Royal racks: A champagne glass history
By Mary Malik
Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like the pop of a champagne cork. And apparently, the shape of the glass you pour it into has a lot to say about, well, other things. If you’re planning on imbibing in the bubbly this year, and even if you’re not, you may be interested in the results of a recent champagne tasting Jim Sperk of the Northern Ohio Wine Guild experienced with a certain chatty Canadian wine sommelier.
“The sommelier host selected three differently shaped glasses: the traditional coupe, a flute and a tulip-shaped,” Jim says. “Legend claims the saucer-shaped coupe was designed by a Benedictine monk in England in the 1600s. Another legend from the early 1500s says a courtesan of French King Henry II commissioned wine glasses fashioned from her breasts to please the king.”
Jim says that legend may have inspired Madame de Pompadour who had her breasts molded for Champagne glasses, samples of which reside in museums today if you’re interested.
“Another legend states Marie Antoinette had the royal glassmaker—yes that was a thing—copy her left breast to make champagne glasses so her court could toast her health,” Jim says. “Napoleon allegedly commissioned coupes based on Empress Joséphine’s body.”
And if you’re still with me, in 2008 Karl Lagerfeld designed a coupe based on Claudia Schiffer’s breast and in 2014, artist Jane McAdam Freud was hired to design coupes based on the breasts of Kate Moss.
Now back to our regularly scheduled article.
The champagne flute originated in the 18th century and became the preferred champagne vessel because the long narrow shape was thought to preserve carbonation.
“The deep bowl displays the bubbles rising to the top,” Jim says. “The shape has evolved from straight sides to a slight curve near the lip.”
Whose lip? Jim didn’t say. He did say that the tulip glass design goes back to the 1700s and was used for port and sherry.
“Our expert Canadian host’s opinion regards the tulip shape as best for champagne,” Jim says. “The coupe is best for champagne cocktails and the flute for other sparkling wines. Happy Holidays.”
For information about the Northern Ohio Wine Guild, contact Jim Sperk at tinymoonwines@usa.net.