What is the correct amount of wine to pour into a wine glass? Or other drinks, even non-alcoholic?

Question

I have sometimes been given a glass of wine that was too full. I had to sip it quite quickly so it would not spill easily. (clothes, tablecloth, etc)

Also, I know that brandy and cognac are poured so there is a little in the bottom of a balloon glass for sniffing too. I have even seen red wines poured this way recently. OK? Correction?

And, what about big frosted drinks ... just about an inch of headroom, is that correct? with room for straws and garnish? Floating fruit & little umbrellas? (help!)

I have a theory that people do this because they don't wish to be thought stingy ... but it is awkward. I'd rather not worry about spillage!

Thank you!

I am really surprised about those umbrellas!

Answer 1

A pour of wine is about 5 ounces. For red wines, and in the proper wine glass this is about to the point where the glass is at its widest point. Usually less than half full. For white wines it is a little higher, but still about 60% full.

Cheap house wines are often poured into a narrow wine glass that holds only 6-7 ounces anyway so naturally the glass is more full but the glass is also easier to handle.

The best way to measure a pour of Cognac is to hold the snifter on its side almost parallel to the ground and fill till the curved side till just the bottom arc is almost full. Then tilt the glass back upright while pouring just a little more. This will be a good 1.5-2 ounce pour, and will cover the bottom of the glass to its widest point. There is no need to be more generous than that. You actually inhale and savor a cognac more with your nose than your mouth anyway.

Champagne flutes should be filled to within a half inch to an inch of the top.

Mixed drinks should also fill the glass (within reason). The thicker liquids or abundant ice gives structure to the drink, so it is much harder to spill. In this case less filled is considered stingy.

The one conundrum is the martini which because of the shape of the glass and the nature of the drink is filled quite high and is quite prone to spillage. The solution isn't to mega-size the glass, just to understand the delicate nature of the drink and to be careful. It is however a drink meant to be sipped not swilled and if it does spill; it is usually clear alcohol that evaporates quickly.

Enjoy.



I have friends that serve wine in these heavy colored glass goblets that flute the top edge outward not inward. It is a completely inappropriate glass. Fortunately it isn't that large of a glass. It is also generally overfilled. But what to do ... I don't think they even own a proper wine glass.


One more thing which I think it is a more American vs. European thing. In Europe it is usual that you serve a beer or a pitcher of beer with a think head. The head is preferred as being proof of the freshness and quality of brew. In many places in the US if you serve a beer, by the glass or pitcher, with a huge head it is seen as a rip off. The feeling I guess is that the customer is being short changed by being served foam - air really - instead of beer. The same idea of bad value applies to being sold a soda at a restaurant or theater that is overly full of ice. By extension then I think that people who don't understand wines and mixed drinks feel that they have to fill glasses full so as to not appear as being an ungenerous host, when it actually shows their ignorance and utter lack of social grace.

Answer 2

Actually everyone here is wrong! Just kidding, but in reality, when really trying to taste wine appropriately, only about a quarter of a glass or less is all you want to pour at a time. This allows you to swirl the wine aggressively to liberate its aroma. Even half a full glass is too much to do this.

Most professional wine glasses are quite large (like the Riedel Sommelier series of handblown glass) so even a barely full glass is quite a bit of wine.

In restaurants, if I am going to order wine by the glass, which I rarely do, I will often ask for a separate glass once they bring the filled up glass. That way I can pour some into the other glass a bit at a time.

Answer 3

Well I know red wines are supposed to be in a bigger glass more like a goblet so it can breathe and also so it will stay warmer. Red wines are supposed to be drank at a warmer temperature than white wine. White wine in a smaller glass. I think you are right on the money with the inch for the the head for the beer. ( or frosted drinks) About 3/4 is full. Brandy and cognac are served in a small glass because they are potent and are meant to be sipped..

Cheers

Answer 4

Wine glass 3/4 full
Water glass 1/2 full
Beer glass - so the foam is at the top lip
Whiskey - 3/4 full
Brandy, cognac - little in the bottom, round bottom to hold in your hands and warm - enhances flavors.
Frosted drinks - 1 inch from top, add garnish and straw oh don't forget the umbrella :)

Stingy isn't the issue, being able to handle the glass when serving or drinking is the issue.

Answer 5

oh my. a wine glass should only contain 3-5 ounces. id say filled 1-2 inches from the top of the glass. yes one inch of headroom on frosted drinks is correct. the umbrellas have nothing to do with how full the glass is, it just makes it look nice.

Answer 6

For wines the glass should only be filled barely half full.
For cognacs, or brandy, fill 1/4 to 1/3 full.
Other drinks, such as frosted drinks, martinis, etc, they should still only come up with an inch to spare at the top.

Answer 7

Legally in a bar in Britain a glass of wine should be a measurement of 125ml. In a restaurant when pouring a glass of wine from a bottle it is usually standard to fill just over a third depending on the size of the glass. If you dont want your wine to continue to be topped up - just let the wine waiter know. This does happen and they shouldnt mind - alot of people dont want to drink more than one glass especially if they are driving.

Answer 8

For a standard wine goblet, it's a half glass or less. (The Culinary Institute taught me that) For tastings it's maybe a quarter glass. And yes, frosted drinks should have a little headroom, maybe not a full inch, but enough for the garnish.

Answer 9

Some are in AA recovering from alcohol addiction. Some are designated drivers and don't want to hurt anyone by driving drunk. Others want to be in control so they can take someone home and have their way with them. Did you watch the ER show where the doctor was taken home by a superior and she was so drunk that the guy took advantage of her? I keep wondering if she will turn up pregnant in a new ER show if the strike ever gets settled we just may find out sometime in 2008.

Answer 10

There are two standard sizes of wine glass, one is 12.5 cl. and the other is 25 cl. leaving 5 to 10 mm at the top of the glass to avoid spilling the drink.