Should You Purchase a Set of Champagne Glasses?
The Champagne Experience
Champagne is synonymous with celebrations and happiness.
Whether its new years, a wedding, or some manner of career triumph, generally, you’re not popping bottles of wheat beer to mark the occasion.
Of course, during these times, a memorable and sincere toast is the first element of enjoying champagne to its fullest. Unfortunately, the words of that toast will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears if there’s something “off” about the tasting experience.
Sure, mediocre champagne isn’t the end of the world. Still, it’s like going to a four-Michelin-star restaurant and only “sort of” enjoying the food.
When it comes to champagne, underwhelming is unacceptable.
Extracting Most Flavors and Aromas Out of Champagne
Say you’re at work, just received a promotion, and your team wants to celebrate.
Someone had some delicious bubbly on ice—but there are no champagne glasses at the office. In fact, there aren’t even wine glasses. So, you end up drinking a delicious vintage out of coffee mugs.
Not only will you miss out on that highly satisfying hand-feel of holding a champagne glass, but it plainly won’t taste the same.
Without a champagne glass, you may as well have celebrated your promotion with chocolate milk, soda, and some beef jerky for the cherry on top.
Champagne is so complex and unique that its drinking vessels require a specific construction to get the most out of its visual appeal, layered flavors, and aromas.
How Are Champagne Glasses Different from Wine Glasses?
The most popular option as a champagne vessel is the flute—known for its long stem.
A slim, tapered, and elongated bowl are another signature feature of this narrow glass that was invented in the 18th century. Since its invention, the flute has been a staple at New Years and Weddings.
From a technical perspective, the flute retains bubbles because of a reduced surface area. This is integral to the presentation of champagne—providing a foundation for bubbles.
Plus, the lesser surface area minimizes the oxygen-to-champagne ration and concentrates the aromas.
There’s also the tulip glass—a semi-hybrid stemmed glass. It combines the flute’s sleekness with a broader bowl. This style of glass tapers to a smaller opening at the top, which helps the champagne breathe, therefore enhancing aromatics and preserving bubbles.
Comparatively, a standard wine glass (white or red) has a much broader and rounder bowl because it increases the rate of oxidation. When oxygen and the wine interact, the flavors and aromas are altered.
While it’s totally possible to enjoy the taste of champagne from a wine glass, the visual appeal from the mass amounts of bubbles is removed from the equation.
Finding the Middle Ground
Champagne flutes undoubtedly have their benefits—on a psychological basis, if anything.
They conjure up warm feelings and good times. When people see a champagne flute, it’s usually followed by a smile because it’s associated with positive memories.
Purchasing separate flutes, just for champagne, is worth it if that’s the kind of vibe you want when you’re enjoying some bubbly.
However, on a more practical basis, it might be wiser to choose a tulip glass. It offers the bubbles for the visual appeal and has an elegant enough shape for special occasions. It combines those features with superior oxidation.
Plus, you’ll get more value for your money, since you can enjoy other wines from this manner of glass.
Enjoying Champagne to the Fullest
Hopefully, the information provided in this blog has opened your eyes to how you can enjoy champagne to its fullest. It really depends on when and where the champagne is being consumed, and the mood you wish to establish. See below for the latest best-selling wine glasses that are available today!
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