Champagne Glasses

There is a wide variety of Champagne glasses to choose from. We discuss what to consider for
every occasion. We also provide recommendations based on various circumstances and
budgets.

• What to Consider
• Types/Shapes
• Crystal, Glass or Plastic?
• Plastic Champagne Flutes
• Recommendations
• Washing and Storing Champagne Glasses
• Champagne Glass History
• Brands of Champagne glasses

Champagne glasses play an important roll in the Champagne experience. The type you select
can make a significant difference in how sparkling wine tastes.

What to Consider

For the best Champagne experience, there are a few basics to consider. The following discussion
is written with ideal circumstances in mind. However, there may be good reasons to deviate from
the ideal. For instance, plastic does not break as easily as glass or crystal and may be more
practical in some circumstances. There are also price considerations. The advantages and
disadvantages of the various types of glasses are described in our Types/Shapes discussion. The
following discussion provides key points to be aware of when making a selection.

The Stem

Champagne glasses should have a stem. Holding the glass by the stem keeps the wine from
being warmed by the heat of your hand. Exceptions: There are some manufacturers that produce
a glass with a hollow leg (perhaps more sturdy than traditional stemmed glasses) to hold the
glass. There are also manufacturers producing Champagne glasses with thick stems. Your hands
won’t warm the Champagne because they don’t directly contact the bowl containing the
Champagne. It is thought that this shape (along with a round bottom bowl for the liquid) may
enhance the bubbles.

The Rim

Champagne glass should have a thin polished (cut) rim rather than a rolled rim. Rolled rims

present a barrier to the flow of Champagne onto the palate. Polished/cut rims deliver the wine
smoothly onto the palate.

Clarity

Champagne glasses should be transparent/clear. Colored or frosted glass inhibits the
visualization of the bubbles and the actual color.

Size

Typical Champagne glasses are approximately 7 to 8 inches tall. The stem is about 3 ½ to 4 ½
inches and the bowl is 3 ½ inches high. The opening has a diameter of 2 ½ inches while the
widest diameter is 3 inches. A full bottle of 750ml Champagne will fill 5 glasses of this size 2/3 full
or 8 glasses half full.

Imperfections

Nucleation points or slight imperfections in a Champagne glass (as well as dust or lint) are what
stimulate bubble formation. If you pour Champagne into a totally clean glass with no
imperfections or scratches, it will not bubble. Scientifically speaking, the bubbles need something
on which to form. If bubbles don’t form in the glass, there will be more bubbles when the
Champagne enters your mouth.

Types / Shapes

There are many types of Champagne glasses that come in many different shapes. The shape of
a glass makes a difference in the taste and aromatic experience. Follow the links for a description
of each type.

• Champagne Flute
• Tulip Glass
• Champagne Coupe' or saucer
• White Wine Glass
• Bordeaux and Burgandy Wine Glasses
• Stemless Glasses

Champagne Flute

Champagne flutes are tall, slim glasses with a narrow bowl (shaped like a flute). The basic
Champagne flute has a stem and is straight sided. The shape is designed to retain the
carbonation by reducing the surface area exposed to air at the opening, however the shape is not
ideal for nosing aromas/bouquets. The  tulip glass  provides a better sparkling wine experience.

Tulip Glass

The Champagne tulip glass is sometimes referred to as a Champagne tulip flute. It is tall, curving
outward from the base and then inward as it nears the mouth. The tulip glass shape focuses the
aroma/bouquet more toward the nose, allowing some aeration while still enhancing bubble and
mousse formation. The tulip glass has long been a favorite in France's Champagne region.

Champagne Coupe’ (Saucer)

The Champagne coupe' or Champagne saucer is a flat, saucer like cup. It is a stemmed glass
with a shallow, broad bowl.

The Champagne coupe' is used for Champagne cocktails and traditional celebrations like
weddings. Their sturdy broad shape makes them the Champagne glass of choice for Champagne
fountains.

Serious Champagne lovers would not consider drinking Champagne from a Champagne coupe'.
The shape greatly accelerates the loss of CO2 bubbles (mousse) as the surface area is too large
for the volume. Bubbles escape much too quickly from the open bowl, inhibiting the retention of
the aroma/bouquet and rendering the wine flat.

White Wine Glass

White wine glasses are tall stemmed glasses with oval shaped bowls that concentrate
aromas/bouquet in the top of the glass. An aged premium Champagne has a great deal of
complexity and will benefit from the larger bowl, showing more depth and highlighting the
aroma/bouquet. It is perfectly fine to sip your prestige cuvee in a nice white wine glass. A
smaller  Bordeaux glass  is also great for the best Champagnes.

Bordeaux and Burgandy Wine Glasses

Bordeaux and Burgundy wine glasses are tall with fuller bowls and a larger opening than white
wine glasses. The design is such that you can place your nose deeper in the glass to detect
complex aromas. The rounder bowl allows for a larger surface area so there is more air contact.
The Bordeaux glass is taller than the Burgundy glass, but the Burgundy glass has a larger bowl.
The different shapes help direct the wine to the areas of the mouth that will be most expressive of
the type of wine and enhance the experience. Burgundy glasses, designed for lighter red wines
like Pinot Noir, and Bordeaux glasses are designed for heavier, full bodied red wines like
Cabernet Sauvignon. Even though the original design is for red wine, these glasses may very well
enhance the experience of a vintage or prestige rosé’, especially a young cuvée that may open
up more readily when using this style of glass. These types of Champagne have a complex
aromatic robustness and the larger glass can bring out flavor characteristics that might otherwise
be somewhat subdued.

Stemless Glasses

Stemless Champagne glasses are, predictably, Champagne glasses without stems. Their
advantages are that they are often less expensive than most, they are less prone to breakage,
and less likely to spill. This makes them suitable for some casual occasions.
Stemless wine glasses aren’t a new concept. Restaurants in Italy have been serving wine in
tumblers for centuries. For a picnic or camping trip, they make a lot of sense. However, there are
optimal temperatures to serve Champagne and heat readily transfers from your hand to warm the
Champagne. There is also an element of elegance that just doesn’t translate to a stemless
Champagne glass, but go ahead, use them at a picnic and the backyard bar-b-que.

Crystal, Glass or Plastic?

Crystal vs. Glass

Champagne glasses should also be made from crystal. The argument for crystal, as opposed to
regular glass, is that crystal is typically considered to have a higher refraction index which
enhances the appearance of the Champagne in the glass adding reflective properties and
brilliance. Crystal is also rougher than glass. The roughness and slight imperfections help
stimulate bubble formation. For this reason, I advocate crystal for Champagne glasses more than
other wine glasses. For still wine, crystal allows the wine to breathe more efficiently when
swirling. Sparkling wine doesn’t need to be swirled since swirling will cause the carbonation to
disseminate too quickly and the wine will go flat.

Should Champagne glasses be lead or lead-free crystal? A crystal Champagne glass has
traditionally been leaded crystal, but leaded crystal has become rare due to health concerns.
There are many manufacturers with beautiful versions that produce lead free crystal. Lead raises

the refractive index slightly more than lead free versions so the sparkling appearance of the glass
will be somewhat more pronounced. Lead in Champagne glasses tends to make the glass more
pliable and easier to work with during production. Non-leaded crystal employs the use of
elements such as zinc or potassium oxide instead of lead oxide. These will appear to be lighter
with slightly less dispersion of light, but they are still quite suitable. The primary risk of lead crystal
Champagne glasses comes when liquid or food is stored in leaded crystal for long periods of
time. The quantity of lead that leaches out of a Champagne glass after standing for a few hours is
smaller than normally consumed in a regular diet. However, it is not a good idea to store liquids in
leaded crystal receptacles such as decanters for long periods of time.

Plastic

Plastic Champagne glasses can come in different shapes similar to the Champagne glasses
listed in this section. Our  Plastic Champagne Glasses  section discusses in detail the pros and
cons of plastic.

Recommendations

The better the Champagne, the more attention should be paid to the Champagne glass. In
general, for non-vintage Champagne, a  tulip glass  work well.  White wine glasses  are good across
the range of Champagne styles. For a great rosé’ that’s not too old, you might want to try
a  Burgundy or Bordeaux glass . If you are craving the aesthetics of seeing the mesmerizing
bubbles, you aren’t serving a top quality cuvee and you aren’t terribly concerned with the nose
and palate, you might prefer to opt for a Champagne flute . The bottom line is to experiment and
see what pleases you. That is what matters the most.

Champagne served in plastic just doesn’t taste the same as glass or crystal. I don’t even opt for
water from plastic if I have a choice. Whatever the case, if plastic Champagne glasses are
primarily available, I suggest setting aside a few special non-plastic glasses. Bring them out for
those times you can tiptoe away and enjoy a very special bottle. I just can’t imagine savoring a
nice premium Champagne in a plastic glass.

Washing and Storing Champagne Glasses

Our Washing and Storing Champagne Glasses section discusses service preparation, washing
and storing good Champagne glasses.

Champagne Glass History

Stemless wine glasses aren’t a new concept. Restaurants in Italy have been serving wine in
tumblers for centuries.

Some historians credit Dom Pérignon with the flute design, but in reality the basic style dates
back into Gallo-Roman times, long before Champagne or any sparkling wine was deliberately
being made. Flutes from Murano Italy became popular in the 16th century. Popularity grew
among the French and English in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Legend has it, although false, that the Champagne coupe' shape was molded from the perfect
breast of Marie Antoinette or possibly Madame Pompadour. In truth, it was designed especially
for Champagne at a glass factory in Greenwich, England in the 1660’s (many years before either
lady was born) by Venetian glass-makers. It was originally called a ‘tazza’ (Italian for cup). The
name faded over time and it wasn’t until it was marketed as a Champagne coupe’ that it began to
gain popularity. The Champagne coupe' was fashionable from the 1830s through the 1960s.

More About Champagne Glasses:

• Brands
• Storing, Serving and Washing Glasses