Learn The Etiquette That Revolves Around Holding A Wine Glass

When it comes to acting civilized around the dinner table, there are so many aspects that have to be covered in order to make the experience pleasurable for anyone. Sitting straight, not crossing your legs under the table, not placing your elbows on the table and definitely not slurping your liquids are but a few of the etiquette rules that make dinner an enjoyable experience.Show more

Out of all the rules that apply during dinner parties, a particular category seems to be pass ignored by folks, a that is the etiquette of holding your wine glass. Erin Henderson, a certified sommelier and wine educator, teaches this wine class how to hold their wine glasses properly. Many people, including actors on television, cup their wine glasses around the bowl. However, this actually warms the wine and changes the taste. Plus no one wants to see greasy fingerprints all over your glass! The proper way to hold a glass of wine is by the stem!

The reason behind this is actually more about you, than those around you. Alcohol, which is the component we love most in wine, has a lower boiling point than water. If you hold your wine glass by the bowl, the heat of your palm warms up the wine, making the alcohol evaporate from the glass. Alcohol is the main carrier of all those fruity, musky, nutty notes that the winemaker intended you to experience from the beverage you purchased.

So, if the wine you just bought tastes cheap, try holding the glass by the stem instead.