How to Hold a Wine Glass Properly

A wine glass is a piece of glassware. A traditional wine drinking glass contains the flat base of the glass, a bowl to hold the wine, and a stem that connects that bowl and the base. Though a wine glass is considered stemware, there are also stemless wine glasses.

The shape of the bowl of the glass depends on the type of wine. Red wine—such as Burgundy, cabernet, pinot noir, or Bordeaux—needs a larger surface area to open up its aroma, so red wine glasses have a larger bowl. (This is also why some people use a decanter for red wine.) White wine glasses, for serving bottles of wines like chardonnay or rosé, have a more narrow bowl. Sparkling wines are typically served in Champagne flutes, stemmed glassware with tall and narrow bowls to preserve the bubbles in the wine and keep the bubbles from tickling your nose.

Traditionally, holding a wine glass by the stem of the glass is the correct way and promotes the best wine-drinking experience. Hold the stem between your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. You can hold the wine glass by the part of the stem under the base, in the middle of the stem, or the part closest to the base—whatever is most comfortable for you. Your ring finger and pinky finger should rest at the top of the base. Hold wine glasses gently because they might break if you exert too much pressure.

There are three reasons wine lovers follow wine etiquette and hold the wine glass by the stem:

1. 1. Temperature: Holding a wine glass by the stem preserves the temperature of the wine. If you hold the wine glass from the base, the heat from your hand may change the temperature of the wine, affecting the wine taste and aroma. This is especially true if you are drinking wine not served at room temperature, such as Champagne.
2. 2. Swirling: Holding the stem part of the glass is the easiest way to swirl the wine glass, allowing the oxidation of the wine and improving the flavor.
3. 3. Fingerprints: Holding the wine glass by the stem keeps you from leaving unsightly finger smudges on the base of the wine glass.

There are types of wine glasses, or tumblers, that have a round base and no stem. Hold stemless wine glasses similarly to the way you hold a water glass. Hold the stemless wine glass from the base—not from the middle or the top. Cup the wine glass with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Avoid gripping the glass too tightly; otherwise, you might break it.

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