You’re at a dinner table, someone pours you a beautiful glass of wine, and suddenly you wonder: Am I holding this correctly?
It’s one of those little things about wine that nobody really teaches you. We read or learn about grapes, regions, wine and food pairings and even the different types of wine glass. But we seldom address the very basic question of what to actually do with the glass once it is in our hand.
The good news? It’s much simpler than it looks. There is no need to hold your wine glass like a sommelier performing for an audience. But there is a practical reason why wine glasses have stems and knowing how to hold a glass of wine properly can make drinking and tasting wine more enjoyable.
Is there a correct way to hold a wine glass?
For a traditional stemmed wine glass, the simplest answer is: hold it by the stem. A wine glass has three basic parts: the bowl, the stem and the base. Your hand should ideally stay away from the bowl. You can hold the stem between your thumb and index finger, with your other fingers resting naturally around or below it. You can also hold the lower part of the stem, just above the base. Both are perfectly acceptable.
As most wine professionals point out, there isn't one single, rigid way to hold a stemmed wine glass. Comfort and stability matter too. So if you're wondering how to grab a wine glass without looking awkward, don't overthink it: gently take hold of the stem.
Why does it matter how you hold a wine glass?
This isn't simply about looking elegant at a dinner table. Your hands are warm. When you wrap your fingers around the bowl, that warmth can transfer to the wine through the thin glass. This matters particularly with wines that are served chilled, such as white, rosé and sparkling wines. There is another reason. Wine is meant to be looked at and smelled as well as tasted. Fingerprints all over the bowl can make it harder to appreciate the wine's colour and clarity. Holding the stem makes swirling much easier and keeps your wine at the right drinking temperature. So, how to handle a wine glass is really about three things: keeping the wine at the right temperature, keeping the bowl clean and being able to swirl the wine comfortably.
How to hold wine glass properly: three easy options
- The classic stem hold: Pinch the middle of the stem gently between your thumb and index finger. Let your other fingers curl naturally around the stem. This is probably the easiest place to start.
- The lower stem hold: Hold the stem closer to the base, using your thumb and first two fingers. Your other fingers can rest naturally near the base. This is particularly comfortable when you're standing at a party or carrying a small plate at the same time.
- The base hold: You can also lightly hold the stem right where it meets the base, using your thumb and fingers. This gives you good control when swirling, particularly if you're tasting wine. There is no need to grip tightly. In fact, a relaxed hand generally looks much more natural and feels comfortable.
How do you hold a red wine glass?
Exactly the same way as any other glass. A large red wine glass may have a generous bowl, but that doesn't mean it's designed to be held like a tumbler. Keep your hand on the stem so you can comfortably swirl the wine and examine its colour and aromas. And yes, you can swirl. A gentle circular movement is enough. If you're nervous about spilling, place the glass on the table and swirl it gently there. There is absolutely no prize for producing the biggest whirlpool in the room.
The Worst Way to Hold a Wineglass
Here is the one habit worth breaking: don't cup the bowl of a stemmed wine glass in your hand like it was a warm cup of green tea. That may feel comfortable, but it warms the wine and leaves fingerprints on the glass. It can also make swirling rather difficult. Holding the glass by the rim isn't ideal either. Apart from being unstable, it's simply not the most hygienic place to hold a drinking glass. And holding only the base can make the glass harder to control. Think of it this way:
- Bowl = Look, swirl and smell.
- Stem = Hold
- Base = Rest
That's really all you need to remember
How to hold a wine goblet elegantly
If you're specifically wondering how to hold a wine goblet, the same principle applies. Hold the stem lightly and comfortably, rather than wrapping your hand around the bowl. If the stem is particularly long, hold it somewhere around the middle or lower section where the glass feels balanced. And if you're looking for a fancy way to hold a wine glass, here's my answer: don't try too hard. Elegance usually comes from a relaxed grip rather than a complicated one.
Woman: how to hold a wine glass elegantly
There are possibly many best wines for women to choose from, but there is no special way women need to hold wine glasses. If you're looking for that effortless, polished look you often see at a formal dinner or wine tasting, keep your fingers relaxed and your grip light. Avoid curling your entire hand around the stem or dramatically extending one finger. Simply hold the stem between your thumb and fingers and let the rest of your hand fall naturally. The result is elegant because it doesn't look rehearsed or like you’re trying too hard.
How to hold a stemless wineglass
Instead, hold the glass around its lower or middle section, with your fingers wrapped comfortably around it. Try not to hold it right at the rim. And because your hand is now much closer to the wine, be a little more conscious of temperature, particularly with chilled wines. Stemless glasses are wonderfully casual and fun, but they may not be the best choice when you're trying to assess a wine formally.
What is the proper way to pour a glass of wine?
Holding the glass correctly is only half the story. Pouring it properly matters too. Keep the wine glass on the table if possible and pour slowly into the bowl, rather than filling it to the top. A 150ml pour of wine is what you should aim for.
For most still wines, you want enough space in the bowl to swirl the wine comfortably and allow aromas to collect. Once you've finished pouring, a small twist of the bottle can help prevent the last drop from running down the bottle or onto the table.
And remember: a generous pour isn't necessarily a better pour. Wine needs space in the glass and you need to be safe from having it on your shirt while swirling. Pouring different wine styles?
Final Thoughts: So, what is the right way?
If you remember only one thing from this article, make it this: Hold the stem, not the bowl. That's it! You don't need complicated wine etiquette to enjoy a glass of wine. Hold it comfortably, keep your hands away from the bowl, swirl gently when you want to, and let the wine do the rest. Because ultimately, knowing how to hold a wine glass properly isn't about appearing sophisticated. It's about giving the wine and yourself the best possible experience.
And once you stop worrying about whether you're holding the glass correctly, you can get back to the much more interesting part: What's in the glass?
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