Pro Tips: How to hold your wine glass like a pro? Ever went to a party or to someone’s birthday holding a glass of wine quite differently than the rest? Well, you may ask, is there proper etiquette in holding a glass of wine?
For some, they argue that as long as they take a sip of that wine, holding the wine glass in different ways is totally okay. But, just a pro tip: correctly holding a glass of wine is not rocket science. Actually, there is a right way and a wrong way to hold your glass of wine.
Now, if you plan to attend a party or a gathering with plenty of wine drinking, we got some pro tips for you.
Wine Glasses
Actually, there are two different types of wine glasses. One is the traditional wine glass with the stem and the other one is the stemless wine glass. You may have used either one of these wine glasses. And, most likely, you end up holding your wine glass in quite a different manner. Each of these wine glasses has different ways of holding it properly. For example, in your stemmed wine glasses, you hold it in the stem and not to its base. Well, if you have stemless wine glasses, you should hold them in the base just like how you would hold a glass of water. These are starter tips that will likely lead you to read more of the following pro tips. Okay, let’s get into it.
Toast For An Occasion
Tell me, have your friend invited you to their wedding or their birthday? And, most likely than not, you were automatically assigned the role of giving a toast or a short speech for the bride and the groom or for the birthday celebrant. This is where the correct way of handling a wine glass comes into the picture; I mean the event. There will be a greater chance that someone in the audience will notice how you hold your glass of wine; not that it is of much importance, but for the sake of social occasions and events, you need to do the right way in holding your glass of wine. A very great toast indeed in holding your wine glass properly!
Social Taboos in Holding Your Glass of Wine
Yes, you got it right. As inconsequential as it sounds, there are social taboos present in terms of holding your wine glasses in the right or wrong way. If you have never shed a thought on why your wine glasses have a stem or not, there is a reason behind that. This is also why social taboos in holding wine glasses are commonplace especially in social events and gatherings. For sure, society will not ostracize you if, at some point, you hold your wine glass in the wrong way. But, just a pro tip: learn how to hold your wine glasses in a correct manner before going to an event or a party.
Pro Tips in Holding Your Conventional Wine Glasses
We have narrowed down the steps and methods that you can follow in holding your wine glasses in the correct way. Remember, holding your wine glasses in a correct way, is not rocket science. We have these steps tailored just for you!
Hold the Stem of the Wine Glass
If you ever pondered a thought about it, there is a reason why your traditional wine glasses have a stem. This stem is the straight glass stand that connects the upper and lower part of the wine glass. A general rule of thumb: use your two fingers while holding the stem of the wine glass. Now, this is the correct way of holding your wine glass. All you got to do is use your thumb, index finger, and middle finger to pinch the stem of the wine glass while holding it.
So, when you now position your thumb, index finger, and middle finger, place them in the lower part of the stem. Basically, your hold the stem of the wine glass at the lower part specifically. Now, you have a clear picture in mind. Let us stick with that one. Just a pro tip: only those three fingers must touch your wine glass. Those three fingers are enough to sustain the weight of your drink in the wine glass. The rest of your fingers should stay on top of the stem’s base; meaning, those two fingers must only touch the base of the wine glass and not the stem itself when you are holding your wine glass.
As you may already know, this is the standard and acceptable way of holding your wine glass. You may have doubts if those three fingers can support the weight of your wine glass; but, so as to assure you, those three fingers are enough to hold your wine glass in a correct manner. What is important is that you keep your fingers away from the bowl of the wine glass. Now, that is worth something to remember in holding your wine glass in the correct way.
Keep your Hand in the Lower Part of the Stem
Now, this is a general rule of thumb: always hold your wine glasses at the lower part of the stem. If you try to practice this tip with your conventional wine glass, the result is a sophisticated way of holding your wine glass. Generally, your fingers should stay in the lower part of your wine glass. But, how about if you happen to hold your wine glass in the upper of the stem? Well, it is not a grievous sin. You can totally work on holding your wine glass. If your fingers happen to brush the bowl of the wine glass, which is also at the upper part of the wine glass, it is totally fine. Take this as a trial and error process in holding a wine glass.
Rest your Two Fingers Naturally
So, you are holding the stem of your wine glass using your three fingers: thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Now, what about your remaining two fingers? Well, it is not rocket science. All you have to do with these two fingers is to let them naturally rest on the base of your wine glass. Remember, those two fingers may brush with the stem of the wine glass while you are holding it. It’s okay, we can learn from that. What is important is that your two fingers are not limply hanging but are placed in the base of your wine glass while you are holding it.
Never Ever Hold the Bowl
This pro tip is like the first one among the ten commandments of properly holding a wine glass. Never, ever hold your wine glass in its bowl. You may ask, why is it so? The reason for this one goes beyond social taboos, but because of practical reasons. So, this is what happens when you hold your wine glass in its bowl. This can change both the taste and the appearance of your wine and wine glass, respectively.
How will this change the wine’s taste? So, when you hold the bowl of your wine glass, the warmth of your hand will quickly affect the wine; thus, the wine will also warm up. Now, that can be a problem: a warm wine! For example, white wine and champagne are chilled because they taste best that way. Now, what if you hold your wine glass of, let’s say, champagne in the bowl. The taste of our champagne will most likely change.
What about the appearance of your wine glass? So, when you hold the bowl of your wine glass, your fingerprints will surely leave traces of fingerprints and marks. Now, this will change the appearance of your wine glass. Your wine glass will likely look less elegant and messier. Also, your fingerprints can blur the appearance of your wine glass. We cannot risk holding a wine glass with fingerprints on all sides of the glass, can we? Thus, we need to hold the wine glass properly.
Pro Tips in Holding Your Stemless Wine Glasses
This type of wine glasses looks like your regular glasses of water at home. Unlike traditional wine glasses, these stemless wine glasses are easier to handle. Imagine, it is like holding your glass of water. But, for some helpful pro tips, we have outlined the following steps in holding your stemless wine glasses in a correct manner.
Hold the Base of the Glass
This is like holding your regular glass of water any time of the day. So, when you grab the base of your stemless wine glass, you should position your fingers at the middle or upper part of the wine glass. In this way, you sustain the weight of holding your wine glass and prevent a wine glass from crashing or spilling your drink at a party or a social event while holding your wine glass.
Use Your Thumb, Index Finger, and Middle Finger As Much As Possible
For this pro tip, you can actually wrap all of your fingers on the base of your stemless wine glass while holding it. But, as much as possible, use your three dominant fingers the way you hold your traditional wine glasses. Holding your stemless wine glasses is an easy feat. You should use your three fingers: thumb, index finger, and middle finger. While your remaining two fingers is not touching the base of the wine glass. In order to avoid awkwardly holding your stemless wine glass, just gently distance your two fingers left while holding your wine glass.
Minimize Holding Your Wine Glass
This is another pro tip: do not touch your stemless wine glass all the time. Unlike your traditional wine glasses, this type of wine glass has basically no stem. Since you have no choice but to hold the whole wine glass, just lessen the contact of holding your wine glass. Your hands can affect the taste and appearance of your wine; just the same in holding your traditional wine glasses. Another pro tip: just hold your stemless wine glass if you want to take a sip. If you are at a party or an event, find a table or somewhere where you can set your stemless wine glass.
Also, your fingerprints are more visible and inevitable in this type of wine glass. However, if you have your friends or your family members present at your party, it is totally fine to hold your wine glass the way you can do it.. No social faux pax is given and granted. But, what if you were at a formal event with business partners or professional colleagues. Now, that could be a problem. If you are caught in this type of situation, it is more advisable that you use the conventional wine glass with the stem. Holding your wine glass should go along with the proper and correct way of holding it.
Related Proper Social Etiquettes
These are some of the pro tips that will guide you for your future social events and gatherings. And, most likely than not, it will surely have lots of wine drinking.
Rest Your Wine Glasses
There is no social etiquette saying that you should hold your wine glasses all the time. Now that can be a tiring moment at a party. If you are sitting at a table, you can rest your wine glasses when you are not taking a sip. However, if you can’t find a place to set your wine glasses, use the palm of your other hand. Holding your wine glasses all the time can be pretty exhausting too. So, know how to deal with that while holding your wine glass.
Take a Sip from the Same Spot
When you try to sip your wine from the same spot, you actually preserve the taste of your wine. Also, you preserve the elegance of its appearance. Imagine sipping your wine from different spots in your wine glass. There will be taints of your lips left at your wine glass; even though you are not wearing any lipstick or lip balm while holding your wine glass.
Pour A Right Amount of Wine
As a rule of thumb: pour only one-third of the wine you are drinking. Holding your wine glass brimming with wine will likely cause spilling. Also, it will be heavier to support the weight of your wine glass. Most likely, your fingers can slip while holding your wine glass. Now, that can be a mess if you are at a social event or party holding a glass of wine. Remember to also hold your wine glass properly!
Tilt the Wine Glass Gently
Now, if you want to really see the appearance of the wine you are drinking, just gently tilt the wine glass you are holding. You have probably seen this one in many movies you have watched in the past years. Also, while holding your wine glass, swirl it gently. There is no rush in here. In this way, you also hold your wine glass in an appropriate and correct manner. Also saving you the proper social etiquette that you need at an event or a gathering where you hold your wine glass.
At the end of the day, it is all about the proper way of holding your wine glass. All you got to do is follow these simple steps. You are now set to hold your wine glass properly. Cheers!
