Is the champagne flute the correct accoutrement? Back in the 1960s, if champagne was served it was always in a very wide bowl coupe. Nowadays a champagne flute seems to be more widely acceptable as the go-to champagne glass. So, which of these champagne goblets is correct?
Whenever I am hosting a nice cocktail party, it will undoubtedly include champagne. As a host, I want to be sure that I am using the right goblets for all of my beverages. I always stop and wonder which champagne goblets are the proper style to use.
I have done my research and I want to share my findings with you right here!
It’s all so confusing! Until now.
Defaulting to the champagne coupe is fun for a retro theme, but is it correct? I have also seen a wide variety of more cylindrical and even square shape glasses in retail markets.
Over the past few months, I have scoured over a number of wine connoisseur opinions on this. What I have found is that the ideal champagne flute is actually a mixture of all of these styles. Go figure!
Finding #1: Champagne Needs To Be Aerated
Champagne, like wine, is a beverage that needs to be aerated. This was a surprise!
I thought that we wanted to keep the bubbles confined in the bottle as long as possible so the beverage didn’t go flat. “Not so”, say the pros! In fact, if aerating is done properly, the bubbles aren’t affected at all.
The trouble is that most people, me included, do not have the appropriate tools to aerate champagne. This leads me to my second point.
Photo by Nicky Pe
Finding #2: You Need To Decant Champagne In A Chilled Glass Decanter
Champagne is correctly aerated by using a glass decanter that has been chilled to the same temperature as your bottle. An appropriate champagne decanter is one that has a narrow mouth so as to contain the bubbles.
So we want to aerate the beverage but contain the bubbles. Got it. I’ll be on Amazon later today!
Finding #3: The Correct Goblet Will Be Wide And Narrow
If you use a nice, broad coupe goblet, (from the 1960s), the bubbles will dissipate very quickly allowing the beverage to go flat. The idea is to use these goblets for just a few sips of champagne and to refill it frequently so the beverage expands before the bubbles dissipate. Sounds like a lot of work to me. Connoisseurs agree that this style of glass is no longer accepted as the ideal goblet for champagne.
The tall, thin flute came into fashion because it allows the bubbles to last longer. But connoisseurs all around will all agree that the flute does not allow the beverage to expand if it hasn’t been aerated.
The new, more widely accepted of all styles of champagne goblets looks like a combination of both of these options of stemware.
It has a wide bowl but about a third of the way up from the stem it takes a sharp tilt in. This allows the mouth of the goblet to be quite a bit smaller than the bowl.
The design of this goblet makes perfect sense in retaining the bubbles without obstructing the full flavor of the grape.
There are some beautiful stemware options that I would love to add to my home. Amazon’s bestselling Joy Jolt Layla Collection Champagne Flutes will fit in any budget and they are beautiful.
My Quest For Being The Hostess With The Mostest
Alcohol accoutrements are important if you want to truly enjoy a beverage the way the winemaker intended it.
As you are first beginning to enjoy wines and champagnes, a simple wine glass works just fine. As you determine the flavors you enjoy and start to home in on your favorites, that is when you may want to start collecting the proper champagne goblets. So grab a goblet of choice and enjoy some bubbles tonight!
