There seems to be a great deal of discussion about the best glasses to drink champagne out of.
Here is a list of the three most commonly available and their relative merits:
The champagne coupe or saucer.
Rumoured to have been modelled on the breast of Marie Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour or anyone of a long list of French aristocracy, this glass was in fact created in the second half of the 17th century in England, when sparkling champagne was massively sweetened to suit the English taste. Incredibly popular in the 1920’s and 30’s this ‘Great Gatsby’ style glass was a must have at any society party in the USA or England.
The wide rimmed glass is nowadays more commonly used for cocktails and whilst it has a very stylish appearance, it is not much use as a glass either for holding the effervescence of a champagne or appreciating its aromas. In short, charming to look at, but useless for the serious wine lover!
The straight sided flute.
With a long bowl and straight sided stem, this is the perfect glass to drink non vintage champagne from. It retains the champagne’s gasses by having a narrow mouth, which also makes the aromas more intense. It is also wonderful to watch millions of bubbles making their journey to the surface in this style of glass.
The tulip glass.
Perfect for vintage champagnes, this glass helps the drinker appreciate the refinements, delicacies and complexities of a well looked after older champagne. The narrow mouth opens up mid-point to the bottom of the bowl before coming in again, allowing for greater intensity of aromas than the straight sided flute.
My preferred glasses are those in the Riedel Sommelier collection. Elegant and beautifully made, they do justice to fine champagnes and look wonderful on any dinner table.
As Robert M. Parker wrote in ‘The Wine Advocate’:
“The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make”.
