I was writing several times about Piedmont wines, smaller and bigger wineries in the Langhe and Roero, however, this time I will concentrate on corkscrew. You may think – a kitchen utensil like many others, what is to write about? Well, let’s just have a look…
The history of corkscrew is quite mysterious as sources that confirms when exactly the idea came up are unsure. We only know that in the middle of 17th century a tool for opening bottles closed with cork has already existed. However it wasn’t wine, but perfumes, medicines or ink kept in glass vials. Contemporary corkscrew was available in different shapes and sizes – what is interesting even in pocket version… Aristocracy, rich people used to order it in the best goldsmiths, that’s why they were made of silver, gold, mother pearl or ivory.
The first corkscrew registered patent dates back to 1795 and belongs to the British Reverend Samuel Henshall. But how did the idea of its construction originate, and what it is interesting, till today didn’t change? Apparently a tool to remove unused bullets was the inspiration…
The construction of corkscrew is based on two elements: spirally twisted rod and attached perpendicularly handle, in this way it resembles the T letter. Since the beginning the handle was made of wood, gold, aluminum, ebony and other precious materials. Till today the biggest auction houses attracts collections from all over the world bidding unique pieces made by Cartier, Tiffany or some more modern piece of Gucci or Hermes.
No wonder in places where is a culture of drinking wine there are museums dedicated to corkscrew. One of them is Museo dei Cavatappi in famous Barolo in Piedmont. It’s hosted in an old building in the center of the town with a characteristic sign-board of the huge corkscrew.
The Museum of the corkscrews owns 600 exhibits, also the ancient one used to open glass vials, made of precious materials. During the tour we can admire the most basic ones T-shaped, but also with lever, pocketsize, or the special one used once to open champagne bottles.
One of the most characteristic are in caricature of congressman Andrew John Volstead shape. In United States in 20-nies of 20th century it was all the collection of corkscrews dedicated to the progenitor of hated prohibition law of 1919, know also as a “Volstead act”.
ant another version of caricature of congressman Andrew John Volstead …
More information about museum you will find on: http://www.museodeicavatappi.it/en/