Hi all,
In a recent issue of Food & Wine magazine (I'm angry with myself for not keeping it) a master sommelier was saying that she prefers her Champagne/sparkling wine in a coupe (saucer) rather than a flute or tulip. From all I've read over the years I thought this kind of thinking was considered "heresy." Just kidding. Obviously, to each his own. But I would welcome some comments on this.
TIA, Jack
cruciverbalist wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
If the bubbles in the Champagne are very important to you, I would say go for a flute. In my opinion, with a flute, you will miss some of the very interesting nose of interesting Champagnes.
Frankly, I prefer to think of Champagne as wine, and I usually drink it from a regular all purpose glass, although I have some glasses for Champagne that are maybe a midway between a regular glass and a flute. Obviouly, with a regular glass, you will not be able to pay attention to a long trail of bubbles but the glass will allow you to capture the nuances of the nose of the Champagne.
If you are drinking Champagne just to toast, then the flute is much better, since it is all about the image of the act and the wine, and a flute in your hand feels just so elegant, contributing to the scene.
I like pinot noir and chardonnay out of riedel burgundy glasses. Champagnes are typically pinot/chard blends, so I drink that out of the burgundy glasses, too. That was one of the tricks I learned at a riedel "glass tasting".
When I attend those kinds of tastings they always expect me to be surprised when they present that "revelation", but I always ruin it for them by knowing it beforehand haha.
Hi Jack,
I actually have some old flat-type glasses, I don't think they flatter the champagne because the nose isn't concentrated.
I pretty much agree with what Santiago said, flutes are best for ceremonial but flats are OK if you've got nice ones, otherwise general purpose is best for the wine. But most people will prefer something showy since it will be more about the total experience...
But whatever you use do not use any form of dishwashing liquid for your Champagne glasses lest it coat the tiny imperfections in the glass which, if left uncoated, help the bubbles. It is why so often at commercial receptions, where alleged health and hygeine considerations have ensured that the glasses are washed properly, even good Champagne is so often flatter than it should be. The best champagne glasses I have are flutes bought from a grower which have a tiny area of ground or roughened glass at the bottom offering a truly bubbly experience.
Tim Hartley
She just doesn't like bubbles. Does she have a swizzle-stick too?
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