Abstract: A cork removal apparatus utilizes a rack and pinion mechanism and conventional corkscrew assembly to remove a cork from the neck of a bottle. The apparatus includes a yoke for retaining a handle portion of the corkscrew assembly and a retainer for retaining and positioning the openable end of the bottle with the mechanism. The rack and pinion mechanism is movable towards the retainer, and into position with the bottleneck and corkscrew assembly screwed into the cork thereof for mounting of the handle into the yoke, and away from the retainer, to pull the cork out of the bottle. A specially configured insert used with the retainer enables the apparatus to adapt to various bottle geometries and open a variety of bottle sizes and shapes.