How to Hold a Glass of Wine in Your Hand: 14 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Holding a glass of wine in your hand is not a task that requires great intelligence or technical competence, but there is still a right and a wrong way to do it. As a general rule, it is good to hold the stem instead of the "belly" of the glass.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Holding a Traditional Wine Glass

Step 1. Grab the stem of the glass with three fingers:

thumb, index and middle finger. Hold it tight by the stem with your fingertips.

Place your three fingers on the lower half of the stem. The middle finger should be resting on the stem at the point just above the base.
Only the first three fingers of the hand should come into contact with the stem of the glass. The ring and little fingers should naturally rest on top of the base.
This is the traditional way of holding a glass of wine. By grasping the stem in this way the grip should be perfectly stable and at the same time allow you to keep your hands as far away from the wine as possible.

Step 2. Grab the stem between your thumb and forefinger

Place your index finger around the stem, then let your thumb hold it steady by supporting it on the other side.

Keep your hand positioned on the lower half of the stem;
The other three fingers should curve towards the palm to form a soft fist. Generally these three fingers should not touch the base of the glass, but it is not a problem if they lightly touch it.

Step 3. Grab the stem directly above the base

Squeeze it only between your thumb and forefinger at the point closest to the base.

It is inevitable that while firmly supporting the stem, the two fingers lightly touch the base of the glass;
Use your middle finger to support the glass from below, extending it forward along the bottom of the base;
Let the other two fingers (ring and little fingers) remain relaxed in the position that comes most naturally to you. They can press lightly against the palm or flank the middle finger.

Step 4. Pry up the base of the thumb

Place it on the upper part of the base of the glass and at the same time support the lower one with the index and middle fingers.

Surprisingly, using this method no finger will touch the stem or the belly of the glass;
Index, middle, ring and little fingers must be gently curved towards the palm. Use the upper part of the first two (index and middle fingers) to support the base of the glass;
Note that while this way of holding the glass is socially acceptable, it is the one that guarantees the least stable grip. It is best to practice when you are alone before using it in a refined setting.

Step 5. Never hold the glass by holding it by the belly

Grabbing the glass like this is synonymous with rudeness, even if the real reasons why it is not popular have more to do with practice than with etiquette. In fact, both the taste and the appearance of the wine can be negatively influenced by holding the glass in that way.

When you hold the belly of the glass in your hands, the heat they give off quickly alters the temperature of the wine. The problem is particularly relevant when sipping white wine or champagne, as they need to be kept cold in order to enjoy them at their best. The repercussions are less serious when tasting red wines, but even the latter are better if they are kept at a temperature slightly lower than that of the environment.
Furthermore, holding the glass by the belly risks leaving one's fingerprints on the glass, creating a very inelegant effect. As if that weren't enough, both the fingers themselves and the footprints they leave make it more difficult to examine the color or clarity of the wine.

Part 2 of 3: Holding a Stemless Wine Glass

Step 1. Grab the glass at the base

Since the stem is not present, you have to hold it in your hand as you would with any other glass. You have to be careful to get it at the height of the base and not in the middle or near the hem.

If you really feel the need to make the grip more stable, you can curve both the thumb and the other four fingers around the base of the glass, but it would be better if only the first three (thumb, index and middle finger) remained in contact with this part. Ring and little fingers should naturally curve under the glass or support the base from below

Step 2. Minimize physical contact

Since the heat of the body can cause the temperature of the wine to rise, it is best to hold this type of glass as briefly and occasionally as possible.

Try to hold it only for as long as you are actually drinking. If you have the opportunity to put it down somewhere, take advantage of it between sips.
Leaving your fingerprints on the glass is quite inevitable when using this type of wine glass. The unpleasant visual effect generally does not create problems when you are among friends or family, but if you have invited connoisseurs of the sector or want to make a good impression on someone you have just met, it is best to avoid using stemless glasses and opt for for traditional goblets.

Part 3 of 3: Social Conventions Related to Wine

Step 1. Put the glass down when needed

If you do not have the possibility to place it on a stable surface, but you feel the need to have support between one sip and the other, you can rest the base of the glass on the palm of your non-dominant hand, continuing to hold the stem with the other..

If you are sitting at the table, remember that the wine glass should be placed to the right of the water glass. If it is the only glass available, simply place it in the upper left corner of the space reserved for your covered, where the one reserved for water is usually placed

Step 2. Always sip the wine from the same place in the glass

Try to always rest your lips in the same position. In this way you will be able to better safeguard the fragrance and appearance of the wine.

Drinking from different points of the glass, excessive contact with the mouth could alter the aromas of the wine. Since fragrance and taste are closely linked, both may be affected.
Plus, just like your fingers, your lips also leave an imprint on the glass, even if you haven't used lip balm or lipstick. Always sipping wine from the same point allows you to keep the rim of the glass cleaner.

Step 3. Don't overfill the glass

As a general rule, you should fill it one third of its capacity if you are drinking red wine or one half if you are drinking white wine.

On the other hand, when you drink a sparkling wine or a champagne in a flûte model glass, you should fill it three quarters full;
By not overfilling the glass, you will minimize the risk of accidentally spilling the wine. A full glass can be heavy, and since you can only hold it by the stem and not your belly, your hand may get tired in the long run and unintentionally lose its grip.

Step 4. Direct your gaze into the glass as you drink

When it is time to bring the glass to your lips, temporarily take your attention away from the person or object in front of you and look at the wine inside the glass.

Looking at another person while sipping wine is considered particularly rude behavior. This rule also applies if you are having an active conversation.
On the other hand, it is however necessary to maintain eye contact during a toast. Look straight in the eyes of the person who is raising the glass towards you. Not only is this a polite gesture, superstitious people argue that otherwise it can lead to several years of bad luck.

Step 5. Tilt the glass as you study the appearance of the wine

If you want to analyze its color and clarity, tilt the glass slightly in front of a light source.

If possible, examine it in natural light. If you cannot clearly perceive its characteristics, place the glass in front of a white or light background to facilitate visual analysis

Step 6. Swirl the wine in the glass gently

It is a socially acceptable gesture as long as it is not overturned. The secret is to move the glass circularly, in a slow and circumscribed way, keeping the base firmly resting on a flat surface.