Corkscrew the ''De Gaulle'' with double lever and bottle opener | l'atelier du vin

De Gaulle" corkscrew: an iconic bottle opener

With a head and two large levers for arms, this essential corkscrew is available in an infinite number of versions all over the world. It owes its name - but need we say it? - to General de Gaulle addressing the people.

@AP Photo/Levy

To guarantee its sturdiness and facilitate effortless use, L'Atelier du Vin has carefully and precisely selected each component of the mechanism of this reissued version. Today, your de Gaulle corkscrew is equipped with a special five-turn forged and "teflon-coated" worm, which reinforces the anchorage and grip of the metal in the cork during the extraction movement.

Sturdy parts for an infallible mechanism

Also known as the "pigtail", this sturdy bit at the end of our "de Gaulle" bottle opener

makes

it easy to extract any type of cork without damaging it. It is surrounded by an ingenious self-centering support to position the opener correctly on the neck, before celebrating the injection of the metal into the soft cork.

Its body in zamak, a tough material par excellence, has been deliberately preserved in its raw state, without chrome or paint, with a simple transparent varnish to bring out its strong character. Powerful matte-black rivets and oversized gears underline its strong personality. The solidity and authenticity of L'Atelier du Vin's "de Gaulle" double-lever corkscrew are immediately apparent.

Presented in a graphic box featuring white and yellow, or carefully wrapped by us in a colorful gift box with a personalized note on request, this iconic corkscrew will take its place anywhere in la maison, as an everyday object that creates an event when given as a gift.

Instructions for use

1. Center the tip of the worm on the cork, keeping the internal support of the "de Gaulle" on the neck of the bottle vertical.
2. Screw all the way in, without touching the "de Gaulle" levers, to let them rise freely.
3. Lower the levers to remove the cork from the neck of the wine bottle.

L'Atelier du Vin's most popular corkscrew

French manufacturer of your wine tools since 1926, L'Atelier du

Vin is a

family-run business whose know-how has been rooted in the Champagne vineyards from father to son. By perpetuating the tradition of the de Gaulle winged corkscrew with this reinforced version, we are committed to passing on the art of living wine.

Anchored in popular customs, this bottle opener with its instantly recognizable silhouette is one of France's favorite table utensils. From generation to generation, the de Gaulle corkscrew has accompanied the laughter of repas family gatherings, and the intimate conviviality of sharing a good bottle with friends.

That's why it holds a special place in our collection of sommelier tools and oenological accessories, where each corkscrew has its own story and personality.

History of the winged corkscrew

Ancestor of the "de Gaulle", the very first winged corkscrew was invented in England at the end of the 19th century by William Baker. Its mechanism was perfected a few years later by Neville Heeley, whose major innovation of the time was to join the two arms of the bottle opener to a guide collar sliding along the central axis as the worm sinks into the cork.

The reliability of this two-lever opening tool was a guarantee of success, but the finishing touch was added in the 1930s by Dominick Rosati, who added this infallible central rack and pinion system driving the two notched shoulder discs and thus raising the two extractor arms as the spiral rod is screwed into the cork.

After the war, this wine tool met with great popular success, to the point of being visually associated with General de Gaulle's famous victory speeches, raising both arms to the sky as he addressed the French people. With that je ne sais quoi that makes it so charming, this historic corkscrew has been redesigned by L'Atelier du Vin's designers in keeping with the original design, and fitted with a Teflon worm to enhance the geste opening.

An ergonomic, versatile corkscrew

The De Gaulle lever corkscrew offers the versatility of a sommelier's bottle opener. Its head is fitted with a large bottle opener, designed to gently remove caps from beer or lemonade bottles of any diameter. A single tool is all you need to uncork or decap any type of wine or sparkling beverage bottle.

Robust and ergonomic, it's easy and efficient to extract corks using a double lever effect, with a safe and balanced geste. In fact, its proven mechanism combines the advantages of the worm and lever corkscrew. The pressure required to extract the cork is divided between the two hands, reducing the effort in each arm by half compared to a single-lever system.

From everyday corkscrew to collector's bottle opener

Suitable for all wine bottles, winged corkscrews guarantee smooth extraction. Simply screw the worm gently into the cork and lower the wings until the cork comes out. Signature of L'Atelier du Vin's French know-how, this edition in raw zamak and Teflon is ideal for marking the opening of a wine-tasting ceremony. Always within easy reach, the Charles de Gaulle corkscrew has its place at la maison, tucked away in a kitchen drawer or standing upright on the family table.

The luckiest oenology enthusiasts and wine tool collectors may have the pleasant surprise of discovering an old finned bottle opener in our collector's boxes. Original mechanism in working order, intact spiral worm, oiled rack or sliding guide collar: L'Atelier du Vin gives you access to rare models, from restored "de Gaulle" bottle openers to contemporary limited-edition creations. Like the finest vintages, our collectible corkscrews improve with age

.