Nothing spells celebration like flutes of fizz; yet I haven’t touched mine in years. I haven’t foresworn festivities or effervescent drinks – but like so many in the business I have been drinking my Champagne and sparkling wines from white wine glasses.
This way I can gorge on the lovely aroma and taste, and fully appreciate what makes those bubbles such a joy to drink.
Experts speak out against flutes
Neither am I alone in shunning the flute. Maximilian Riedel, CEO of esteemed glass maker Riedel Crystal, previously told Decanter.com that his goal was to make Champagne flutes ‘obsolete’.
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, cellarmaster at Champagne Louis Roederer, said: ‘Our Champagne style needs aeration to fully demonstrate its potential, so we often use white wine glasses. Some 25 years ago we even developed our own tulip glasses, which were larger than the flute.’
Hugh Davies, CEO and winemaker at Schramsberg Vineyards, one of California’s foremost sparkling wine producers, agrees: ‘In making our sparkling wines we envisage a finished product that offers an extraordinary aroma, palate and visual impression.
‘While the classic, narrow flute is commonly used and offers a beautiful display of effervescence, it can inhibit our ability to explore the depth of aroma and flavour in that wine.
Why did flutes become popular?
Flutes are popular because they showcase tiny, rising bubbles perfectly – the enduring and visualised appeal of sparkling wine’s power to refresh. Many flutes even have a discreet nucleation point etched into their inner base to create a steady, vertical stream of fizz.
The flute also has other advantages: it preserves the effervescence that so easily dissipates in coupes and saucers. It is also much harder to spill your precious bubbles in a flute, while its serving size is ideal for parties. However, the shape doesn’t do justice to fine fizz.
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