Beginners guide to holding a wine glass

Wine for beginners can be a daunting experience. After all, there is so much to remember – regions, varieties, winemakers, vintages – the list goes on and on! If you’re a newbie to the wine scene, before you even begin to wade into the actual specifics of grape production and varieties, it’s probably a good idea to start with the most basic of wine knowledge – how to hold your wine glass.

Winemakers, sommeliers and wine judges all agree that there is only one way you should ever hold your wine glass – by the stem – and never by the bowl of the glass. Simply pinch the stem with your thumb and fingers as shown.

Though the concept of holding a wine glass sounds simple, there are many reasons as to why you should hold your wine glass by the stem:

Temperature of wine

Your body has an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, and when holding wine, you want to make sure that the heat from your body is not transferred to the wine. Wine that comes into contact with heat can change in flavours, aromas, and can even develop slightly aged characteristics! White wines and sparkling wines loose some of their acidity and their aromas can weaken, whereas red wines can develop stewed tastes and aromas if warmed too much. As a general rule of thumb, wine connoiseurs feel that wines served at higher temperatures taste sharper and do not allow the wines to show their best flavours and aromas.

Although it may take a while for the heat of your hand to heat up the wine in your glass if held by the bowl, it definitely does speed up the process of warming the wine to room temperature (particularly chilled wines).

Appearance of wine

Your hands are the part of your body that come into the most contact with grimy, dirty surfaces. That handrail you just touched? Dirty! That burger you just ate? Greasy! Just wiped your brow? Sweaty! Even though we wash our hands regularly, our fingers still have oils and grime that transfers easily (and obviously!) to the glass when we touch it. So, to keep your glass crystal clear without the fingerprint stains on the outside, holding the wine glass by the stem is the way to go!

Wine etiquette

Wine can be a sophisticated drink, and when at wine tastings or restaurants we are often asked to judge the appearance of the wine in terms of colour, sediment and gradient. This is done by slightly tilting your glass to see the rim of the wine, which is difficult to see when your hand is wrapped around the bowl of the glass.

Also, many expensive wine glasses are designed with long, thin stems that are made to look elegant when held by the stem – making your wine experience a whole lot more sophisticated and stylish.