How to Hold a Wine Glass According to Etiquette

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How to Hold a Wine Glass According to Etiquette

Why should you care about how to hold a wine glass?

At WSJ Wine, we believe wine should be enjoyable and accessible, not stuffy. While learning how to hold a wine glass can improve your table etiquette, it also has several practical benefits. Proper holding technique is important for:

Swirling your wine: Exposing wine to oxygen makes the aromas and flavors more pronounced and produces wine “legs,” the streaks that trickle down the glass and hint at the wine’s body (i.e. slower, larger legs indicate a fuller-bodied wine).
Controlling temperature: Holding your glass by the stem ensures your hands won’t warm wines that are meant to be enjoyed chilled.
Protecting glassware: A proper grip will keep your glass free of fingerprint smudges, as well as help you avoid dropping it.
Preventing spills: Keep your wine in the glass—where it belongs!
Staying present: Beyond showing good manners, proper glass holding etiquette will make you a more confident wine drinker, so you can focus on the moments that matter most.

How to properly hold a wine glass

A traditional stemmed wine glass has three parts: the bowl which holds the wine, the stem and the base. You should hold the glass by its stem, using one of these techniques:

Middle of the stem: Pinch the middle of the stem with your index finger and thumb, curling your remaining fingers around the stem in a loose fist. Press your thumb firmly against the stem to support the weight of the glass.
Bottom of the stem: Hold your glass near the bottom of the stem by gripping it between your index finger and thumb. Let your remaining fingers rest on the base of the glass.

How Not To Hold a Wine Glass

Now that you know a few right ways, here are some examples of the wrong way to hold a wine glass:

By the bowl: Wrapping your fingers or hands around the bowl will warm up your wine, which can dull its flavors and vibrancy (especially in white, rosé and sparkling wines). Touching the bowl also creates unwanted fingerprint smudges.
By the base: Holding a glass by the base makes for an unsteady grip, increasing your risk of spills.
By the rim: Grabbing one glass (or more likely, trying to carry multiple glasses at once) by the rim leads to an extremely unsteady grip and is understandably unsanitary.
By the stem, with just two fingers: Using only your index finger and thumb can leave your wine glass unsupported.

Do these guidelines apply to all wine glasses?

While the techniques above work for stemmed wine glasses, you will need to adapt them slightly if the occasion calls for a different type of wine glass.

How to hold a stemless wine glass?

Hold a stemless wine glass essentially the same way as a regular drinking glass. Place your hand near the middle or top, then wrap your fingers around it with your thumb on one side and the other four fingers on the other. For extra security, place your pinky finger beneath the glass.

How to hold a Champagne flute

Using your thumb and index finger, pinch the stem of the glass, just underneath the bowl. Position your middle and ring fingers along the stem, and rest your pinky finger on the base.

When Proper Glass Holding Really Matters

It’s always smart to hold your wine glass correctly to ensure the best, most secure drinking experience. However, there are some occasions in which proper glass holding is even more important:

Celebratory toasts: Toasts always happen at life’s most memorable events, like weddings, graduations and retirement parties. Holding your wine glass the right way ensures successful clinks, smudge-free photos and no spills.
Wine tastings: When you’re trying to judge a wine, you need the purest tasting experience possible. Use stemmed glasses, held properly by the stems, to maintain the wine’s appropriate temperature, keep the bowl clear to judge the wine’s color and swirl with ease to unleash all those intriguing aromas and flavors.
Special meals: Whether you’re dining out or staying in, using proper glass holding techniques will allow your wine to taste at its best, which in turn, enhances the food you’ve paired with it.
Business functions: If it’s appropriate to enjoy wine at a business event, holding your glass correctly can prevent awkward spills, increase your confidence and make you look good, too.
Date nights: Just like at business dinners, holding your glass properly during a date keeps you confident and spill-free…and may just increase your chances of another date!

How to Hold a Wine Glass According to Etiquette

With so much attention given to how to taste wine properly, we often overlook how we’re holding our wine glasses while doing so. It may seem surprising, but holding your glass the right way can greatly enhance your experience of the wine inside it.