Where are you supposed to hold a wine glass?

It's not about being snobbish. There are practical reasons for changing the way you're gripping your glass, according to sommeliers.

You might not think how you hold your glass matters, but properly holding a wine glass is a key part of enjoying wine—not to mention a crucial component of basic table manners. It's not about being snobbish, rather there are practical reasons to hold a wine glass the correct way. And that wine drinkers don't do this is the number one peeve for me, as well as other wine professionals and sommeliers I know.

For the record, a glass of wine should always be held at the stem, near the base between your thumb and fingertips. Trust, there are many reasons holding your glass this way will benefit you as you enjoy your wine—here, I'll break it down for you.

Keeping the Temperature Steady

The main reason to hold your glass by the stem near the base of the glass is to keep your hands away from the wine. This prevents your body heat from altering the temperature of the liquid in your glass!

A typical adult body temperature ranges from 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, and when you clasp your hand around the bowl of a wine glass, the wine inside it will warm rapidly to match your body temperature. Most wines should be served significantly cooler than 99 degrees: sparkling wine from 41-45 degrees, whites from 45-49 degrees, light reds from 54-60 degrees, and full reds from 58-65 degrees.

When wine gets too warm, its alcohol is emphasized, throwing it out of balance and making it taste too boozy (or 'hot,' in wine terms). It can also leave the wine's flavor and texture tasting flabby, syrupy, and lackluster. Wine will shine its brightest, tasting most crisp and lively, when it's appropriately chilled—and to keep the wine at that perfect temperature, you should be holding the glass by the stem and never by the bowl or the rim of the glass.

All the Better to Swirl

One of the best ways to enhance a wine's flavors is to swirl the wine, allowing oxygen to permeate the liquid and activate the wine's aromatic compounds. Since 80 percent of what we experience as flavor is actually aroma, swirling the wine in your glass amplifies the perception of scent and shows off the full range of flavor nuances. Holding the wine by the stem when you swirl gives you much more control. Even the most subtle twist of the wrist can unleash a beautiful swirl when holding the glass by the stem. If you try to swirl the glass while holding it by the bowl, there's much more risk of wine splashing out.

A Neat, Elegant Appearance

Great pains have been taken to polish each wine glass to a crystal sheen in an elegant dinner setting. When you pick a glass up by the bowl, you risk getting unsightly fingerprints all over it. Especially if you've been enjoying finger foods, and your fingers may be a bit greasy, this is not a good look. Proper table manners dictate holding the glass by the stem. Following etiquette rules like this is considered a sign of respect to your hosts.

Practice Makes Perfect

If you are used to holding your wine glass by the bowl and not the stem, you aren't alone. Those of us who are wine professionals observe many wine drinkers holding their glasses improperly every single day. Even Hollywood's elite can be spotted on television and film clutching their wine glasses by the top (once you start noticing this, you can't un-see it!).

In a recent interview, The Gilded Age Director Salli Richardson-Whitfield discussed how filming opulent dinner scenes would be incredibly challenging because of this. "When we talk about etiquette, I think we shot this one dinner scene over and over and over, just because people would pick up their glass the wrong way…. [a take would be] perfect– then, 'Nope! So and so picked up their glass by the top, you've got to pick it up by the stem'. And, you'd have to re-do the whole thing."

It can be a hard habit to break but, like anything else, practice really does help. The next time you enjoy a glass of wine, pay attention to holding it by the stem and get used to the feeling. The more you practice, the more it will be second nature!

Enjoying a chilled glass of rosé while basking in the late afternoon sun is one of the greatest pleasures as spring and summer roll in, but it wouldn't be the same served warm. (Most wines, in fact, are best served below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, much lower than room temperature, hence why some add ice to their wine.) So why are so many of us tampering with the precious serving temperature once the vino's in its serving vessel?

It's because we're unaware of the mistake we're making, writes Anthony Giglio, the resident Wine Wise Guy at Food & Wine. Here's how to hold a wine glass the right way. N

Do you hold wine glasses at the stem or bowl?

If you've never thought about the shape of a wine glass—a thin stem supporting a tall, curved glass—you might be surprised to learn how much its design affects its contents.

"There's a rod of glass between the base and the bowl of a wine glass for several reasons, and the absolute most important of those is to keep your 98.6-degree hand away from your properly chilled wine," writes Giglio.

This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

You can hold stemless glasses by the base like you would a normal glass, but stemmed glasses should be held by the stem. Hold it towards the base, using your thumb, index finger, and middle finger and allowing your other fingers to rest on the base. Another option is to make a loose fist and balance the base on your index finger, using your thumb as a lever to hold it in place. (Need a visual? This guide from Wine Folly helps.)

How should you not hold a wine glass?

There are quite a few mistakes you can make when it comes to holding a glass of wine. Giglio lays out three of the most common fouls people make that could lead to lukewarm wine.

The first is grasping the bottom of the bowl with your whole hand in what he called a "Housewives" hold, a nod to the Bravo franchise. That means no cupping the bowl of your Bordeaux glass or gripping the top of a champagne flute, warns Giglio—he doesn't care if you've seen any Real Housewives stars doing otherwise.

You also want to avoid holding the glass like it's a beer by cupping only the top of the glass. This is a sure-fire way for a warm sip of vino. Finally, although you might think it looks classy, holding the glass by sliding the stem between your middle and ring finger and cradling the bowl will still cause the contents of your glass to warm.

Best Wine Accessories for Any Vino Lover

Set of 4 Wine Glasses

Now 42% Off

Stainless Steel Wine TumblerCredit: Target

Electric Wine OpenerCredit: Target

This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Where do you hold wine glasses?

Should you hold your wine glass by the stem?

Why do people hold wine glasses by the bottom?