Buying guide for best champagne glasses
Raise a glass to health and happiness! If you’re drinking champagne or another bubbly beverage, you’ll want to make sure you use the appropriate glass. Why? Well, you never see people toasting champagne with water glasses or coffee mugs not just because they look elegant, but also because they help keep your bubbles bubbling and your drink delicious.
A quality champagne glass effectively traps and produces bubbles while exuding an air of elegance and refinement. Note that when we discuss champagne glasses here, we’re talking about glasses that effectively hold any type of sparkling wine. Though they’re dubbed champagne glasses, a more appropriate term might be “sparkling wine” glasses. As sparkling wine varies by vineyard, region, and country, so too do champagne glasses
Champagne and sparkling wine
Sparkling wine has a higher level of carbon dioxide than regular wine as a result of the fermentation process. These bottles are corked and pressurized, which is why you hear a pop when a bottle is opened. If you shake the bottle before you open it, your sparkling wine may bubble excessively.
Most sparkling wine is white or rosé, though some may be red as well. Sparkling wine may be sweet, dry, fruity, or aromatic. Some sparkling wines have been aged for decades.
Did you know?
Tulip glasses may come in a regular size or feature a wide bowl. The wider the glass, the easier it is to swirl, collect aromas, and enjoy the fragrance of your beverage.
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Key considerations
Glass type
There are three types of champagne glasses: the flute, the coupe, and the tulip.
Champagne flute
The champagne flute is the most common type of champagne glass. It is tall and narrow, often with a long, ornate stem. A champagne flute captures bubbles effectively and showcases the beverage. You can drink from a flute at any pace, as it helps prevent your drink from going flat. Notably, aromatic wines may not be as enjoyable in a flute because the aroma is more likely to escape.
Coupe
The coupe, or saucer glass, was once popular but is now less common. Made with a wide rim and shallow bowl, it resembles a martini glass. These glasses look elegant but aren’t useful if you plan to slowly sip your drink because the aroma and bubbles escape quickly. You can use coupe glasses for a variety of cocktails as well.
Tulip
The tulip is a sort of compromise between a flute and a coupe glass. Under the narrow rim of a tulip glass is a wide middle that tapers toward the stem, like a tulip. The wide bowl and narrow rim help preserve bubbles while trapping the beverage’s aroma. Some people really like the flower-like shape of the glass.
Storage
Champagne glasses come in various shapes and sizes. Before you buy, make sure you’ve got room to properly store them. Flutes in particular are often tall, while coupe glasses tend to be wide. Consider a bar cart or hanging wine glass rack if you need to get creative with glass storage.
Stems
Most champagne glasses have stems. The stem is elegant but also practical; holding the bowl in your hand would transfer body heat to your drink, and when you’re sipping champagne (along with most white wines and some reds), you don’t want to warm it up! What’s more, holding a glass by its bowl could leave unsightly fingerprints.
That said, stemless glasses do have their pluses. They are less top-heavy and therefore less likely to tip over. You don’t have to worry about breaking a delicate stem with stemless glasses, either.
Capacity
Most champagne glasses hold 5 to 10 ounces of liquid. Keep in mind that you likely won’t fill your champagne glass to the top. Depending on the occasion, smaller glasses may mandate more frequent refills.
Material
Champagne glasses are usually made of glass, but some are plastic. As you might expect, plastic is cheaper and less durable. These would be useful for large parties and convenient for picnicking or other outdoor events, but plastic creates waste and is not sustainable.
Some glasses are made of crystal glass, which is elegant and durable but more expensive than regular glass.
Did you know?
A variation on the champagne flute is the trumpet flute. These glasses are narrow but slowly widen at a tapered rim, keeping bubbles trapped.
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Accessories
Wine glass markers: The Original Wine Glass Marker
If charms aren’t your thing, or if you just want to liven up the festivities, check out a set of wine glass markers. This set from The Wine Glass Marker adds some creativity and fun to your drink.
Champagne glass prices
Inexpensive: For under $20, you’re likely to find a pair of champagne glasses or a larger collection of plastic glasses.
Mid-range: As glasses tend to cost $10 or more apiece, spending between $20 and $40 will likely net you two to four champagne glasses. They may be any type of glass, and some may be crystal.
Expensive: For over $40, you’ll find larger sets of champagne glasses and those made of crystal with an eye toward aesthetics.
Tips
Stop your pour early. Sparkling wine rises quickly in the glass and then retreats. Pour methodically, stopping about halfway up the glass. Pour a little more, making sure the glass doesn’t overflow.
Crystal absorbs odor. Make sure crystal glasses are washed and dried effectively. They can absorb odors easily, including the odor of dish soap residue, which could ruin your drink.
Keep your glasses polished. One of the appeals of champagne glasses is how they look when filled. Make sure they are free of spots and prints before use.
Use caution when popping. Sparkling wine is pressurized, so the cork could explode off the top. Always keep the cork covered when opening, and point it away from people.
FAQ
Q. How should I wash my champagne glasses?
A. The answer is very carefully! Some of these delicate glasses can be cleaned in the dishwasher, but you always risk items moving around within and breaking the glass. Repeated machine washes can cloud some cheaper glass. Washing by hand can be tricky, too. The best way to wash them is in the sink with a soft, long-handled brush. Use lukewarm water, as hot water could break the glass, and hold the bowl rather than the stem. Avoid sticking your fingers inside, as you could shatter the bowl. Allow your glasses to air dry for a short while, and then wipe them with a soft cloth.
Q. What other drinks can I enjoy in a champagne glass?
A. There are a variety of beverages you could properly enjoy in a champagne glass. Aromatic white wine would be well-served in a tulip glass. Stirred cocktails, including various sours, gimlets, daiquiris, margaritas, and other rimmed drinks, go well in a coupe glass. Any champagne or sparkling cocktail, even those made with white wine, would be delicious in a flute glass.
Q. How much should I pour into the champagne glass?
A. Most wines are poured with a generous amount of the glass empty so as to collect aromas and aerate the wine. The standard pour is around 4 ounces. Some sparkling wines have aromas that should be enjoyed, but they all have bubbles, which means you want to leave at least a little room at the top of the glass. Leaving a bit of room also helps prevent spills, especially when toasting, and it allows you to see the bubbles.
