Beyond the Flute: Champagne Glasses for Every Occasion
What makes bubbly better? While it’s hard to beat a fantastic Louisvale Wines MC Brut no matter how you serve it, serving champagne in just the right shape and style of glassware will help elevate and enhance your drinking experience. We’ve already looked at the right way to serve a red and a white wine, but champagne is in a class of its own. Whether you’re celebrating exciting news, or simply unwinding after a hard day, here’s everything you need to know about champagne glasses- and how to choose the right one.
The Fantastic Threesome
Let’s venture quickly into history. Have you heard the myth that the ‘champagne glass’ was modeled on the delicate bosom of Marie Antoinette? If you’ve ever glanced at the classic champagne flute and wondered, “What?”, you’re not alone! No, the famous young French Queen wasn’t rocking a Madonna-in-the-80s look, we’re just talking about two different styles of champagne glass. There’s actually three:
- The Flute: A narrow, extended and tall champagne glass
- The Coupe: Sometimes called a Champagne Saucer cheekily, this is the infamous glass tied to the myth. It’s pretty flat and has a very wide mouth
- The Tulip: This is a very artful champagne glass with an inward-curving rim, similar to the flute, but with a voluptuous styling reminiscent of tulip flowers.
Why three types? Remember that the purpose of matching a wine glass shape to the wine is to enhance the drinking experience.
The Flute
Now the most popular type of champagne glass, it offers a good balance. The narrow base allows the bubbles in the wine to congregate there and only disperse upwards slowly. It showcases the wine well, while the narrower style helps keep it chilled and fresh.
The Coupe
The oldest champagne glass style, it has a quirky, old world feel. It’s not really the best way to showcase a good champagne, however. The wide rim lets the carbonation escape very fast and the wine warms quickly. It’s also not the best at exhibiting the aromas, either. They’re best only for quick drinking.
The Tulip
Many champagne connoisseurs prefer this unique glass to showcase aroma. The inward rim helps trap and condense the aroma, creating a better bouquet experience as well as keeping it fresh. They claim the wider bowl (compared to the flute) helps create a better taste experience.
Which Champagne Glass Should I Choose?
Despite the rich history of the champagne coupe, it’s an inferior way to actually enjoy the wine. Whether you lean to a flute or a tulip, however, is mostly a matter of your taste. Tulips bring a little more theatrics to the table, and can be great for full-bodied champagnes, while the flute is a great default that will enhance almost any champagne experience.
Which is your favorite style of champagne glass? The Louisvale Wines team suggests starting your glassware collection with a beautiful set of champagne flutes, and branching out to the tulip if you feel inclined to try it. The coupe can make for a beautiful display piece, but if you’re looking to celebrate the wine inside, it’s best left on the shelf to look pretty.
