You’ve been holding your wine glass wrong! Expert reveals the elegant way to pick up drinks at your Christmas party 

• Experts have shared a guide for attending and hosting a Christmas party
• READ MORE: This is how long it will take to burn off Christmas dinner calories

One of the many delights of the Christmas season is a buzzing social calendar filled with work and party events.

But as you prepare to drink and feast away, two experts have urged revellers to master the art of ‘festive entertaining’, and most especially the etiquette of wine-glass holding.

British etiquette expert Jo Bryant has detailed the ‘elegant’ way to hold a wine glass in public, while Master of Wine David Gill, an ambassador of Australian wine Andrew Peace, has shared top tips for serving alcohol at a festive party.    

The wine maestro also tackled old age questions about the infamous BYOB – bring your own bottle – and whether it’s ever acceptable to get tipsy at a dinner party.

Here, the experts reveal the ‘posh way’ to hold a wine glass, plus tips on how to serve alcohol the right way. 

British etiquette expert Jo Bryant has detailed the ‘elegant’ way to hold a wine glass in public, while Master of Wine David Gill, an ambassador of Australian wine Andrew Peace, has shared top tips for serving alcohol at a festive party (stock image)

How should you hold your wine glass?

This often overlooked rule is ever so slight, but can make a world of difference when impressing your peers. 

So, while holding a wine glass a certain way may be viewed as pretentious, it is also more sensible in the long run, explained Jo. She said: ‘It’s more practical and elegant to hold all wine glasses by the stem. 

‘It keeps white wines such as Chardonnays cold and stops any messy fingerprints from getting on the bowl of the glass’.

However, the rule becomes slightly more complex depending on whether the wine is red or white.

‘If the wine is red but slightly too cold, holding the bowl can help to warm it up slightly and take the chill off, releasing those all important aromas into the glass’ said David.

‘But when it comes to tasting the wine, hold by the stem and swirl the glass. Again, you’ll release the aromas and unlock the flavours. But remember to do this gently to ensure you don’t spill your wine onto your clothes or people standing by’.

What glassware should wines be served in?

With the various shapes, sizes and patterns of wine glasses available on the market, understanding what beverage goes where can certainly get confusing. 

While the experts encourage wine lovers to do things the proper way, there is some leeway, providing the presentation is spot on. 

Jo said: ‘Officially, the rule is bigger red wine glasses for reds to allow the aromas to breathe, and smaller white wine glasses for whites.

‘However, we don’t all have those to hand, so just make sure your glassware is clean, chip-free and sparkling, whether it’s a stemmed glass or a continental-style tumbler.

And when it comes to bubbly, it can be served in either a champagne flute or tulip wine glass.

BYOB – Bring your own bottle

Bring your own bottle – or BYOB – is a sort of informal instruction given to guests encouraging them to bring their own alcohol to an event.

But here’s where things get tricky. BYOB is sometimes an understated rule, nevertheless one that should be adhered to, said Jo. 

She explained: ‘You should never turn up empty-handed, and often a bottle of wine is the perfect present for your host. 

‘Better bottles should be kept as a gift rather than be shared around lots of people, but generally it’s fine to enjoy it there and then for most bottles – but that is purely at the discretion of the host’.

David added: ‘The wine is entirely for the recipient though, so don’t get offended if it’s not served.

‘Never expect to drink what you take unless it’s a stated “Bring a Bottle” party or you have specific requirements. For example, you’re moderating your alcohol and want something with a lower abv (alcohol by volume)’.

Master of Wine David Gill, an ambassador of Australian wine Andrew Peace, has shared top tips for serving alcohol the proper way when at a festive party (stock image)

What drinks should you serve at a dinner party?

One of the many conundrums a host faces when planning a festive party is which drinks to serve.

From teetotallers to wine lovers and even dieters, trying to please everyone can grow pretty stressful.

‘Try to have a small selection of wines: red, white, rosé and maybe even different levels of sweetness, but don’t go overboard’ advised David. 

‘Above all, try to ensure there’s an interesting non-alcoholic selection available too for drivers and people who don’t drink, or aren’t drinking’. 

And if you want to go the extra mile and get a little fancy, try matching the wine to your food menu. That is sure to go down a treat with party guests.

What are the rules for getting tipsy at a Christmas  party?

According to the experts there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the amount of alcohol you consume at your Christmas party.

However Jo warned that both guests and hosts should never ’embarrass’ themselves or ‘over-do it’, and to drink responsibly.

If you feel yourself bordering over the line of responsible fun, the expert advised taking a quick pause and filling up on a glass of water. 

David added: ‘Try to drink mindfully and really enjoy the company and food first and let the wine enhance that’.

How should wine be served?

Last but not least, Jo touched on the right way to pour wine, as well as how to top up guests’ glasses. 

She said: ‘Keep your guests well topped-up, and always pour their glasses before refilling your own.

‘Avoid resting the bottle on the glass. Hover it a few centimetres above instead. Don’t lean over people, approach them from the side and always ask if they want more rather than just assuming’.

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