How do you hold a glass of wine ?

If you want to taste wine like a professional and appreciate all its nuances, holding your wine glass correctly is essential.

There are different ways to hold your wine glass during tasting. Quickly discover how to properly hold a wine glass with our tips and tricks.

How to Hold a Wine Glass Correctly

To become a professional taster, it is crucial to hold your wine glass by the stem. However, if your wine is served too cold, you may deviate from this rule and warm it up by holding it in the palm of your hand.

You can hold your wine glass in several ways. You can hold it by the top of the stem, or pinch the base of the glass between your thumb and index finger. The latter method provides good stability for the glass and prevents the wine from warming up too quickly. Whether you are tasting white wine, red wine, rosé, or Champagne, the technique for holding your wine glass remains the same.

Why Do Wine Glasses Have a Stem?

Wine glasses all have a stem. The stem allows you to hold the glass correctly and taste your wine or Champagne without your hand coming into direct contact with the wine. This prevents the wine from warming up too quickly. A wine tasted at the wrong temperature will have less developed aromas and flavors. If the wine is too cold, you can warm it up by holding the glass in the palm of your hand.

Choosing the Right Wine Glass

There are dozens of different wine glass shapes. To best appreciate your tastings of fine wines, Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Alsace, it is essential to carefully choose your wine glass.

Always prefer transparent glasses that allow you to appreciate the true and natural color of the wine. Opt for glasses with a sufficiently wide base to allow the wine to breathe and discover its aromatic bouquet more easily. Finally, for a more enjoyable tasting experience, choose a glass with a thin rim. Before serving, make sure the glasses are clean and free from any dish soap residue that could interfere with the notes and aromas of the wine.

Now that you know how to hold a wine glass correctly, feel free to explore our unique selection of wines and Champagnes directly from French estates. We offer red, white, rosé wines, and Champagne from the best vineyards in France: Bordeaux, the Rhône Valley, Loire, Alsace, Burgundy, and Languedoc-Roussillon.

FAQ - Holding a wine glass

How do you hold a wine glass correctly?

Hold your glass by the stem, between your thumb and index finger, or pinch the base for extra stability. Your hand never touches the bowl, which keeps the wine at the right temperature during tasting.

Should you hold a wine glass by the stem or the bowl?

By the stem in almost every case. You avoid warming the wine and keep a clear view of its colour. Cupping the bowl in your palm is only useful to warm a wine that was served too cold.

Why hold a wine glass by the stem rather than the bowl?

The warmth of your hand quickly heats the wine through the bowl. A wine served at the wrong temperature shows less developed aromas and flavours. The stem keeps the temperature steady and lets the bouquet open up.

How do you hold a Champagne glass?

The technique is the same as for a wine glass: hold the flute or glass by the stem. You avoid warming the Champagne and preserve the delicacy of its bubbles and aromas.

How do you choose a good tasting glass?

Pick a clear glass so you can see the true colour of the wine, with a base wide enough to let it breathe and a thin rim. Make sure it is clean and free of any dish soap smell before serving.