The Durand® Corkscrew: The Art of Opening an Aged Wine Without Damaging the Cork | SoDivin

The Story of the Durand: The Tool Born from Sommeliers’ Expertise

The Durand takes its name from the meeting of two complementary areas of expertise. On one side, a highly skilled sommelier, faced daily with the delicate task of opening aged bottles in front of a demanding clientele. On the other, a passionate winemaker, well versed in the subtleties of cork and how it behaves over several decades.

From this collaboration came an idea that was simple in concept, yet remarkably effective in execution: combining, in a single tool, the traditional corkscrew worm and the principle of the two-pronged cork extractor, which until then had been used separately and with varying results.

The original goal was to remove a cork that had become fragile without ever compressing or tearing it, while eliminating the risk of it breaking during extraction. The tool quickly gained recognition among wine professionals.

Michelin-starred restaurants, wine merchants, specialist auction houses, and discerning private collectors quickly adopted it as an indispensable ally whenever an aged bottle had to be served in the best possible condition. Today, the Durand has established itself as a discreet classic of fine dining, much like a crystal decanter or an exceptional tastevin.

Why Use The Durand® to Open an Aged Wine?

Over the years, a bottle’s cork changes just as much as the wine it protects. It becomes more brittle, sometimes saturated with wine, and loses its elasticity. Using a standard corkscrew on an old cork frequently causes it to break or even disintegrate completely into the bottle.

On its own, the twin-blade system may sometimes fail to get a firm grip if the cork is too fragile. Conversely, the screw alone risks piercing a weakened cork without allowing for a clean extraction.

The Durand offers a perfectly suited solution to this challenge. By combining the two approaches, it ensures a secure opening. The worm stabilizes the cork from within, while the blades support it from the sides. This synergy significantly reduces the risk of crumbling and allows the cork to be removed in one piece, thereby preserving the wine’s purity.

To open an old bottle under optimal conditions, this tool quickly becomes indispensable.

How to use the Durand® Bi Blade?

The Durand® is a patented corkscrew made up of two elements which allow perfect extraction of old and fragile corks while keeping them whole and intact.

We recommend following the 4 steps below to optimally use the Durand (schema below) :

1. Screw the first part into the center of the cap until the stabilizer bar rests against the top of the cap or bottle. See photo 1.
2. The second part, two blades like a clamp, is inserted perpendicular to the stabilizer bar between the cork and the bottle. The longest blade is inserted first, then the shortest. Its purpose is to separate the cork from the glass, while the screw holds the cork. See photo 2.
3. Gently press down on each blade alternately using the handle to move the blades down the walls of the cork. Continue this rocking motion until the bottom of the handle rests against the top of the stabilizer. Once in, they form a cross and lock together. See photo 3.
4. Hold the bottle firmly. With the other hand, gently and carefully pull while turning the entire device counterclockwise until the cork comes out in one piece. See photo 4.

An older, more fragile cork will need a little extra care. Place your fingers on the cork near the neck of the bottle to “accompany” the cork upwards so that you can remove it completely.

Our precautions

The Durand® twin-blade corkscrew is specially designed to extract old and fragile corks from standard-sized bottles. For optimal use, the inner diameter of the bottle neck should be approximately 2 cm.

Its use is not recommended for corks with a diameter of less than 2 cm or for synthetic corks, for which it is unsuitable.

Although The Durand® is recognized as the gold standard for opening older bottles, its effectiveness cannot be guaranteed on recent bottles, whose corks have different characteristics.