Best Sparkling Wine Glass
Sparkling Wine Glasses
Which glass is best for sparkling wine? The answer is, it depends. There are several options, and each glass contributes something different to the perception, taste and sensation of your wine drinking experience.
Changing Fashion in Sparkling Glasses
The answer has also changed over the centuries. First, the wines themselves have changed – becoming more effervescent, dryer and more aromatic. Second, what’s in fashion has changed. The coupe was designed in England in the 17th century, and quickly became fashionable in France. Legend has it that King Louis XVI of France is responsible for molding the shape of the glass after his wife’s breast. This is unlikely because of the timing but it makes for a great story!
Later the flute, became the favored glass. Flutes are tall and narrow with a long stem. Scenes of elegant glasses being raised in a toast come to mind and evoke celebration. Flutes are usually notched inside the base causing a beautiful stream of bubbles to rise in the glass. The trumpet is a variation on the flute.
More recently the tulip shaped glass is believed to be the perfect vessel for Champagne and sparkling wine because it combines the advantages of both the coupe and the flute. Some oenophiles prefer a wide tulip glass to accentuate the aromas.
Stemless glasses became the rage in the last 10 – 20 years including glasses made specifically for sparkling wines, typically in the flute shape.
Sparkling wine experts often taste sparkling wine in a regular wine glass, typically a white wine glass, although some prefer a red wine glass with an even larger bowl. These glasses accentuate the aromas of the sparkling wine. Stemless glasses became the rage in the last 10 – 20 years including glasses made specifically for sparkling wines, typically in the flute shape.
How to Choose a Sparkling Wine Glass
With all those options, how do you choose? You can choose to go with what is currently in vogue, pick the one you like best and stick with it, or have several kinds of glasses to match the kind of experience you want to achieve. Here are the types of glasses and the attributes of each.
The Coupe
The coupe, sometimes called a saucer, is a shallow, broad-bowled glass. The classic coupe had a short stem, but you can also find them with long stems now.
The shape of this glass causes the bubbles to disperse more quickly allowing you to experience both the flavor and aromas of the wine. Typically, the sparkling wine will taste fruitier and softer. These are the glasses to use in those multi-layer Champagne fountains.
The Flute
Champagne flutes are tall and narrow with a tapered conical shape and a long stem. They are perfect for keeping the bubbles present and taut. The flute will give your sparkling a bit of oomph with more bubbles. Because of the narrow top, you won’t get as many aromatics as you do with wider mouth champagne glasses.
The tiny notch in the bottom of the glass showcases the bubbles rising slowly up through the liquid. If you want to feature the magic of the bubbles, then the champagne flute is the glass for you.
The Tulip
The shape of the tulip is an elongated oval, somewhat narrow at the top and rounded in the middle. It is both open enough to allow enjoyment of the wine's aromas and closed enough to concentrate the flavors. The oxygen reaches the wine and allows the aromas to be released, however because of the narrow mouth, the bubbles will not escape at a rapid rate giving you a nice aroma and taste.
The broad bowl best suits sparkling wines with solid aromas.
The curve also provides an extra bowl space that allows Champagne to develop it’s flavors completely without overpowering the aromas. Like the flute, the tulip has a rough bead on the bottom to help aerate the bubbles as well as add a touch of sparkle to each sip.
The Wide Tulip
This variation on the tulip has a wider bowl and enhances the biscuit and brioche aromas of matured high-quality sparkling wines like vintage Champagne.
The Trumpet
Trumpets are a type of flute. These glasses direct the bubbles upwards where the taste buds are highly active and have the same attributes of the flute. They are often quite elegant and used for special toasts.
Stemless Champagne Flute
This glass is typically in the shape of a flute but without the stem. It has most of the same attributes of the flute. The advantage over the flute is that it is less likely to be knocked over because its center of gravity is lower than the stemmed flute. These glasses are often a good choice for a casual party. They are also easier to fit in a dishwasher or cabinet.
On the other hand, since sparkling wines are best enjoyed chilled, holding a glass by the stem can help prevent your body heat from causing the temperature to rise. When you use a stemless wine glass the only way to hold it is by the bowl itself.
Still Thirsty?
If you want to learn more, here is a curated list of articles about sparkling wine glasses.
Do I Use Champagne Flutes or Glasses?
What’s The Best Glass To Serve Champagne In?
Why Use a Stemless Wine Glass vs. a Stemmed Glass?