Numerous fans of the sparkling drink do not get tired of arguing about which glasses are considered the best for tasting it. Fashion has changed over the centuries. A champagne flute glass (French flute – “flute”) held its position for a long time and was considered ideal due to its ability to hold bubbles. Today, Champagne winemakers say that the “flute” is not suitable for modern wines.
History of the flute glass
According to the official version, the inventor of champagne is Pierre Pérignon, a monk of the abbey of Hautevillers. The statement is controversial, since “sparkling” wines are mentioned in the texts of the authors of ancient times. Italians in the XNUMXth century experimented with fermentation and produced sparkling wines that, according to contemporaries, “spewing a lot of foam” and “biting the tongue.” Dom Pérignon invented a method for fermenting wine in a bottle, but a stable result was achieved only when English artisans found a way to make durable glass.
The Perignon winery produced the first batch of champagne in 1668. In the same period, English glassblowers were forbidden to cut down the royal forests, and they had to switch to coal. The fuel gave a higher temperature, which made it possible to obtain strong glass. Industrialist George Ravenscroft improved the formulation of raw materials by adding lead oxide and flint to the mixture. The result was a transparent and beautiful glass, reminiscent of crystal. From that moment on, glassware began to gradually replace ceramics and metal.
The first wine glasses appeared at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. The dishes were very expensive, so they did not put them on the table. The glass was brought by the footman on a special tray, he poured the wine to the guest and immediately took away the empty dishes. With the reduction in the cost of production, glass migrated to the table, and a demand arose for more refined and delicate products.
The flute glass came into use in the middle of the XNUMXth century. Outwardly, it was somewhat different from the modern version and had a higher leg and a conical flask.
In Great Britain, an early version of the “flute” was called the “Jacobite glass”, since the supporters of the exiled King James II chose the glass as a secret symbol and drank from it to the health of the monarch. However, they poured into it not sparkling, but still wines.
Champagne was usually served in coupe glasses. Historians suggest that the tradition appeared in connection with the manner adopted at that time to drink sparkling wine in one gulp. In addition, many were afraid of unusual bubbles, and in a wide bowl, the gas quickly eroded. The tradition turned out to be persistent, and the fashion for coupe glasses continued until the early 1950s. Then the winemakers managed to prove that flutes are better suited for champagne, as they hold bubbles for a long time. In the future, flute glasses gradually began to replace coupes, which by the 1980s had completely lost their relevance.
The shape and structure of the flute
Modern flute is a long glass on a high stem with a bowl of small diameter, which is slightly narrowed at the top. When calibrated, its volume, as a rule, does not exceed 125 ml.
The reduced area of contact with air prevents carbon dioxide from evaporating quickly, and the long stem prevents the wine from heating up. In such glasses, the foam quickly settles, and the wine retains a homogeneous structure. Manufacturers of expensive dishes make notches on the bottom of the flask, which contribute to the movement of bubbles.
In recent years, Champagne winemakers have often criticized the “flute” and believe that an excess of carbon dioxide does not make it possible to appreciate the aroma of champagne, and an abundance of bubbles can cause unpleasant sensations during tasting. Judges at competitions taste sparkling wines from wider tulip glasses, which give an opportunity to appreciate the bouquet and at the same time retain carbonation.
Flute glass manufacturers
One of the most famous manufacturers of wine glasses is the Austrian company Ridel, which is among the opponents of the classic flute and experiments with the shapes and sizes of its products. The company’s assortment includes about a dozen champagne glasses designed for sparkling wines from different grape varieties. For connoisseurs of the “flute”, Ridel offers the Superleggero series, which is distinguished by very thin and durable glass.
Not less well-known manufacturers:
- Schott Zwiesel – produces goblets made of titanium glass with a thin and narrow bowl and six notches inside;
- Crate & Barrel – Produce flutes from acrylic. Transparent and unbreakable dishes are great for a picnic in nature;
- Zalto Denk’Art is known for its handicrafts. The “flutes” of the company are distinguished by a well-balanced balance and high quality glass.
Flute glasses are suitable for serving cocktails, where the main ingredient is sparkling wine. “Flutes” for beer are made with a shorter stem and a larger bowl. Due to the shape, the foamy drink retains carbonation, and the narrow neck helps to appreciate the aroma. Flute glasses are often used to serve lambics and fruit beers.