Choose a different glass than champagne flutes for the best bubbly

Flutes have become the standard for champagne because they are small, easy to hold and convenient for serving – although they are not the easiest to pour, as gas means they must be topped up.

But they’re “terrible at appreciating wine,” Hemming told Business Insider.

The long, narrow shape of the iconic glassware stifles the flavor and aroma of the champagne – and it’s difficult to use.

“You have to drop way too far back to actually drink the stuff,” Hemming told BI. The narrow opening concentrates the bubbles, making it a nightmare to pour and a challenge to enjoy.

So, is there a proper glass for enjoying champagne? Hemming swears by simple universal wine glasses. The wider bowl of the glasses gives ample room for the champagne’s flavors to develop, while maintaining the effervescence that allows the wine to “express itself very clearly,” Hemming said.

It’s not just about shape, Hemming also stressed the importance of glassware quality — 67 Pall Mall uses custom Zalto glasses.

While changing the flute may seem like an insignificant adjustment, it is a game changer for wine enthusiasts. Flutes might be great for hanging out at a crowded party, but they don’t do justice to the rare and niche brands that champagne enthusiasts covet, Hemming told BI.

Champagne has enjoyed a post-pandemic boom, but sales have waned for major producers. In 2021, Champagne sales rose 14 percent globally from pre-Covid records, peaking at $5.7 billion on a post-pandemic holiday wave, according to industry group Union des Maisons de Champagne.

But in July, luxury giant LVMH – the world’s largest champagne producer – reported a 15% drop in champagne sales in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year.

Jean-Jacques Guiony, CFO of LVMH, theorized that fewer people are popping bottles because of fewer holidays as a result of greater economic and geopolitical uncertainties.