The correct way to hold a wine glass is by the stem, not the bowl, to avoid warming the wine with your hand and to help preserve its temperature and aromas. With red wines, the glass can be held naturally by the stem using two or more fingers, depending on comfort. For white wines, it is better to hold it lower down the stem to keep the wine cooler for longer. This way of holding the glass also makes it easier to swirl gently, helping the wine express its aromas and nuances more clearly during tasting.
How to Hold a Wine Glass
Holding a wine glass correctly is not complicated, but there is a purpose behind it. It is not simply about “holding it properly,” but about doing so in a way that preserves the wine’s temperature, releases its aromas, and allows for a more accurate tasting experience.
The key is understanding that the glass should not be held for comfort alone, but for functionality. That is why the point of contact should always be the stem (or, in some cases, the base), avoiding direct contact with the bowl. From there, each type of wine allows for small variations in the way the glass is held.
How to Hold a Red Wine Glass
With red wine, there is slightly more flexibility. The glass can be held naturally by the stem using two, three, or even four fingers, depending on what feels most comfortable.
It is also common in more informal settings for people to place their hand slightly higher up the stem. Although this is not the most technical approach, in the case of red wine it does not have such an immediate impact on temperature as it does with white wine.
The important thing is to keep the bowl free from direct contact with the hand and to be able to move the glass easily to oxygenate the wine. Being able to swirl the glass effortlessly is essential for opening up the aromas.
How to Hold a White Wine Glass Correctly
With white wine, precision matters more. These wines are served at lower temperatures and are more sensitive to the heat from the hand, which makes the way the glass is held even more important.
In this case, it is recommended to hold the glass by the stem, preferably towards the lower part, to avoid transferring heat to the wine. The less contact the hand has with the bowl, the better the freshness will be preserved.
This detail is especially important in aromatic or delicate white wines, where even a slight change in temperature can affect the expression of aromas on the nose.
How Sommeliers Hold a Wine Glass
Sommeliers always hold the glass by the stem, using a firm yet light grip that allows them to control movement precisely. This way of holding the glass is designed to make tasting easier: swirling the wine, observing it, and appreciating its aromas without interference.
In addition, this way of holding the glass conveys naturalness and confidence without exaggeration. It is not about imitating a rigid posture, but about understanding the reason behind it.
In practice, simply holding the glass comfortably and steadily by the stem is enough. If the glass can be moved easily and the wine is not affected by the heat of the hand, then it is being held correctly.
Incorrect Ways to Hold a Wine Glass and Why to Avoid Them
Below are some of the most common mistakes when holding a wine glass:
- Holding the bowl with the whole hand (this transfers heat directly to the wine)
- Holding the glass at the top of the stem, almost touching the bowl (this reduces control and may affect temperature)
- Wrapping the fingers around the glass as if it were a regular tumbler (this prevents proper swirling and limits oxygenation)
- Holding the glass too tightly or rigidly (this makes the natural swirling movement more difficult)
Types of Wine Glasses and What Each One Is Used For
Not all wine glasses are designed for the same purpose. The shape and size of the bowl influence how the wine oxygenates, how aromas are concentrated, and how the wine reaches the palate. Choosing the right glass is therefore not a minor detail, but a way to help each wine express itself better.
In general terms, simpler wines work well in smaller glasses, while wines with longer aging or greater complexity require larger glasses that allow the wine to move and release all its nuances. White wine glasses are usually smaller in order to preserve temperature and maintain freshness.
| Type of Glass | Description | Recommended For | What It Contributes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young wine glass | Simpler and smaller in size | Young wines | Provides a more direct tasting experience, suitable for fresh and less complex wines |
| Crianza wine glass | Wider and slightly larger | Crianza wines | Improves oxygenation and helps reveal greater aromatic complexity |
| Reserva or Gran Reserva glass | Larger and more open | Reserva and Gran Reserva wines | Allows the wine to move more freely so aromas can fully develop |
| White wine glass | Smaller and more slender | White wines | Helps maintain temperature and concentrate delicate aromas |
How the Way You Hold the Glass Affects Temperature and Aromas
The way a wine glass is held influences the tasting experience more than it may seem. When the bowl is held directly, the heat from the hand transfers to the wine and changes its temperature too quickly. This is especially important for white wines, which need to remain cool, but it also affects red wines when their evolution in the glass is meant to be appreciated accurately.
Beyond temperature, the way the wine expresses its aromas also changes. Holding the glass correctly by the stem allows the wine to swirl more easily and promotes oxygenation, which is essential for opening up aromatic nuances. On the other hand, holding the glass incorrectly not only warms the wine, but also makes the movement feel less natural and limits the slight aeration that helps reveal its qualities.
For this reason, holding a wine glass correctly is not simply a matter of etiquette, but of enjoying the wine under the best possible conditions. Sometimes, a gesture as simple as holding the glass by the stem makes the difference between merely drinking wine and truly appreciating everything inside the glass.
