Not too long ago, the majority of us would immediately go for our go-to flutes when cracking open a bottle of champagne. However, over the past couple of years, the question has been raised about how to serve champagne to show it at its best.
Three grape varietals, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, make up the majority of champagne, and several production techniques are shared by still and sparkling wines. The bubbles are what really makes a difference.
The Importance of Lead Glass
Innovative new methods were made possible by lead glass. First, since the material was softer, glassmakers could work with it longer. As a result, the trapped air bubbles that were so typical of previous English, Bohemian, and Murano glassware were eliminated from the glass.
Lead glass also had the benefit of being able to be manufactured thin while maintaining strength, which made it ideal for drinking glasses.
The Coupe
It’s rumored that Marie Antoinette’s left breast served as inspiration for the design of this glass.
To the dismay of ardent champagne drinkers, the glass saw a rebirth in the 1920s, a second revival in the 1960s, and finally a recent increase in popularity. While it might make it easier for you to live the flapper lifestyle, the wine’s profile cannot be accurately expressed by its shape.
Since 70% of our sense of flavor is based on scent, the open design causes both the bubbles and aroma to disappear almost rapidly. This means that you are sacrificing a lot of your experience for fashion.
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The Flute
Champagne drinkers required a glass that allowed the bottle to be divided among many, even if it is now believed to be something that is only consumed on rare occasions.
The slender shape of the flute was ideal for toasting and allowed for a controlled flow. The glass itself has consequently come to represent joy. You can always tell you’re going to have a wonderful time when you arrive at a friend’s house and discover flutes sitting on a bench!
Flutes also improve the bead, which is a plus. All high-quality goods have a little ding or nick at the bottom that stirs the champagne and helps it maintain its fizz as you drink.
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So what does this mean?
The finest champagne glass for you depends on when and how you enjoy champagne as well as the types of drinks you prefer. While we don’t advise sipping vintage champagne from a plastic cup, you might be a happy traditionalist who won’t settle for anything less than the traditional flute or you might prefer to be on trend and sip champagne from our stemless flutes.