The Best Champagne Glasses for Bubbly Served Right
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The handblown Luxbe Champagne Crystal Glass are our favorite
Celebrating life's big milestones with a fancy bottle of Champagne is a tradition held by many people. Sipping that Champagne out of the right glass can greatly affect your overall enjoyment. Champagne glasses come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Whether their shape is a flute, tulip, coupe, or stemless, they are most often made of glass or crystal. They can also be made of shatterproof plastic for use outdoors or at large parties.
We asked a wine expert, Jed Gray, General Manager at Greenhill Vineyards in Middleburg, Virginia, what makes the best Champagne glasses and how to pick the right ones. "The shape of the glass can provide a more fulfilling experience for any sparkling wine," says Gray. "Generally, I find tulip-based glasses to be more dynamic in their engagement for champagne than the standard flute.” Keeping the shape in mind, we chose the dishwasher-safe Luxbe Champagne Crystal Glasses is our overall favorite for the best Champagne glasses.
Luxbe Champagne Crystal Glasses
Best Overall
The shape of the bowl allows the wine to develop its full flavor and aroma as the narrow rim controls the speed of rising bubbles.
What We Love: Tulip shape, wider base keeps glass steady on uneven surfaces, dishwasher-safe
What We Don't Love: Tall stem could be a storage issue for shorter cabinets
The 8.5-ounce Luxbe champagne glass is the traditional tulip shape with a long stem and very thin 1.85-inch-wide rim. The four handblown, chip-resistant crystal glasses are just over 11 inches tall, allowing them to fit into most cabinets. Although, this could be an issue if you have shorter cabinets.
The shape of the bowl allows the wine to develop its full flavor and aroma as the narrow rim controls the speed of rising bubbles. The base is wide enough to keep the glass steady on uneven surfaces. While the glasses are dishwasher-safe, the manufacturer recommends hand-washing them. Online reviewers give these glasses high marks for giftability and value for the money.
Price at time of publish: $30
Material: Crystal | Capacity: 8.5 ounces | Shape: Tulip | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Spiegelau Salute Champagne Flute Set
Best Budget
This Spiegelau Salute champagne flute set is a great deal $35 for four glasses.
What We Love: Affordable, easier to store in small spaces, dishwasher-safe
What We Don't Love: A bit too basic looking for those who want a showstopper
This Spiegelau Salute Champagne flute set is a great deal for four dishwasher-safe glasses. The simple non-leaded crystal glasses are nice for at-home entertaining without being over-the-top. Use them to serve Peach Bellini cocktails at your next weekend brunch. The glasses have a shorter 9.65-inch stem, which makes them easy to store and take care of without the risk of breaking or tipping. Online reviewers praise these glasses for their sturdiness and value for the money.
Price at time of publish: $38
Material: Non-leaded crystal | Capacity: 7.5 ounces | Shape: Flute | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Anthropologie Zaza Lustered Coupe Glasses
Best Coupe
This set of four provide a festive alternative to the standard clear coupe glasses.
What We Love: Textured lustered glass adds sparkle, subtle color complements most tablescapes, can be used as a dessert dish
What We Don't Love: Hand wash only
Coupe glasses are often a good choice for larger dinner parties because they are easier to hold, look very elegant, and the short stems allow you to see the person across from you. Here, the lustered glass refracts light, and the painted gold rim adds sparkle, while the subtle color complements most tablescapes. We love that this set of four provides a festive alternative to the standard clear coupe glasses.
Due to their wide coupe shape, they can double as a dessert dish to hold ice cream, chocolate mousse, or an elegant buttermilk panna cotta. The only drawbacks are that these hand-painted glasses are hand-wash only, and online reviewers note they're a little fragile.
Price at time of publish: $56
Material: Hand-painted glass | Capacity: 8.5 ounces | Shape: Coupe | Dishwasher Safe: No
Schott Zwiesel Tritan Forte Stemless Champagne Flutes
Best Stemless
The Schott Zwiesel stemless glasses are durable and chip-resistant.
What We Love: Chip-resistant, durable, dishwasher-safe
What We Don't Love: Thicker rim can impact how you experience the wine
This set of six 8-ounce Schott Zwiesel stemless glasses has a sleek profile and modern aesthetic. The design of the slender bowl still allows the flavor of the Champagne to come through, though the thicker rim can impact how you experience the wine.
The 8.5-inch-tall crystal glasses are chip-resistant and completely dishwasher-safe, which means you can use them inside or outside without fear of breakage. Online reviewers rave about the elegance and durability of the glasses, particularly how well it sparkles even after many runs through the dishwasher. It's the kind of glass that can really showcase a classic cocktail like a French 75.
Price at time of publish: $96
Material: Crystal | Capacity: 8 ounces | Shape: Stemless | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Related: The Best Bar Tools for Delicious Cocktails at Home
Bodum Oktett Outdoor Champagne Flutes
Most Durable
The 4-ounce durable glasses are made from shatterproof plastic that can be reused multiple times.
What We Love: Shatterproof, dishwasher-safe, reusable
What We Don't Love: Can affect the taste of Champagne if plastic is not cleaned well
When the weather is nice, and you want to take your Champagne celebration outside, the 8.25-inch-tall set of six Bodem Oktett Outdoor Champagne Flutes offers a carefree solution. The durable glasses are made from shatterproof, BPA-free plastic that can be reused multiple times. Just keep in mind that the plastic material can impact the taste of your Champagne if it's not cleaned thoroughly. They have a 4-ounce capacity and are dishwasher- and freezer-safe, so you can pre-chill them to keep your bubbly colder longer.
Price at time of publish: $40
Material: Plastic | Capacity: 4 ounces | Shape: Flute | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
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Final Verdict
The dishwasher-safe Luxbe Champagne Crystal Glasses have a tulip-shaped design that enhances the flavor and aroma of the wine and a narrow rim to prevent the bubbles from dissipating too quickly. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly glass, consider the Spiegelau Salute Champagne Flute Set, which glasses have a shorter stem and are also dishwasher safe.
What to Look for in a Champagne Glass
Shape
According to Jed Gray, for the optimum Champagne experience, the ideal glass should be tulip-shaped with a thin tapered lip. The wider, rounded bottom allows for the full expression of the wine's bouquet, while the narrower opening keeps the bubbles from rising too fast and dissipating.
Although flutes may be aesthetically pleasing, and their stylishly slender profile maintains the Champagne's effervescence, the narrow shape doesn't offer room for the wine's aroma to blossom. "Flute glasses can accentuate the bubble of Champagne, but tulips can express more of the wine’s fruit characteristics,” says Gray. Conversely, while the coupe's wider opening gives the Champagne a chance to develop its flavor, the bubbles rise too quickly. However, the coupe shape does work well for cocktails and desserts like a Champagne sorbet. Stemless glasses can reduce incidents of spillage from accidentally knocking a glass over.
Durability
Some components of a Champagne glass can be thin and delicate, like the rim and stem. so take that into consideration when choosing which ones to purchase. There are brands like Schott Zwiesel that use new technology to fortify their glasses to prevent cracking and shattering. A surprising number of Champagne glasses are dishwasher-safe. If you want a completely stress-free, carefree option, go with a high-quality plastic glass for picnics and outdoor entertaining.
FAQs
Should Champagne be chilled?
Yes, Champagne should always be chilled before drinking it. The best temperature to enjoy Champagne is between 47 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. That range allows the aromas and flavors to fully bloom throughout the glass and there will be the right amount of bubbles right to the end. If you need to chill your Champagne before opening, place it in the bottom of your fridge a few hours ahead of time—don't freeze it!
How do I hold a Champagne glass?
“Gently hold the glass with one hand,” says Gray. If you hold it by the stem, the heat from your hand won't transfer through the glass and warm up the wine, as it would if you hold it by the bowl. If your Champagne gets too hot, the carbon dioxide bubbles dissipate quicker, letting the flavor and aromas to get lost in the air.
How much Champagne should I pour in a glass?
According to Gray, you should fill a champagne glass 80 to 90 percent full to allow for extra room for expansion due to the effervescence of the wine. When it comes to pouring, try to hold the bottle at the bottom, with your thumb in the indent.
How do I wash a Champagne glass?
Always wash your glasses according to the manufacturer's directions. Glasses will retain their shine longer with hand-washing, but if your glasses are dishwasher-safe, that’s acceptable too.
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
This article was written by Megan duBois, a kitchen and lifestyle expert for Simply Recipes. Throughout her career, she has tested an endless amount of products from TikTok famous gadgets to chef-approved knife sets. To choose the best products for this article, she consulted product reviews, interviewed wine expert Jed Gray, and considered champagne glass designs, functionality, and price to make wise choices for the consumer.
