a corker.

How To Choose And Prepare The Bottles

The first step is to choose and prepare the bottles. Most wines can be bottled in standard Bordeaux bottles but they are not always the best choice. For example, if you made sparkling wine, it is more appropriate to use champagne or cuvè bottles.

Another thing to pay attention to is the color of the glass. White wines need transparent or green bottles yet the reds must be protected from light. For this reason, bottle red wine in dark green or brown bottles.

Once you decided which bottles to use, determine how many you need. To do this, determine the capacity of the barrel or demijohn in liters and divide it by 0,75. This result is the number of bottles you need. However, if the bottles have a capacity larger than 750 ml, then divide the capacity of the demijohn by the actual capacity of a bottle.

Now it is time to wash the bottles with water and baking soda, then let them dry upside down, preferably on a special bottle rack.

How To Choose The Corks

Although it seems simple, choosing the right corks is actually a hassle. Corks vary in shape, size but also in the material.

Depending on the shape, you can choose between straight and tapered corks. It is recommended to use straight corks as they will seal the wine better. Moreover, you should also decide whether you want to invest in natural or synthetic corks.

While synthetic is cheaper, quality wines preserve well only when capped with natural corks.

How To Choose The Right Wine Corker

Lastly, you should choose the right wine corker for the job. On the market, there are different types of corkers that are manual or electric.

All wine corkers work using the same principle. Namely, they are equipped with a compressing iris that compresses the cork from all sides and push it down the neck of the bottle. Regardless of the model, if the corker is well made, it will cork the bottle in no time and without hassle.

Then, which is the difference? Well, the speed of corking!

Manual corkers are divided into handheld and freestanding. The handheld models are the simplest and cheapest. Although they do the job just fine, they are sometimes difficult to use by those who suffer from various bone or articular diseases.

The freestanding corkers are usually placed on the floor or on a table. The main difference is that the freestanding corkers are able to cork the bottle in a single action, are easier to use, and the corking process is faster.

Freestanding corkers are ideal for those who cork numerous bottles at a time, for those who use synthetic corks or for those who have difficulties in using a handheld model.

Lastly, there are the electric corkers. The main advantage is the ease of use, but most winemakers still prefer to invest in a manual freestanding model.

Once you bottled the wine, don’t forget to label the bottles with some original wine bottle labels.

The Best Wine Corker Reviews

1. Ferrari Portuguese Double Lever Corker

A handheld corker is an excellent corking instrument if you’re making wine on a budget or if you have to cork less than 30 bottles. On the market, there are numerous models to choose from but one that stands out is this Ferrari Portuguese Double Lever Corker.

This handheld wine corker has twin handles which are designed to allow easy corking. Fairly easy to use, the instrument place the cork on the bottle almost effortlessly.

Ferrari Portugese Double Lever Corker

The corker is made of steel and plastic. The construction is sturdy and made to last. Moreover, this model features an adjustable plunger depth that will allow you to cork different types of bottles.

Compared to other handheld models, this wine corker is easy to use and it boasts an improved design compared to the models equipped with a plunger.

Things We Liked

  • check
    Easy to use: the corker is uncomplicated and easy to use. You will need to apply some force though, and for this reason, it might be less indicated to those who have little force in the wrists.
  • check
    Double levered: this wine corker is easier to use compared to other handheld models because of its double lever.
  • check
    Works with different corks: this instrument works well with different cork sizes. The manufacturer recommends the use with #8 corks, yet its performances are still noteworthy when used with #9 corks.
  • check
    Sturdy: another thing that impresses is the sturdiness of the construction. This wine corker is built to last and it is made of high-quality steel and plastic.

Things We Didn't Like

  • exclamation-triangle
    Using a wine corker is usually intuitive, yet the manufacturer could have included an instruction booklet in the package.

2. Wine Bottle Floor Corker, Portuguese Red

Wine Bottle Floor Corker, Portuguese Red

If you have a larger wine production, it might be a better idea to invest in a floor corker. An excellent model is the Wine Bottle Floor Corker, Portuguese Red. This wine corker is made of rolled steel and it is coated with a hardened, baked-on enamel layer.

The instrument is ideal for those who make large quantities of wine. Its performances are excellent and, on the other hand, the corker works flawlessly with corks up to size 9.

Besides corking the bottles faster and easier compared to the handheld models, it also presents additional advantages. One of these advantages is the increased efficiency. This wine corker lowers the risk of damaging the cork and it provides a higher sealing quality.

On the other hand, the corker is able to seal as many as 150 bottles per hour, being ideal for both personal and semi-industrial use.

Things We Liked

  • check
    Three-piece iris: to compress the cork from all sides and seal the bottles flawlessly, the corker is equipped with a three-piece iris.
  • check
    Accommodates various bottles: the corker can accommodate bottles between 9,5 and 14 inches high.
  • check
    Adjustable plunger depth: to cork bottles of any shape, the plunger depth is adjustable.
  • check
    Recommended for large quantities: the manufacturer suggests using this wine corker if you have to bottle more than 5 gallons of wine at a time.

Things We Didn't Like

  • exclamation-triangle
    From a technical point of view, the corker is excellent. However, sometimes the enamel layer can break, exposing the metal structure to environmental factors.

3. Italian Floor Corker

This Italian floor corker is similar to the Portuguese wine corker mentioned above but the manufacturer brought some important improvements to the design.

From an aesthetic point of view, we like the Italian Floor Corker best. The instrument has a brass structure that lacks painting and enamel. This gives a vintage aspect to the corker, making it not only a functional object but also a decorative one.

From a functional standpoint, this corker is built to impress. Compared to the Portuguese model, the Italian wine corker boasts a longer leverage that enables winemakers to cork the bottles with even more ease.

Italian Floor Corker

Furthermore, the iris compression is also made of brass. This makes this component more resistant and the corking is more accurate.

Things We Liked

  • check
    Higher compression head: compared to similar models, this wine corker has a higher compression head placed at a height of 35 inches.
  • check
    Long leverage: the manufacturer equipped this wine corker with a longer handle designed to reduce effort during use. This means that you’ll be able to cork the bottles faster.
  • check
    Attractive design: the vintage finish of the instrument is attractive and it will certainly look good in any cellar or kitchen.
  • check
    Works with magnum bottles: this wine corker can accommodate magnum bottles and it works well with all cork sizes.

Things We Didn't Like

  • exclamation-triangle
    Compared with the vast majority of the corkers, this model is simply expensive. If you only make wine at home occasionally, you might want to consider an alternative.

4. G. Francis Wine Bottle Floor Corker

Wine Bottle Floor Corker – For Standard Wine

If you like the idea of investing in a floor wine corker yet your budget is tight, then you might consider this wine bottle floor corker by G. Francis.

This corker is rather inexpensive yet it is made of high-quality materials. The instrument is made of rolled steel and hard plastic. The construction is sturdy and durable, and the corker has no flimsy joints or rivets, even when exerting pressure on the leverage.

Although small in size, the corker works with all standard bottles and with corks of different dimensions. Thanks to this characteristic, you will be able to cork bottles of wine, handmade beer, and other types of beverages.

Lastly, the corker is super lightweight and it can be placed anywhere on the floor or on a working table. The three sturdy legs feature mounting holes but the corker doesn’t come with installation hardware.

Things We Liked

  • check
    Suitable for multiple purposes: the corker works very well with different types of bottles and corks with dimensions between 7 and 9.
  • check
    Adjustable plunger: you will be able to use corks of different lengths and different types of bottles by simply adjusting the plunger depth.
  • check
    Mounting holes: to increase stability, you will be able to mount the corker on a working table or on the floor.
  • check
    Economical: for a floor corker, this instrument comes at a more than affordable price.

Things We Didn't Like

  • exclamation-triangle
    The corker doesn’t have a good stability if not mounted.

5. Excelvin Wine Bottle Corker

The last wine corker that made it on our list is the Excelvin Wine Bottle Corker. The big brother of the Portuguese Red floor wine corker described above, this instrument is made to cork bottles of up to 1,5 liters capacity or 14,37 inches high.

The corker is sturdy and stable. Made of round steel and heavy-duty plastic, the instrument is equipped with two vertical steel risers and two horizontal bottle supports. Moreover, the iris is made of high-quality plastic and the whole wine corker has a height of 31 inches.

Wine Bottle Corker - Floor Corker (Superior Portuguese Burgundy)

The bottle platform is adjustable and it fits bottles between 9,5 and 14,37 inches. The instrument also works with corks of different sizes, giving you the possibility to cork wine, beer, or other homemade beverages.

Things We Liked

  • check
    Ergonomic: thanks to the height of 31 inches, the corker allows for a better posture during use.
  • check
    Multiple purposes: the corker has an adjustable bottle platform and it works well with all corks up to size 9, giving you the possibility to use it for multiple purposes.
  • check
    Quality construction: the corker is made of enameled round steel and it is characterized by a sturdy construction and excellent stability.
  • check
    Suitable for synthetic corks: synthetic corks are harder to use compared to the natural counterparts. Nevertheless, this wine corker caps the bottle effortlessly regardless of the type of cork used.

Things We Didn't Like

  • exclamation-triangle
    Compared with models of a higher quality, this wine corker is less stable and it will require you to maintain its balance during use.

Conclusion & Final Pick

Without a doubt, the best wine corker available on the market is the Italian Floor Corker. This instrument is sturdy, tall, easy to use, and made exclusively of brass and steel. Moreover, this wine corker also has a more than attractive design and it can complement well the décor of a winery or cellar.

Besides beautiful, this model of wine corker is functional. The instrument works well with bottles of almost any size and all types of corks. It has a high capacity and it is really easy to use, making it possible to cork a large number of bottles in a breeze.

The only real downside is the rather expensive price. However, considering that you will always have to pay for quality, in our opinion this wine corker really deserves a chance!

Read More Posts Like This:


About the Author Tim Edison


Tim started Wine Turtle way back in 2015.
These days he contributes to Wine Turtle (and other renowned wine publications) while continuing his wine education.
Tim's wine of the month is the Coates & Seely Reserve Brut NV (from Hampshire, England).

Connect with me:



Leave a Reply


Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}