The challenge of wine storageTo understand how the corkscrew became an essential tool, we have to start with understanding why we seal our wine with corks in the first place. It conforms tightly to the shape of the vessel and allows only a minuscule amount of air in (in a standard modern wine bottle, about one milligram per year). Image: DepositPhotosThe origins of the wine bottleBefore the modern practice of tightly corking wine bottles, the first corkscrews were likely used only in emergencies. Just like the glass bottle, the corkscrew or bottlescrew spread from English cidermaking into winemaking. Another possible factor is the growing popularity, and convenience, of another innovation: the screw cap wine bottle.