Why do people drink wine from stemmed glasses?

WHY IS WINE SERVED IN A STEMMED GLASS?

Here are some intriguing anecdotes about the origins of this age-old tradition.

Stemmed Glasses to Prevent Poisoning

Some believe that stemmed glasses are used primarily for taste enhancement. While this reasoning justifies their use today (as we’ll explore shortly), it doesn't explain their use in 17th-century France. In fact, stemmed glasses may have appeared following the Affair of the Poisons, a series of scandals involving attempted poisonings between 1679 and 1682, which implicated high-ranking members of King Louis XIV's court and the Parisian aristocracy. After this scandal, it became customary to serve wine in stemmed glasses, holding them by the base. This way, it was impossible to introduce poison into the served liquid since the hand didn't touch the rim of the glass.

The Golden Rule of Professional Wine Tastings: Serving Wine in Stemmed Glasses

The era of royal courts has long passed, yet drinking wine from regular water glasses seems almost unthinkable today. There is a very specific reason for this, related to taste. A glass without a stem requires you to grasp it with your entire hand, which warms the wine and can alter its flavor. In contrast, a stemmed glass allows you to keep your hand away from the bowl (the part that holds the liquid), preserving the wine at the proper temperature. Additionally, holding a stemmed glass by the stem makes it easier to swirl the wine, helping to release its aromas, as is commonly done during tastings.

FAQ - Stemmed glasses

What is the stem of a wine glass for?

The stem keeps your hand away from the bowl, the part that holds the wine. This stops your fingers from warming the drink and helps keep the wine at the right temperature.

How should you hold a wine glass?

Hold it by the stem or the foot, never by the bowl. This grip keeps the wine at temperature and lets you swirl it to release its aromas.

Why shouldn't you hold a glass by the bowl?

Gripping the bowl with your whole hand warms the wine and can alter its flavour. The stem exists precisely to avoid that contact and keep the wine fresh.

Why is wine served in a stemmed glass?

For two reasons: tasting comfort, which preserves temperature and aromas, and a tradition from 17th-century France, when holding the glass by the base avoided any suspicious contact with the liquid.

Does a stemmed glass really change the taste of wine?

Yes, indirectly. By keeping the wine at the right temperature and making it easy to swirl and aerate, it helps the aromas open up and makes the tasting truer.