Which glass shape do you choose for champagne – flutes or bowls?

First came the flute

The narrow shape of the glass was once a practical necessity. That’s because the particles that floated in sparkling wine needed to settle on the bottom and remain there so as not to disturb the drinker. Although we haven’t had to deal with such sediment for about 200 years now thanks to filtration, we’ve still enjoyed using flutes. We see them as a symbol of elegance and gracefulness.

^{Jewel champagne glass, 330 ml}

Praise for champagne bowls

Then why have voices appeared claiming that bowls are better? Champagne is wine, and it should be treated as such. So we can better perceive its bouquet, the wine needs to be served in a wider glass. This allows it to breathe better and uncover all of its aromatic and flavoursome layers.

^{Splendid champagne bowl, 150 ml}

Flutes haven’t said their last

Apart from their elegant appearance, flutes possess one, very practical attribute: their narrow neck is better at holding bubbles. Thus, carbon dioxide has a harder time passing through, meaning the flute keeps its sparkles longer than a bowl can. This is especially important in situations when a drink is poured into glasses but not consumed immediately.

^{Maharani champagne flute, 160 ml}

Even experts can’t come to one conclusion

If you still can’t decide which is best, then you’re not alone. Even experts frequently disagree with their choice of glasses. While some accept only bowls, others consider flutes the better choice for an array of occasions. And so, just follow your preferences. After all, everyone simply wants to enjoy their drink, and the kind of glass it comes out of isn’t really all that important.

^{Royal champagne glass, 220 ml}