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If you want a truly iconic way to celebrate, you simply can’t go past champagne. All around the world, people mark special occasions with champagne, whether it’s the champagne toast at a wedding, popping the cork at a party, or smashing a champagne bottle to mark a ship’s maiden voyage.
There are so many traditions related to champagne, but what about the oldest and most practical tradition of them all?
The champagne glass has come in many forms over the years, each of which has its own story and qualities. The type of champagne glass you drink from can even affect the way you enjoy your champagne.
In this article, we’re going to embark on a bubbly adventure and explore the competing qualities of the champagne coupe, the champagne flute, and the champagne tulip.
1. Champagne Coupe: The Buxom Bucket For Your Bubbles
Have you ever heard the story of the champagne glass that was modelled to resemble Marie Antoinette’s breast? That’s the champagne coupe. Also known as a saucer, this glass is remembered for more than just its saucy origins.
The champagne coupe was the first official champagne glass. Unlike modern champagne glasses, the coupe is much shallower and broader in its design.
The story about Marie Antoinette may be a myth, but this champagne glass still has many grand and theatrical features. It is great for watching the bubbles bounce around in your glass, and it offers a wide rim to take in a generous mouthful of champagne or sparkling wine.
Unfortunately, these design features don’t lend themselves to the carbonation or aeration of your champagne. This results in lost flavours and aromatics, which harms the champagne drinking experience.
2. Champagne Flute: A Style Statement That Savours The Flavour
Stylish and sophisticated, you can’t deny the aesthetic appeal of the champagne flute. Whether you prefer the elongated elegance of traditional flutes or the modern convenience of stemless champagne flutes, this is a classy way to enjoy your sparkling wine.
Champagne flutes gained widespread popularity in the 1950s, and today, they are regularly seen at weddings, birthdays, restaurants, and anywhere you want to charge your glass!
Tall and narrow, a champagne flute allows bubbles to gather at the bottom and gradually rise for the perfect carbonation and the ideal expression of champagne aromas and flavours. Whether you use stemmed or stemless champagne flutes, the flashy flute design is one of the best for savoring the Flavour of your champagne.
3. Champagne Tulip: Two Worlds Combine For A Fine Sparkling Wine.
If champagne coupes are the original and champagne flutes are the most popular, then champagne tulips are the glass you might not even know you’re drinking from.
Champagne tulip glasses look like flutes on first appearance, but they end up taking on quite a unique shape. Champagne tulips start narrow and expand out into a wider bowl before sharply curving back in. The point where the glass meets the stem can be incredibly narrow, which gives you plenty of room to hold the glass at its stem without smudging the bowl.
In many ways, the champagne tulip is considered the perfect hybrid of the flute and the coupe. The wider bowl gives you more room for champagne while the narrowing at the bottom ensures perfect aeration and carbonation. The tulip then narrows again at the top to capture all the flavours and aromas of your sparkling while also preventing spillage.
The Perfect Glass For Your Champagne
The glass you choose will have an undeniable aesthetic impact, and it will also affect the flavours and aromas expressed in your champagne or sparkling wine.
The champagne coupe may be the original, but it is probably the least suited to champagnes and sparkling wines. Still, if you want to enjoy the vintage design of this glass and you’re looking for champagne that can be poured generously and enjoyed quickly, this could be the perfect glass for you. Pour yourself a sweet sparkling and enjoy feeling like French nobility!
For fantastic flavours and aromas, the ever-popular champagne flute shares the crown with the champagne tulip. Champagne flutes are generally preferred for expressing the flavours in dry sparkling wines and champagnes, while tulips suit prosecco, rosé, and other fruity sparkling wines, as well as fine and well-aged sparkling varieties.
Depending on your preferences, you can shop for stemless champagne flutes, standard flutes, or even the long-stemmed tulip glass design. Whatever option you choose, make sure you pop your champagne dramatically, celebrate enthusiastically, and enjoy your first sip thoroughly.
After all, every time you enjoy champagne is a special occasion!
