Why the Right Glass Makes All the Difference With Champagne

With the Christmas party season in full swing, chances are you’ll be clinking glasses and sipping champagne more than once. But before you grab the nearest plastic or Styrofoam cup, here’s something you should know: it could be ruining your champagne without you even realising it.

Studies have shown that the type of cup you drink champagne from can actually change how it tastes. Researchers at the Applied Research Laboratories at the University of Texas discovered that champagne bubbles behave very differently depending on the surface they touch. In simple terms, Glass lets champagne shine; plastic does not.

According to the study, the way bubbles form on Styrofoam is completely different from how they form in glass. And since bubbles play a big role in how champagne smells and tastes, this difference matters. When the bubbles don’t rise properly, the flavour doesn’t hit the same, meaning your celebratory sip could feel flat or dull.

Plastic cups have a similar effect. Experts explain that bubbles tend to stick to plastic walls, growing larger before they finally lift off. This might not sound like a big deal, but smaller, more active bubbles are what give good champagne its crisp, lively taste. When those bubbles are disrupted, even high-quality sparkling wine can lose its magic.

And that’s not the only mistake people make with their festive fizz. Storing champagne in the fridge for too long can also affect its flavour. While it’s perfectly fine to chill a bottle you plan to enjoy soon, keeping it in the fridge for weeks can slowly change how it tastes. The cold doesn’t preserve the sparkle the way many people think—it can actually dull it over time.

So this festive season, if you really want to enjoy your champagne the way it was meant to be enjoyed, remember two simple rules: use a proper glass and don’t over-chill it. Your taste buds—and your guests—will thank you.