Most all of Japanese understand that holding a wine glass by stem is correct way.
Recently, the website of some companies like ASAHlI BEER and KIRIN BEER argue a bit about holding it.
Holding a wine glass by stem is a tasting way for sommeliers.
In International Protocol, it is the right manner to pick up a glass by the bowl.
In addition, some Japanese editors also post how to hold a wine glass without any correct reasons.
You should always hold the glass by the bowl, no matter what the shape or size of the glass because most of presidents, princes and actors always do so (See the following picture).
Elizabeth II and George Walker Bush
I cannot believe this story, so I decided to start to investigate the fact!
At first, I asked ASAHlI BEER about the source of article.
The feedback of this company is below.
We posted this article based on comments from the association of etiquette, protocol and a wine glass manufacturer.
And, accordig to them, holding a wine glass by bowl is common practice historically.
Who is the association of etiquette, protocol and wine glass manufacturers?
But, ASAHlI BEER did not provide it to me.
I reluctantly looked for old pictures on web to confirm their beliefs.
Thomas Pelham-Holles, the Duke of Newcastle demonstrates how the glass is being gripped by the foot, the correct way of holding a glass in the seventeenth and early eighteenth century. Producers of TV period dramas and history documentaries please take note, as actors never get this right.
The correct way of holding a glass is to grip by the foot.
W-what did you say!?
This fact goes diagonally above and beyond my imagination…
Actually, we can find tons of pictures to corroborate the fact.
Man holding a glass of wine (eighteenth century)
A Man Holding A Glass Of Wine
by (after) Christiaen Van Couwenbergh
A SMILING MAN, HOLDING A GLASS OF WINE AT A TABLE, WITH SALAMI, TURNIPS, CHEESE, BREAD, FIGS, MELON AND A CARAFE IN A COOLING BUCKET(mid-17th Century).
It seems to me that holding a wine glass by bowl is not common practice historically,,,,
If not ASAHlI BEER says the following thing….
The case of mid-13th Century….
Everyone grasps a bowl, because…
It’s a stemless glass!
Is ASAHlI BEER kidding me?
Secondarily, I looked for pictures of famous people with a wine glass.
Following people hold a wine glass by bowl.
- Barack Obama (44th President of the United States)
- George Walker Bush (43th President of the United States)
- Ronald Wilson Reagan (40th President of the United States)
- Francois Hollande (President of the France)
- Nicolas Sarkozy (President of the French)
- Elizabeth II (Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand)
- Giorgio Napolitano (The 11th President of Italy)
- Silvio Berlusconi (Italian Prime Minister)
- Akihito (Emperor of Japan)
- Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (British Royal Family)
- Juan Carlos I (Spanish King)
- George Clooney (American actor)
- Meryl Streep (American actress)
- Lady GaGa (American singer)
- The Beatles (British rock group)
Barack Obama
Francois Hollande
Akihito and Francois Hollande
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
The Beatles
This fact makes me embarrassed…
It seems to me that everyone may beleive it is protocol to pick up a glass by the bowl.
How does American feel holding way like a primate?
We can find comments on some websites regarding this question.
One of the biggest and most common mistakes of holding a wine glass is by the bowl section, as the above photo of Mr. Obama demonstrates.
We need to teach Obama how to properly hold stemware!
Oops… Holding a wine glass the wrong way can be embarrassing.
Just because you are President, doesn’t mean you know how to hold a wine glass.
How about the holding method of Hollande?
We can also find comments in French.
Malgre cela, les mauvaises habitudes ont la vie dure, et nombreux sont encore ceux qui hesitent entre tenir leur verre par le pied ou par le bulbe (partie qui contient le vin). La bonne reponse? Par le pied, evidemment.
Bad habits die hard!
And, how about the holding method of actors?
Kerry Washington’s character, Olivia Pope on Scandal (TV series), grasp wineglasses by the bowl.
they are almost always holding the glass by the bowl and not the stem. Most wine lovers do the opposite, which is considered proper etiquette.
Why do actors always hold their wineglasses by the bowl rather than the stem?
Conclusion of this battle
I told ASAHlI BEER above information again.
Thank you for your feedback.
We will improve the article of page.by ASAHlI BEER
We should hold a wine glass according to time, place and occasion.
I sometimes hear to grab the stem if it’s a chilled white wine.
But, in international dinner, most of presidents hold a wine glass by bowl without any reference to colors.
In International dinner, conversation is more important than drinking and eating.
So, they usually hold a wine glass by bowl to provide stability.
For example, Francois holds it by stem except for international dinner.
This is because holding way does not have any stricted rules!
[Related article]
Which holding a wine glass is better, by stem or by bowl? 4/4(Japanese)
Which holding a wine glass is better, by stem or by bowl? 3/4(Japanese)
Which holding a wine glass is better, by stem or by bowl? 2/4(Japanese)
Which holding a wine glass is better, by stem or by bowl? 1/4(Japanese)
