Corkscrew do I take one with me?

[AKBee]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

 

[trecile]

You will usually find a corkscrew when you need one.

 

[Anamya]

Agreed.
And in the very unlikely event of not having a corkscrew, you can always push the cork in. Them find some friends to drink the entire bottle with you (or not...).

 

[C clearly]

But be aware that wine bottles in Spain all come with corks - no screw tops.

 

[Lindsay53]

Yes. albergue kitchens can be hit or miss with utensils and the screw top wine bottle has not made inroads in Spain. I was quite popular with other peregrinos because my Swiss army knife has a corkscrew.

 

[David]

I do, always. Well, actually my Swiss Army knife with corkscrew, scissors, tweezers, toothpick, etc. A great tool that is small and light.
A corkscrew is pretty good for loosening knots too!

Sure, there are corkscrews - in the UK we must have millions of them .... but that one time that crops up when there isn't one or the only one is broken?

Oh, and a tea spoon .... yoghurt, ice cream pots, etc.

 

[Kirkie]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

Sorry, I just want to say, rather than have to say: Spain has every convenience, including corkscrews.
edit: forgive the sorry, perhaps if this is going to be your first foray into Europe and the conveniences it may or may not offer...be assured. You will find a multiplicity of corkscrews for every possible occasion.

 

[naplesdon]

How much could a corkscrew weigh? Don't pack it in any of your carry-on luggage, it will likely be removed by security.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

@AKBee, you could also look out for this...

No corkscrew required...& you don't have to share!
This was on the VF in Italy but I also saw them in Spain...cost? less than €1 (2019).

 

[David]

Sorry, I just want to say, rather than have to say: Spain has every convenience, including corkscrews.
edit: forgive the sorry, perhaps if this is going to be your first foray into Europe and the conveniences it may or may not offer...be assured. You will find a multiplicity of corkscrews for every possible occasion.

I so disagree with this, sorry. Sure, there are probably billions of corkscrews in Europe but there is always the time when a refugio doesn't have one, or if it does then someone has taken it into the garden and left it there, or the only one is broken, or you treat yourself to a night in a guest house and are in your room, no corkscrew .... there is strolling out in the evening with a couple of new friends to sit and look at a magnificent view and share ... no corkscrew there ... carrying wine with you and stopping by a stream to eat your packed lunch and have just one glass of wine, no corkscrew there ... I could go on ...

have you never been at a party that is spread out from the kitchen to sitting room to patio to garden and that house only has one corkscrew and it is nowhere to be found?
Oh, I did go on

 

[dick bird]

I cannot actually recall seeing an albergue with a functioning corkscrew. But you can buy them in Spain. Or use the one on your Swiss Army knife, the one you put in your checked backpack. Doh! Now I´ve done it.

 

[Anhalter]

I never go on a Camino without one. Yes, you rarely use it. But when you need it, its good to have.
I'm using the smallest Swiss Army knife that has a corkscrew, the Victorinox Waiter, which comes in at 38g and has a few other features including a small knife. I guess that's easily worth the weight.

 

[Hertsseasider]

We are travelling with no checked luggage so will buy one in Ferrol and donate it in Santiago

 

[SioCamino]

I have never brought one and can only remember one time that we couldn't find one in the albergue or from fellow pilgrims. We asked at the shop where we bought the wine if they had one and they opened it for us.

For reference the Spanish for (the/a) corkscrew is (el/un) sacacorchos [a portmanteau style word from sacar (to pull) and corchos (corks)

 

[good_old_shoes]

I didn't have one on my first Camino. Not every albergue had one back then. So I always asked the other pilgrims and offered some wine in return. It was a good way to get to know people! After a few days a group of italians who had already given me their corkscrew several times started to laugh when they saw me approaching them, because they already knew I was "the one with the wine" .

Sometimes I bring one now, especially when I do a lot of camping. But in the albergues there's usually someone who has one. Communication is the key!

 

[good_old_shoes]

@AKBee, you could also look out for this...
View attachment 153084
No corkscrew required...& you don't have to share!
This was on the VF in Italy but I also saw them in Spain...cost? less than €1 (2019).

The french version:

 

[Ernie Fraser]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

There is not a shortage of corkscrews in Spain or Portugal.

 

[RobboSC]

Someone always has corkscrew to lend. That being said I am usually the "lender" because there was that "one time".

It never leaves my backpack now unless it's getting used... or lent

 

[Debora]

I carried a small corkscrew with me the entire trip. There were times it made me the most popular person in the albergue. Lol.

 

[tonyyikes]

We bought a small sacacorchos on the first or second day, and used it for the rest of our Camino (Primitivo). We didn't check any bags, and I was worried that it would get taken at the airport, but evidently it passed. Next Camino I'll probably pick up a couple of these little guys ahead of time. https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Tool-C...table-Bottle/dp/B074PQ44N6/?tag=casaivar02-20

 

[Gringazolana]

Yes. I was the one with a corkscrew, a band-aid, a Tylenol/paracetamol to share. Never had enough chocolate though, so I traded!

 

[barryfr]

The corkscrew on my Swiss army knife got frequent use on the Camino. Also useful on the knives my wife and I carried were the scissors and large blade. The knives couldn't go on our carry-on airline baggage but our tickets included a free checked bag, which we used for a box that contained our trekking poles and knives.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have been allowed to bring a corkscrew in the cabin in my backpack as long as it has been one without the little knife and they always check. Possibly it's a questionable item like hiking poles and depends on the mood of the security personnel that day. I keep it with easy access in case they want to look at it.

 

[WayWalker]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

We could never find one. My husband became an expert at removing corks with no corkscrew. Lol.

 

[tpmchugh]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

For all a corkscrew weighs I would pack one. Mine was an accessory on my swiss army style knife. Although pilgrims without one asked around and often I lent mine out

 

[Anthony Rocco]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

Never needed one. I guess if you're camping it makes sense. But don't bring it with you. Buy one there at a China store, as peregrinos usually refer to the dollar stores. They are not only cheap but are lightweight. They won't last long, but long enough for a camino.

 

[KarinaH]

I had thought to bring my Swiss Army knife, but found it too heavy for "just in case." Instead, I brought a corkscrew similar to this. It weighed almost nothing, but I did in fact need both the corkscrew and the little blade. This and my titanium spork, and I was covered!

 

[Fulton0s]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

I used mine almost every day.
I check my bag at the airport, so I bring a small Swiss Army knife with a corkscrew.
The knife is also very useful for cutting cheese.
So definitely yes!

 

[peregrina2000]

We asked at the shop where we bought the wine if they had one and they opened it for us.

That is my go-to method as well. I think that any private albergue, pensión or hotel will always be able to open a bottle of wine for you. I think it’s more the municipal albergues that people are talking about. But @David points out circumstances in which a spontaneous picnic or sunset could be less fun if you couldn’t open a bottle of wine. If that’s an issue for you, a corkscrew might be a good idea.

When I started carrying my electric coil, I stopped carrying my Swiss Army knife, as a “weight trade off” based on my assessment of how often I would need each one. I threw my knife in this year since I had a package to check on the plane over anyway. I did find it useful in a couple of the municipal albergues where we had managed to buy a bottle of wine beforehand. Cifuentes stands out on the Lana. If I had not had a corkscrew, though, I would have asked in either a bar on the way back to the albergue from the grocery store, or just ask a person outside working in their garden. When you’re on an untraveled camino you can be pretty sure that you will not find that these kinds of requests exasperate people — quite the contrary, they oftentimes like the chance to talk to you!

Spain may not have screw-on tops for wine, but it definitely has wine in boxes. And though many of those boxes are probably not very drinkable, I think there is a growing supply of not-so-bad wine in boxes.

 

[Rushie]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

Cork screws are almost impossible to find in Spain take 2 with you

 

[JabbaPapa]

Just get the simple "barman" Swiss Army knife. If you're arriving by airplane via Paris, that's the best place to find one.

Also good for cutting bread & cheeses, fruit & veg, salchichón y chorizo, and so much more besides.

 

[AKBee]

You will usually find a corkscrew when you need one.

They do say the Camino provides

 

[gailsweb]

This was my husbands only purchase in st Jean on two caminos - avoids concerns with carryon and helps make friends - very useful and never wasted weight ! I remember him running down the street in naverette to rescue a poor soul who had a bottle of vino tinto and no corkscrew! My hero

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The Swiss make great red handled corkscrews that come provided with extra sharp edged tools.

Yeah, already mentioned but I had to have my say too.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I read once that the difference between a Swiss Army Knife and a Swiss Army Officiers' Knife was that the later came with the corkscrew.

 

[Blister Bill]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

No. Yes. Buen Camino

 

[nikkiinsf]

There are TSA approved cork screws:

TSA Compliant Corkscrew Bottle Opener, Black Double Hinged , Stainless Steel Wine Key (1 Pack)

 

[SeaHorse]

This is how you do it: go in the shop, look at the bottom of wine shelves, find the cheap (1 to few euros) bottle without any label just excise hologram*, buy it, right by the shop take out your Swiss knife with corkscrew, open the bottle, check quality by taste, pour the rest of wine into a lightweight plastic bottle, dispose of the heavy glass bottle. Good to go!
BTW red wine works wonders on tired legs: just a glass will take away all the heavy feeling and you can walk more km easily.
* Wines with protected names have limits for yield per hectare. When the harvest is better than allowed vineyards don't throw goodies away, they still make nice wine and sell it as anonymous. Tricks of the trade.

 

[512]

Just to be safe, we stuck with Lambrusco

 

[Janny]

I purchased a pocket knife in St Jean. Had a corkscrew and small pair of scissors in it.

 

[Barbara]

Just to be safe, we stuck with Lambrusco

You forgot the smiley!

 

[plonkydonkey]

In the context of this thread it seems there are two types of pilgrims:
1. Those who say "the Camino provides" - by which they mean "other pilgrims".
2. Those who say "I provide for myself - and those around who may be in need"

Luckily there's a happy balance of both kinds of pilgrims to balance things out.

Edited to answer the question: I would pack one!

 

[Blister Bill]

In the context of this thread it seems there are two types of pilgrims:
1. Those who say "the Camino provides" - by which they mean "other pilgrims".
2. Those who say "I provide for myself - and those around who may be in need"

Luckily there's a happy balance of both kinds of pilgrims to balance things out.

Not really. There are those that answer the question asked and point out that if you need something there are plenty of opportunities to get the item in country - in this case a corkscrew. I've yet to not find one in an alberque kitchen. Chances are in a group someone may well have one. The camino provides in many ways - not just materialistically.

 

[Tony Lenton]

I so disagree with this, sorry. Sure, there are probably billions of corkscrews in Europe but there is always the time when a refugio doesn't have one, or if it does then someone has taken it into the garden and left it there, or the only one is broken, or you treat yourself to a night in a guest house and are in your room, no corkscrew .... there is strolling out in the evening with a couple of new friends to sit and look at a magnificent view and share ... no corkscrew there ... carrying wine with you and stopping by a stream to eat your packed lunch and have just one glass of wine, no corkscrew there ... I could go on ...

have you never been at a party that is spread out from the kitchen to sitting room to patio to garden and that house only has one corkscrew and it is nowhere to be found?
Oh, I did go on

You are spot on. I’d go so far as to say that a corkscrew is literally indispensable.

 

[Canche]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

Swiss Army Knife has everything you need. I don't go anywhere without it, on or off the Camino.

 

[JillGat]

I bought a bottle of wine in a wine shop in Astorga once and asked the guy there if he could open it for me. He said he didn't have a corkscrew but "esperate!" and he left me alone to watch the store while he walked about two blocks away to a bar for them to open my bottle. That's what I like about Spain.

 

[JillGat]

Swiss Army Knife has everything you need. I don't go anywhere without it, on or off the Camino.

Make sure you get the one with the corkscrew AND the scissors. They come in handy all the time.

 

[Canche]

Make sure you get the one with the corkscrew AND the scissors. They come in handy all the time.

Exactly. They are the best

 

[Kirkie]

You are spot on. I’d go so far as to say that a corkscrew is literally indispensable.

This is one of those moments where I say: let's agree to disagree.

 

[VNwalking]

This is one of those moments where I say: let's agree to disagree.

I agree with @Kirkie - they're totally dispensible. I've never needed one nor used one on 7 caminos. But then, TBH, I don't drink.

Even if I did...whatever happened to simplicity?

 

[Barbara]

My word. 48 posts and 48 opinions. Not bad for such a trivial thing. You walk between 5000 and 100km, fly from everywhere in the world to do it, and you can actually worry about whether or not you should bring a corkscrew. An item that costs about 4€ in any small supermarket in France or Spain. Oh well. I suppose that's human nature, to focus on the small stuff. But, IMHO, it doesn't, in the global scheme of things, actually have any importance. Far more significant is, once the bottle is open, how good is the wine, what drinking vessel do you use, and in what company do you drink it? Not that I can't drink a bottle of wine in my own company, but still, let's focus on the important stuff!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Far more significant is, once the bottle is open, how good is the wine, what drinking vessel do you use, and in what company do you drink it? Not that I can't drink a bottle of wine in my own company, but still, let's focus on the important stuff!

Hmmm, I think that would go from the 48 replies to 480.

 

[Frankybaby66]

Wondering if I should pack a corkscrew? The added weight verses the possible pleasure of enjoying a glass or two of wine in the evening at the Albergues might be worth it. Do the Albergues with kitchens general have one?

If you take a corkscrew, you will be more popular than you can imagine
Most albergues have them though. . .

 

[JillGat]

Since I have to check a bag for my poles, I always throw a swiss army knife in there that has a corkscrew and scissors (which often come in handy, too!)

 

[peregrina2000]

This method would save you the weight of a corkscrew. I have seen it done, though not on a camino.

 

[C clearly]

This method would save you the weight of a corkscrew. I have seen it done, though not on a camino.

Does this mean that I don't need to bring mine, because you will be responsible for opening the wine?

(I think my shoes are too padded.)

 

[JillGat]

I agree with @Kirkie - they're totally dispensible. I've never needed one nor used one on 7 caminos. But then, TBH, I don't drink.

Even if I did...whatever happened to simplicity?

VN.. a corkscrew for a bottle of wine IS simplicity. For you, no wine bottle is simplicity. Asi es la vida loca.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

what drinking vessel do you use,

The vessel is important to me when drinking wine. I always prefer standard wine glasses, whether modern or antique. On Camino I always pack a small stemless clear plastic glass with a comfortable rim that is not sharp and def has no color. I'm definitely not a wine snob, but I am particular about the vessel, so I must be a vessel snob.

 

[JillGat]

The vessel is important to me when drinking wine. I always prefer standard wine glasses, whether modern or antique. On Camino I always pack a small stemless clear plastic glass with a comfortable rim that is not sharp and def has no color. I'm definitely not a wine snob, but I am particular about the vessel, so I must be a vessel snob.

Is it a Govino? I never thought I would enjoy drinking wine from a plastic cup, but these are fabulous! https://govino.com/shop Nice thin rim and the thumb notch is genius.

Before I knew about these glasses, once I entered the Bierzo region and left the camino briefly to visit some wine tasting rooms. I knew that ice axe loop on the back of my pack would come in handy someday... And the side pockets, too! I'd have to gain a lot of weight for my pack to have been 10% of my body weight then!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Is it a Govino? I never thought I would enjoy drinking wine from a plastic cup, but these are fabulous!

No, Jill, my fave to bring on the Camino is this one on the left. I guess I am not a vessel snob after all as it was only 25 cents from my fave resale shop. When I pack up I stuff a pair of socks in it so it takes up no room.
Yours is lovely, btw.

 

[C clearly]

I will drink wine out of any convenient vessel, but I really don't like my beer from a bottle or can. Nevertheless, I have been known to make compromises on the Camino.

 

[Tincatinker]

"S funny innit. I hate the French (see History ) but the Duralex glass https://uk.duralex.com/ and the Opinel knife https://www.opinel.com/en/pocket-kinves mean I am never less than polite when there.

I have a little Duralex Picardie which must be 30 years old now. Between usages I stuff it in a Rucksack pocket and it waits, eagerly, for its next opportunity to serve

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I will drink wine out of any convenient vessel, but I really don't like my beer from a bottle or can. Nevertheless, I have been known to make compromises on the Camino.

I don't drink beer, but if I did, I'd be in your camp.

 

[David]

"S funny innit. I hate the French (see History ) but the Duralex glass https://uk.duralex.com/ and the Opinel knife https://www.opinel.com/en/pocket-kinves mean I am never less than polite when there.

I have a little Duralex Picardie which must be 30 years old now. Between usages I stuff it in a Rucksack pocket and it waits, eagerly, for its next opportunity to serve

Agree - the French do understand a glass is correct -

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Agree - the French do understand a glass is correct

Those ladies drink "fast and furious".

 

[David]

This is mine, a French Vichy Spa water measure glass with wicker basket to keep it safe - vintage and rare now but they do come up on Ebay now and then. (no corkscrew included - dang!).

 

[Canche]

Swiss Army Knife has everything you need. I don't go anywhere without it, on or off the Camino.

Absolutely Swiss Army knife. I don't go anywhere without it. It has everythng you neefd.

 

[TravellingMan22]

The vessel is important to me when drinking wine. I always prefer standard wine glasses, whether modern or antique. On Camino I always pack a small stemless clear plastic glass with a comfortable rim that is not sharp and def has no color. I'm definitely not a wine snob, but I am particular about the vessel, so I must be a vessel snob.

Sorry this may seem like a strange question but what do you regard as a standard wine glass? In Tumbler, long neck? In a USA bar at mo and wine served in a tumbler which I really like!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hi TM22, Not strange as I obviously didn't make myself very clear.
Standard, imo, are the normal wine glasses served in restaurants; usually a more fat shape is served for red, and a bit more slender for white wine. At home, I also have a set of etched crystal antique wine glasses.
I was only speaking of what I prefer to use when choosing a plastic drinking cup to bring on the Camino. Hope this helps.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Hi TM22, Not strange as I obviously didn't make myself very clear.
Standard, imo, are the normal wine glasses served in restaurants; usually a more fat shape is served for red, and a bit more slender for white wine. At home, I also have a set of etched crystal antique wine glasses.
I was only speaking of what I prefer to use when choosing a plastic drinking cup to bring on the Camino. Hope this helps.

Ah ok. Currently in a bar in USA and got served as per image. Different to Europe with a ‘long neck’ glass. Kinda prefer the USA glass!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Ah ok. Currently in a bar in USA and got served as per image. Different to Europe with a ‘long neck’ glass. Kinda prefer the USA glass!

Yes, stemless glasses have become quite popular in the US, but they still have more of a wine glass shape; much easier for bars to clean them with less breakage. I don't mind them, but stems seem more traditional.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Yes, stemless glasses have become quite popular in the US, but they still have more of a wine glass shape; much easier for bars to clean them with less breakage. I don't mind them, but stems seem more traditional.

Yea stems seem more traditional but like the stemless ones. Less traditional of course but feel more substantial and less likely to knock over!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

At home Peg likes stemmed wine glasses but I prefer old jelly/jam glasses. A friend gifted us some plastic tumbler type glasses like in post #69 (with a thumb indentation yet). We have them in our travel trailer because they are unbreakable. At campgrounds where alcohol is forbidden empty coke cans are filled inside and used outside.

 

[JillGat]

No, Jill, my fave to bring on the Camino is this one on the left. I guess I am not a vessel snob after all as it was only 25 cents from my fave resale shop. When I pack up I stuff a pair of socks in it so it takes up no room.
Yours is lovely, btw.
View attachment 167154

You need to try a govino!

 

[Barbara]

At home Peg likes stemmed wine glasses but I prefer old jelly/jam glasses. A friend gifted us some plastic tumbler type glasses like in post #69 (with a thumb indentation yet). We have them in our travel trailer because they are unbreakable. At campgrounds where alcohol is forbidden empty coke cans are filled inside and used outside.

There are campgrounds where alcohol is forbidden? Wow. What strange country is this? I've seen trains with no drinking allowed, but camp grounds? Weird. Not going there.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

There are campgrounds where alcohol is forbidden? Wow. What strange country is this? I've seen trains with no drinking allowed, but camp grounds? Weird. Not going there.

Mostly in the parks run by the state or county. Some forbid alcohol in the park but allow it on the campsites. It's easier to remove and fine drunks for drinking than proving that they were drinking too much.

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

In our past four CFs, my wife and I carry on our backpacks, but check in a single nylon bag for our trekking poles and swiss army knife. The knife is invaluable to cut bread, cheese and chorizo for lunch and breaks, and at our destination, after we check in at the albergue, we find a relaxing place to enjoy a bottle of wine.

During my camino last fall, Cindi stayed home to help care for her mother that is developing several health problems. I decided to hike Camino Portuguese allowing 14 hiking stages from Porto to Santiago. I left my knife and trekking poles at home, and decided to purchase these in Porto. I found a sporting goods store and bought a nice set of trekking poles for a great price. The store did not have anything similar to a swiss army knife. I checked several other stores and was not successful. Running short on time, I walked to Porto's Mercado do Bolhao to buy provisions for hiking the next day. After buying a hunk of cheese (that did not require refrigeration), I turned around to the stand behind me and discovered a stall of a blacksmith that made a variety of items, including knives. Then I found one that was almost identical to SAK, including a bottle opener, two blades and a corkscrew! I was elated! And there were various types of hardwood (I selected cherry). Then his female partner asked me if I wanted it engraved! I wrote on paper "Camino Bob 2023) and within minutes I had my custom knife. It was wonderful and received heavy use every day.

When I returned home to the US, I looked closely at the knife's box and found an email address. I contacted Andre Fernandes and asked if I could purchase a custom, engraved knife for my brother's birthday. No problem. 75 euros for the knife and 25 euros to send to my home in Indianapolis. I will give to him when he comes to Indy for a few days of fishing. Bob

 

[JillGat]

You will usually find a corkscrew when you need one.

This sounds like a Buddhist koan.

 

[VNwalking]

This sounds like a Buddhist koan.

The koan is "What's the sound of one hand using the corkscrew?"

 

[Barbara]

Mostly in the parks run by the state or county. Some forbid alcohol in the park but allow it on the campsites. It's easier to remove and fine drunks for drinking than proving that they were drinking too much.

I see. Still think it's sad, though.

 

[hecate105]

Its all very well packing lightly....but a corkscrew is an essential....