Two corkscrews, one care routine with a twist
Anna G. and Alessandro M. share more than a designer lineage: both are built from an AlkiPaper® body with chrome-plated zamak, so the same gentle habits protect both. The difference sits on the surface. Anna G. wears Fulvia Mendini's pink tree-dress pattern, while Alessandro M. carries a Studio Temp graphic with phosphorescent elements that only show in the dark. Treat the decorated body as the fragile part and the metal as the working part, and cleaning becomes straightforward.
Cleaning your Alessi corkscrew after a bottle
The supplied product information does not include a manufacturer washing or care procedure, so keep the routine conservative and avoid anything that could attack the printed decoration or the biocomposite body.
- Wipe the metal first: Remove wine residue from the chrome-plated zamak spiral and hinge area with a soft, barely damp cloth, then dry immediately so moisture does not sit on the plating.
- Keep the decorated body dry: Wipe the AlkiPaper® body with a soft dry or nearly dry cloth rather than soaking it. The catalog does not confirm water resistance for the biocomposite, so don't assume it.
- Skip harsh chemicals and abrasives: No scouring pads, no aggressive descalers on the plating, and nothing that could dull or lift the pattern. The catalog does not confirm suitability for any specific cleaner.
- Dry fully before storing: Leave the corkscrew open and airy until every part is dry, then store it away from damp. This protects both the zamak and the printed surface.
- Protect the phosphorescent print: On Alessandro M., the decoration contains phosphorescent elements visible only in the dark. Keep it out of prolonged direct sun and avoid rubbing the graphic, since the catalog gives no UV or wear guidance.
What the catalog confirms about each finish
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Anna G.: Anna G. has a body made of AlkiPaper®, a patented biocomposite based on paper, other raw materials of natural origin and functional components, with a pink tree-dress pattern by Fulvia Mendini. The body is a natural-origin composite, not solid metal, so it deserves gentler handling than the spiral.
Anna G.
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Alessandro M.: Alessandro M. is a corkscrew in AlkiPaper® and chrome-plated zamak, with a Studio Temp graphic containing phosphorescent elements visible only in the dark. The same care applies to the body, but the glow-in-the-dark print is the part most worth shielding from rubbing and prolonged light.
Alessandro M.
Daily habits that keep both corkscrews looking right
- Use the spiral, not the figure: Drive the chrome-plated zamak spiral into the cork and let the body act as the handle. Gripping the decorated torso tightly is what wears a print over time.
- Keep it out of the dishwasher discussion: The supplied information gives no dishwasher instruction for either corkscrew. Hand cleaning is the safe default until the manufacturer confirms otherwise.
- Store it upright and separate: A drawer shared with keys and knives invites scratches on the plating. Give the corkscrew its own space or keep it on display.
- Wipe after every use, not every season: Dried wine and sugar are easier to remove straight away, and a quick wipe prevents the need for anything stronger later.
When repair means replacement, not restoration
Neither product record supplies a parts list, a disassembly method or a repair procedure, so don't promise yourself a rebuild. If the spiral bends or the hinge feels loose, the honest first step is to check whether a compatible spare part is offered for your model before attempting anything yourself. The catalog also does not confirm whether Anna G. and Alessandro M. share interchangeable components, so don't assume a part for one fits the other. If no part is listed, a repair attempt risks damaging the AlkiPaper® body beyond use.
Before you order a corkscrew spare part
- Identify the exact model: Anna G. and Alessandro M. are separate designs with different patterns and design credits. Note which one you own before searching.
- Describe the failed component: Spiral, hinge or body: say which part has failed, since the catalog does not confirm that any component is sold separately.
- Accept the limits of the record: No care, safety or compatibility instructions are supplied for Anna G., and no operating instructions are supplied for either model. Ask before assuming.
Caring for an Alessi bottle opener alongside your corkscrew
If your bar kit includes an Alessi bottle opener, apply the same logic: wipe the working metal, dry it fully, and keep decorated or coated surfaces away from abrasives. The supplied records for this article cover the two corkscrews only, so check the opener's own product page for material-specific guidance rather than borrowing instructions from Anna G. or Alessandro M.
A realistic care verdict
These are design objects that also open wine, and that dual role sets the care standard. A soft cloth, prompt drying, careful handling of the decorated body and a willingness to ask about spare parts will keep either corkscrew in presentable working order. Where the catalog is silent, treat silence as a reason to be cautious, not as permission to experiment.