A corkscrew is a tool for drawing corks from wine bottles, in its simplest form a metal helix with a handle, in its best form a waiter’s friend with a lever, foil cutter, and bottle opener. Technique matters: the worm should centre in the cork and penetrate deeply without piercing through, then the lever draws it smoothly. Poor technique breaks corks or pushes them in. Natural cork, agglomerated cork, and screwcaps each need their approach, with screwcaps needing none at all. The corkscrew remains the ritual instrument of wine service, small, simple, and indispensable where corks persist.