New wine enthusiasts might worry about the proper way to hold a wine glass. In fact, it’s likely that most people have dined in a fine restaurant or enjoyed a glass of wine at a social gathering have wondered if they’re holding their wine glass properly. “All these people are holding their wine glasses differently,” they might think. “But what is the right way?”
It might sound a bit snobby to insist that there’s a right way and a wrong way to hold a wine glass, but in fact, the recommended ways of holding wine glasses exist to maximize the enjoyment of wine regardless of price point or occasion. And these recommendations have more to do with science than they do with snobbery, we promise!
In today’s blog, we’ll share recommendations for how to hold various types of wine glasses. We’ll also discuss a few other wine glass tips for new wine enthusiasts. Before we continue with our reviews and recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We’re an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thank you for using our affiliate links and supporting this independent blog!
Why Does It Matter How One Holds a Wine Glass?
As a new wine enthusiast, you’ve put in the effort to pick out a wine and properly store it. Maybe you’ve even moved your wine and wine glass collection from one home to another! Don’t let all that hard work go down the drain with sloppy wine glass holding at the finish line.
Holding a wine glass incorrectly can lead to flabby, lukewarm wine. If you hold a wine glass by the bowl, the heat from your warm hand is transferred to the mass of the wine in the bowl, effectively warming up the wine. This wine warming can lead to flabby and dull wine aromas and taste, especially with wine and sparkling wines.
Holding the wine glass by the bowl also places your hand closer to your nose. In this case, the “off” aromas you smell might not be from the wine - it could instead be from that stinky cheese appetizer you just touched two minutes ago or that coconut-scented hand creme you applied an hour ago. To prevent smelly hand interference, flabby wine, and unsightly fingerprints, there are ideal ways to hold your glass of wine.
How to Hold a Wine Glass With a Stem
If you’re drinking wine from a glass with a stem, hold the glass by the stem. Because there’s a lot of space between the bowl and base, there are actually many different ways to hold a wine glass by the stem. Check out all the different poses your hands can use to hold a wine glass by the stem in this video:
How to Hold a Stemless Wine Glass
Hold the stemless wine glass as close to the base as possible, not around the middle or top. If you hold the glass around the middle or the top, your hand will heat the glass and its contents. Holding a stemless wine glass improperly will also leave unsightly fingerprints.
How to Hold Your Wineglass in the Shower
I thought you’d never ask! Would you believe that there’s a wine gadget for holding a glass of wine in the shower or tub? All jokes aside, we actually think it’s pretty great that someone has solved this wine glass need! This model not only fits the needs of showering wine drinkers, but of coffee and beer drinkers as well. It’s also made of recycled plastics!
Are There Specific Ways to Not to Hold One’s Wine Glass?
In all honesty, it’s not likely that anyone is judging the way you hold your wine glass. That said, you may be better off avoiding the wine glass holds we describe below.
The “Housewives” Wine Glass Hold
In movies and TV shows, one often sees actresses holding wine glasses by the bowl. Thanks to the phenomenon of the “housewives” reality TV shows - and the extra large wine glasses these ladies hold - this wine glass hold got its new name. We think maybe this hold is a ruse for showing off rings, watches, and French manicures, though we can’t be entirely sure.
The “Hail Mary Pass” Hold
The guys also aren’t getting away with their funny wine glass holds. Sometimes, at wine events or corporate functions, there’s that guy holding his wine glass with all his fingers on the bowl like he’s channeling Peyton Manning - ready to lob that wine glass over to Morgan in Accounting to complete some imaginary Hail Mary Pass.
Is It Ever Okay to Hold a Wine Glass by the Bowl?
While these amusing wine glass holds point at the “wrong” ways to hold your wine glass, there are times when it’s appropriate to hold a wine glass by the bowl. Sometimes, wine is just too cold when it is served and just needs to be warmed up a bit to release aromas that are muted by the cold temperature. So, if you see a wine lover “cupping” his or her wine in a restaurant, they are simply trying to warm up their drink a little bit.
Other Wine Glass Tips for New Wine Enthusiasts
How Full to Fill Your Wine Glass
Here are the guidelines, by type of wine:
Half full for white wine
⅓ full for red wine
¾ full for sparkling wine or Champagne
Why does it matter how full your glass is? Well, red wines need room to breathe in order for their full aromas and flavors to come to life - hence, the wider bowl in most red wine glasses. White wine and sparkling wine glasses are narrower, as they don’t require the same amount of “breathing room.” No matter what type of wine, though, a too-full glass makes it hard to swirl and thus, you may miss out on the wine’s aromas.
How To Keep Your Wine Glass Rim Looking Clean
If it has ever been your job to clean wine glasses, either as waitstaff or as a party host, you become quickly amazed (or grossed out!) by just how much lip balm, lipstick, food, and saliva can collect on top of the wine glass rim. Not only is this mess a hassle for the glass cleaner, but it could also lead to bad odors from previously consumed wine or a bad smelling natural interaction between your lip balm and the wine or food you consumed before your next sip. To avoid this, pick one spot on the wine glass and continue to drink from that one spot throughout the entire meal or event. Your nose - and your host - will thank you.
Rest Your Wine Glass
If you’ve been the recipient of a very generous pour, or if your arms are simply tired from typing all day, rest assured that it is just fine to set your wine glass down throughout an event or tasting. In fact, you will see many wine professionals holding a wine glass only for evaluating the wine and sipping, then immediately putting down the glass.
You might try resting the glass in your non-dominant hand if there are no hors d'oeuvre tables nearby. If you are seated at a fine restaurant or corporate event where there is formal service, it’s recommended to place your wine glass to the right of your water glass. No water glass? The glass can be set down in the upper left corner of your place setting.
Resting your wine glass may also help slow your consumption by helping to reduce the impulse to keep drinking sip after sip.
Takeaways on How to Hold Your Wine Glass
Being “snobby” about the “right” way to hold a wine glass is actually rooted in a desire to enhance the enjoyment of wine. The likelihood of flabby or bad smelling wines increases with potential odors coming from your hands or previously consumed foods.
Hold your glass by the stem, pinching the stem with your thumb and index finger. You can be creative with placement of all the other fingers.
Stemless? Hold by the base and minimize contact with the middle and top of stemless wine glasses.
Drink from one spot on the wine glass to reduce the occurrence of lip smudges.
Rest your glass when it becomes too heavy or to slow down consumption. Hey, you may even want to rest your wine glass in the shower (but for that situation, we recommend unbreakable wine glasses).
Cheers!