When you’re serving bubbly, or a cocktail made with bubbly, you’ve gotta have the right glassware. We’ll dive into the difference of the Champagne coupe vs flute so you know when to use which piece of glassware. But before we go any further, just know, whatever you have will work just fine!

What is a Champagne Coupe?

Let’s start with the Champagne coupe—the stunning Great Gatsby-esque piece of stemware that’s been making a comeback in the last few years. The Champagne coupe features a shallow bowl set atop a short thin stem of glass. If you’re lucky enough to come across some vintage Champagne coupes, they most likely have some gorgeous etching around the bowl as well. 

champagne coupe on a cream colored background

What is a Champagne Flute?

The classic Champagne flute features a tall and thin flute, set atop a long stem. Champagne flutes are a must-have and ideal for large parties. The tall, narrow flute shape makes it easy to hold (especially while mingling at a party) and difficult to spill. 

Within the family of Champagne flutes there a few different shapes to consider. There’s the tall, slender flute, the tulip-shaped flute, and the bowl flute. All can be treated the same.

champagne flute on a cream colored background

When to Use a Champagne Coupe

There are many rumors surrounding the original design of the now-nostalgic Champagne coupe, one of which claims the shape of the coupe was inspired by Marie Antoinette’s breast. However, functionally speaking there is a reason that this became the first official Champagne glass.

The wide bowl of the coupe glass exposes more air to the surface area of the wine which opens up the aromas flavors of the Champagne being served in it. A coupe is great for when you want to taste and experience the nuance of the sparkling wine, not just the effervescence of the bubbles. 

It’s also the ideal glass for true Champagne toasts—when you’re serving an expensive bottle of Champagne—such as Dom Perignon. Because if you’re going to enjoy a nice bottle, you want to enjoy as many of the aromas of the Champagne as possible! Plus, it’s our favorite glass for when we want to transport ourselves back to the Mad Men era.

When to Use a Champagne Flute

We recommend using Champagne flutes for large gatherings where people will be mingling about. The tall stem and glass make it easy to carry around without spilling. The flute is often held by the stem, which keeps your hands from warming the chilled wine.

Champagne flutes are said to encourage the flow of bubbles, so use flutes when you’re more focused on the bubbly aspect and less on the nuance of flavor. Serve any type of sparkling wine—not just Champagne—in Champagne flutes.

Traditional flute-style glasses are best for middle-of-the-road sparkling wine and young Reserve the tulip-shaped glass for sparkling rosé and aged sparkling wines.

Visual Guide to Different Types of Champagne Glasses

champagne flute, coupe and tulip glassware on a cream-colored background.

FAQs

Can I serve still wine in a coupe glass?

We don’t recommend serving still wine of any kind in a coupe glass. A regular wine glass is preferred for it’s large, deep bowl shape. These are our favorite regular white wine glasses and our favorite tulip-shaped red wine glasses.

What should I serve dessert wines in?

Serve dessert wine in dessert wine glasses, or use a regular white wine glass.

What’s the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?

All Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. In order for a sparkling wine to be called or labeled as Champagne is must come from the Champagne region of France and follow a strict set of production guidelines. Sparkling wine on the other hand, can come from anywhere in the world.

Cocktails to Serve in Champagne Coupes

yellow cocktail in a coupe glass set on a white coaster

Cocktails to Serve in Champagne Coupes

  • The only way to serve the French 75 is in a classic flute. 
  • We also serve our French 76 cocktail in flutes. Garnish with a cherry for a stunning presentation. 
  • Serve our Blood Orange Mimosa in a Champagne flute. Start with the fruit juice then top with sparkling wine. 
  • The Kir Royale is one of the most stunning cocktails and it should be served in a flute. Drop in a fresh blackberry or raspberry for an even more stunning presentation. For a holiday version, try our Pomegranate Kir Royale!
purple champagne cocktail in champagne flutes, garnished with a blackberry and lemon twist
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About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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