How to Hold A Wine Glass

[MsWine]

I'd like to hear opinions on how to hold a wine glass. Pretty basic question, really.

Is it better to ALWAYS hold wine glass by the stem and never touch the bowl because heat from the hand warms the wine? Or is that just a bit of wine snobbery?

A friend and I are debating this question after watching many movies & TV shows (Frasier, for one) where the protaganists are supposedly wine enthusiasts... yet they all clasp wine glasses in their hands like they're holding a baseball -- regardless of the wine they're drinking. Anyone ever notice this??

I'm asking about ordinary consumption -- not wine tastings.

Thanks,
MsWine

[dananne]

For me, I generally hold glasses by the top of the stem. That depends, however, upon the delicacy of the stem and how vigorously you swirl [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Sometimes I'll deliberately hold my glass by the bowl to warm up a red that has been opened a bit cold -- for instance, if it is right out of my cellar and I've lacked the patience to let it stand awhile -- or a white that has been chilled a bit too long in the fridge.

[joeyz6]

Hi Ms. Wine,
My opinion is that it is your wine, so you can do as you please with it. Personally, I try not to hold glasses by the bowl, for three reasons. First, I think it heats the wine noticeably faster than if you hold by the stem (this is a problem especially with white wines). Second, I find it easier to swirl the glass when I'm holding the stem. Third, the bowl gets smudged pretty easily when you touch it a lot.
However, if you enjoy holding by the bowl (sometimes this tends to look a little cooler, which is probably why Frasier does it on TV), go for it, it's not going to destroy the wine or anything.

[Georgie]

I seem to remember a Frasier where they were drinking Port and they held the glass by the base or stem. Or maybe I was drinking Port and don't really remember what they did... [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Tyrrell]

Personally I don't like fingerprints on the glass. But I don't think that holding the bowl is any sort of etiquette breach. (Or if it is, it's a considerably smaller breach than being so petty as to be offended by someone holding a glass by the bowl.)

[winoweenie]

If grilled on the subject G-Girl I'll opt for the latter.

[Georgie]

Hey! and as far as how I, myself, personally, hold my glass, I just use a straw in the bottle and I never have any of these problems!

[Botafogo]

Speaking of Frasier, I got a small check and a writing credit once when consulted by a writer customer about a scene involving a mix up with some great wine and some plonk meant for cooking. I contributed the line (shouted by Niles), "Good Gosh, it's La Tache!"

As to the glass, I just grab the sucker and hang on for dear life (oh, wait, that's my teenage fiancé....wink, wink, Hey Verne, I'm back!), Roberto

[This message has been edited by Botafogo (edited 06-16-2003).]

[Bucko]

When you can hold a glass between your toes and swirl, sniff and slurp like WW, you know that you have arrived. Until then, make it up as you go.

Welcome back, Roberto.

[winoweenie]

Wondered what that strange glow was in the western sky I saw as I was loading the truck. Velchomme home O Lecherous one. I'll try to get up on Friday if I get my biz finished in San Diego. WW

[wondersofwine]

Love your Niles line, Roberto!