While all sparkling wines share effervescence, they do not share the same aromatic intensity, structure, or textural profile. For sommeliers, glass shape is a precise tool— one that controls how carbon dioxide is released, how aromas are expressed, and how the wine moves across the palate. That’s why different styles of sparkling wine are often served in different glasses.
Below we share how three Zalto glass shapes are used to highlight specific attributes of a sparkling wine.
Zalto Champagne Flute: Preserving Effervescence and Focus
The defining feature of the flute is its narrow bowl and small surface area. This design slows the dissipation of carbon dioxide, allowing bubbles to remain finer and more persistent over time. Aromas are directed upward in a concentrated stream, emphasizing freshness and high-toned notes.Sommeliers choose the flute when effervescence, clarity, and visual presentation are primary goals, particularly for wines where aromatic complexity is secondary to lift and vibrancy.
Best suited for: youthful sparkling wines, aperitif service, and styles where mousse and freshness are central to the experience.
Zalto Dessert Glass: Balancing Aromatics and Mousse
The tulip-shaped dessert glass expands slightly at the bowl before narrowing at the rim. This geometry increases the wine’s surface area compared to a flute, encouraging greater aromatic development, while still maintaining control over CO₂ release.This balance allows the wine to express both aromatic complexity and texture without excessive loss of effervescence. Subtle secondary aromas—yeast, nut, stone fruit—become more apparent, and the palate perceives greater breadth.
Best suited for: traditional-method sparkling wines, vintage Champagne, and styles with extended lees aging.
Zalto White Wine Glass: Maximizing Aroma and Palate Expression
With its broader bowl and wider opening, the white wine glass offers the greatest aromatic release and oxygen interaction of the three. This expanded surface area allows volatile compounds to express themselves more fully, revealing layered aromatics that might remain muted in narrower shapes. Carbon dioxide dissipates more quickly, softening the perception of bubbles and shifting focus away from effervescence. As a result, texture, structure, and mid-palate weight become more pronounced, giving the wine a more still-wine–like profile. Sommeliers select this glass when evaluating or serving sparkling wines with depth and maturity, where complexity and nuance are central and effervescence supports the experience rather than defines it.
Best suited for: aged sparkling wines, single-vineyard bottlings, and gastronomic styles intended for food pairing.
Zalto Carafe 67: The Decanter for Sparkling Wines
With the breadth of sparkling wines options these days—from grower-producer gems to aged Grand Cru Champagnes—a decanter is a must for every wine enthusiast. A centerpiece for any celebratory table, the Carafe 67, Zalto’s newest carafe, is both refined and balanced. Its elongated taper and narrow neck create a poised silhouette, flawlessly suited for decanting sparkling wines with sophistication and precise control. The ball "closure" rests on the rim to protect against external influences, and to capture the decanting effect and the aroma of the valuable content without allowing the bubbles to dissipate too quickly.
Glass shape influences how sparkling wine releases carbon dioxide, how aromas are concentrated or dispersed, and how texture is perceived on the palate. By choosing between a flute, a tulip, or a white wine glass, sommeliers can emphasize freshness, complexity, or depth- aligning the glass with the character of the wine.
In professional service, the glass is not an afterthought. It is part of the tasting decision.