Champagne Flutes

Why champagne flutes are tall and narrow

A flute is a tall, slim glass, usually set on a stem. The narrow bowl leaves only a small surface of wine open to the air, so the bubbles fade more slowly than they would in a wide, shallow glass. The height gives them a long way to rise, which is part of the pleasure of a glass of fizz, and holding the flute by its stem keeps warm fingers away from the chilled wine. Flutes make very good prosecco glasses too, and suit cava, crémant and English sparkling wine just as well.

Picking a flute to suit the table

Start with the look you want. Some of our flutes are clear, so they sit happily beside any plates and let the colour of the wine show. Some are pink, which brings warmth to a birthday table or a summer lunch in the garden. If your home leans contemporary, a few of ours have a modern style.

Size matters less than you might think, because a flute is only ever filled part of the way. It is more useful to think about where the glasses will live: tall flutes need a cupboard shelf with some headroom, or a spot on a sideboard or drinks trolley, away from busy elbows.

Giving flutes as a present

Flutes and a good bottle make a present that is hard to get wrong, and the glasses come out again long after the bottle is finished. Some in our range are made for a birthday, and you will also find flutes for an anniversary, an engagement or a wedding. A few suit a housewarming or a stag do.

Some come as a set of two, a sensible choice when two people will be raising a glass together. A few are meant as gifts for her, and a few as gifts for family.

Pouring a flute so the bubbles last

Chill the bottle, not the glass, and open it gently, easing the cork out with a soft sigh instead of a pop, so less of the fizz escapes. Tilt the flute and pour slowly down the side, as you would with a beer, so the foam does not rush over the rim. Pour in two stages, letting the foam settle in between, and stop at about two-thirds full, which leaves room for the aroma to gather.

How many flutes a party needs

A 75cl bottle pours six glasses of 125ml, or around eight smaller measures for a toast. Allow one flute per guest and a couple of spares, because tall glasses are easy to knock over on a busy table. For a larger gathering, pour just before the speeches and set the flutes out on a tray, so the bubbles are still lively when the glasses are raised.

Washing flutes by hand and storing them upright

We suggest washing flutes by hand in warm, soapy water, holding the bowl rather than the base so the stem is never twisted against it. Rinse well in clean water, as a film of washing-up liquid can spoil the taste and flatten the bubbles, then dry with a lint-free cloth such as microfibre or linen. Hand washing is also the gentlest way to look after a pink or silver finish. Avoid pouring hot water into a chilled glass, as a sudden change in temperature can crack it.

Store flutes upright rather than upside down, because the rim is usually the thinnest part of the glass, and leave a little space between them so they do not chime together when the cupboard door closes.