Does it matter? Maybe not. But we’re judging you anyway

Holding a wine glass by the stem gives you better leverage for proper swirling. iStock / Getty Images Plus / Lalomartinez photo

If there’s one thing Hollywood reliably gets wrong, it’s having supposedly sophisticated characters hold their wineglasses by the bowl. Sure, you can technically hold a glass any way that feels comfortable, but if you know, you know, and you can’t unsee what you know is just wrong. As a wine educator friend of ours used to say, “The only part of the glass that belongs to you is the stem.”

In short: Whether you’re sipping red, white, rosé or sparkling wine, if it’s in a stemmed glass, you should hold that glass by the stem. Here’s how to do it right and why it matters.

In this still from the ABC TV series Scandal, Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington, demonstrates how not to hold a wine glass. Still from Scandal via YouTube. ©ABC/Disney.

Option 1

Best practice is to grip it with your thumb, forefinger and middle finger, near the base of the stem. Your other fingers will naturally rest on the base.

Option 2

Some people prefer to hold the stem daintily with just their thumb and index finger, resting their middle finger on the base.

Option 3

Others prefer to hold it just by the base itself, which looks cool but can be a bit precarious, especially if the glass is very top heavy.

Option 4

What if it’s a stemless glass? In that case, hold the glass as close to the bottom of the bowl as possible.

Why it matters

As much as this may seem like a frivolous concern, there are some good reasons why holding a glass by the stem is the industry standard.

Appearance: You avoid leaving greasy fingerprints all over the bowl.

Temperature: You will keep the wine cooler longer.

Technique: You have better leverage and grip for swirling, which is important if you want to get the best aroma and flavour from your wine.

Etiquette: You will fit in with the social standard—and demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about proper wine service, too.

Vitis Magazine

Vitis is is an indispensable seasonal guide for vintners, sommeliers and weekend imbibers alike that is dedicated to British Columbia’s rapidly evolving wine culture.