There's a wrong way to drink expensive champagne

25 October 2023 , 18:00

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Flutes aren't the best for expensive champagne (Image: GETTY)

When it comes to drinking a good bottle of wine you might think getting it to the right temperature is all you have to think about, but if you're wanting to get the full experience there's actually more to it than that. Drinking a good wine out of the wrong glass can completely ruin the experience and the glasses you think are best might not actually be.

One thing that has a tendency to raise a few eyebrows is that Jada Jones, our resident wine expert, refuses to drink champagne out of a flute. Despite it looking the part it's actually a terrible choice of glass if you've spent a decent amount of money and want to enjoy it - that said if you've got cheap bubbles it might be the way to go.

It can be daunting trying to figure out what the best glassware is, but we're here to help. Here's our guide to the best glasses for drinking sparkling wine.

Coupe

Coupes are perfect for champagne towers (Getty Images)

The coupe glass is one that often provokes a rumour that's been running for centuries. It's been said that King Louis XVI of France moulded the glass in the shape of Queen Marie Antoinette's breast. The jury is out on if that's true but since it was introduced in England in the mid 17th century by a Benedictine monk in England that seems unlikely.

The coupe has a long stem and a shallow bowl which makes it great for champagne towers as they're more sturdy. They certainly look nice but if you're a fan of your champagne being sparkling... This isn't the best choice. Due to the short height of the glass the bubbles quickly run out and you find yourself with a small glass of flat wine.

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That's absolutely fine if it's what you're going for or if you're only having small servings and looking for a dramatic flare. This glass is quite popular for cocktails and does look quite elegant, it's just not the best for holding onto bubbles. It's great for parties, you don't have to break the bank getting them either there are lots of options for every budget.

Flute

Flutes are often associated with Champagne (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

People who don't opt for the coupe typically believe the flute is the best glass to drink from, it was introduced in the 18th century and looks like you've stretched out a coupe. It's a much thinner glass with a smaller surface area and a gentle roundness to the sides of it.

It's much better for bubbles than the coupe, with the smaller surface area and greater distance between the base of the glass and the top allowing them to thrive for longer. It's perfect for a younger wine that you've not spent too much money on because although it does hold onto the bubbles better it doesn't capture the aroma and notes of the wine as well.

If you're forking out over £50 for a bottle of wine then odds are you really want to taste it properly and that's not strictly possible with this glass. It's great for cheaper bottles but an absolute waste of an expensive bottle if you choose to drink a vintage from this shape.

Tulip

The White Company's Tulip Glasses

The champagne tulip is a glass shape that's a little more under the radar, champagne aficionados are familiar with them but they're not quite as well known. As the name suggests it's shaped like tulip, it's tall like a flute but has a wider flared body and tapers back in at the mouth.

At which point it tips back in varies from glass to glass but this shape is ideal for a more expensive bottle of wine. Due to it's height you maintain the bubbles unlike in the coupe but the tapered shape allows the aromas of the wine to be captured and truly savoured.

This isn't always strictly necessary but if you're drinking an expensive bottle of wine you are paying for those aromas above all else so it's definitely something to consider. The White Company's Tulip Glasses are a great example of what a tulip should look like.

While this is the best shape for a vintage bottle it's not always necessary, prosecco and cocktails work wonderfully in flutes and at parties a coupe is a very desirable way to drink champagne. It's all down to what your drinking experience is and how expensive the bottle is.

Jada Jones