The method of holding a wine glass isn't really a scientific science, but there are right and wrong ways to do it. The rule of thumb is to hold the glass by the stem instead of by the side of the cup.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Traditionally Holding a Wine Glass
Step 1. Hold the stem of the wine glass between your thumb and first two fingers
Pinch the stem of the glass with your thumb, index and middle fingers.
- Place your finger on the bottom half of the stem of the glass. The middle finger should rest on the stem just above the base.
- Only these three fingers touched the stem of the wine glass directly. The remaining two fingers rest naturally on the bottom of the glass.
- This is the standard way to hold a wine glass. This way of holding will provide enough stability while keeping your hands away from the cup.
Step 2. Pinch the stem of the glass with your thumb and forefinger
Wrap your index finger around one side of the bar, then support the other side of the bar with the tip of your thumb.
- Keep your hands in the lower half of the stem.
- The remaining three fingers should curl in the palm of the hand to form a limp fist. Usually, these fingers don't touch the bottom of the glass, but it's okay to touch it a little.
Step 3. Grip the stem just above the bottom of the glass
Pinch the stem of the glass just above the base with only your thumb and forefinger.
- Although these fingers pinch the stem of the glass, they also touch the top of the bottom of the glass.
- Straighten your middle finger out across the bottom of the bottom of the glass to support it from the bottom.
- Let the remaining two fingers rest naturally. These fingers can press against the palm or follow the middle finger.
Step 4. Hold the bottom of the glass with your thumb
Keep your thumb on top of the bottom of the glass while the bottom side of the bottom of the glass is supported with your index and middle fingers.
- No fingers are actually touching the stem when using this technique.
- The index, middle, ring, and little fingers should curl gently in the palm of your hand. Use the tops of your index and middle fingers to support the bottom of the glass.
- Know that this holding style is socially acceptable, but at the very least stable. It's best to practice first before using it at an official event.
Step 5. Try never to touch the glass cup
Holding a wine glass in its cup is considered taboo. The taste and appearance of wine can be damaged when you hold the cup portion of the glass.
- When you hold the glass cup, body heat will quickly warm the wine. This is a major problem when drinking white wine or champagne because these types of drinks are best served chilled. This problem is less severe when drinking red wine, but it still tastes better when kept cooler than room temperature.
- In addition, holding the glass in the cup can leave fingerprints, which reduces the elegant appearance of the wine glass. Fingers and fingerprints left behind can make it difficult to check the color or clarity of the wine.
Part 2 of 3: Holding a Stemless Wine Glass
Step 1. Hold the glass towards the bottom
Because it doesn't have a stem, it needs to be held like a regular glass. Hold the glass at the bottom, rather than the center or top.
You can wrap your thumb and four fingers around the glass if you need a more stable grip, but if you can, try to keep only your thumb, index, and ring fingers touching the glass. The other two fingers are bent away from the glass or supporting it from below
Step 2. Minimize contacts
Since heat in your hands can warm the temperature of the wine, it's a good idea to hold your stemless glass as short and as little as possible.
- Try to hold the glass only when sipping wine. If you can put a glass down, do it when you're not drinking wine.
- It is difficult to prevent fingerprints from sticking on this type of glass. Wine glass etiquette is usually quite loose if you're with close friends or relatives, but it's different if you're at a formal event with a fellow wine connoisseur or trying to make a good impression on a completely new person; it's best to opt for a traditional stemmed wine glass instead of a stemless one.
Part 3 of 3: Related Ethics
Step 1. Lean the glass back when needed
If you can't put the glass down and feel the need to support it between sips, rest your finger on the bottom of the glass in the palm of your non-dominant hand while continuing to hold the stem of the glass with your dominant hand.
When you need to put the glass on the table, make sure to place it to the right of your water glass. If you don't have a water glass, simply place the wine glass in the left corner of your “region”, where the water glass would normally be
Step 2. Sip from the same point
Try to drink only from one point on the rim of the glass. In this way, you can enhance the aroma and appearance of the wine.
- If you sip from various points on the rim of the glass, this excess contact can actually spoil the wine's aroma. Since the aroma and taste of wine are closely related, it can also spoil the taste of the wine.
- Plus, your lips will leave marks on the glass like fingerprints, even if you're not wearing lipstick, lip balm, or lip gloss. By sipping from one point, you will make the glass appear cleaner.
Step 3. Make sure the glass is only partially full
As a general rule, it's best if the glass is only full when drinking red wine, or half full when drinking white wine.
- Also, when drinking champagne or sparkling wine from a champagne flute, the glass needs to be full.
- By only partially filling the glass, you can minimize the risk of spilled wine. A full glass can feel heavy and because you are only supporting the glass on the stem, your grip may weaken and the glass will slip.
Step 4. Look at the glass when drinking
Since you'll be sipping wine, keep your eyes on the glass instead of focusing on other people or objects.
- Seeing other people drinking wine is considered very rude, even if you are chatting with someone.
- On the other hand, you must maintain eye contact with people when high-fives. Lock eyes with the person clinking their glass with yours. This gesture is considered polite, and there is a superstition that if you don't do it, you will be sentenced to seven years of bad luck.
Step 5. Tilt the glass while studying the wine display
If you want to learn how wine looks, tilt the glass slightly while looking at it in the light.
Use natural light whenever possible. If you can't see the color and clarity of the wine clearly, overlay the glass on a white or pale background to make things easier
Step 6. Stir the wine carefully
Stirring wine by twirling the glass is a socially acceptable gesture as long as you don't overdo it. The key is to stir the glass “gently” in small “circles: while keeping the bottom of the glass flat.
Keep a firm grip on the stem of the glass while stirring and do it for only 10-20 seconds. If your grip loosens, you're stirring too hard or too long, and the wine is at risk of spilling
Step 7. Hold the glass directly to your nose as you sniff it
If you want to test the aroma of a particular wine, tilt the glass slightly and tilt your nose directly into the inside of the glass.
