How do you set wine glasses when laying the table?

Placing wine glasses on the table is a part of setting the table that deserves more attention than it often gets. When do you place the glasses, how do you hold them without leaving fingerprints, how do you prevent a messy arrangement, and what do you do if the glasses are not completely dry yet? With a few practical habits, you can set a table that looks neat without much extra effort.

When do you place the glasses on the table?

Only place wine glasses on the table when the rest of the table is already set. Plates, cutlery, and napkins should already be there before you place the glasses. This prevents you from having to maneuver past cutlery with glasses in hand and reduces the risk of knocking them over. For an informal meal, the order matters less, but for a formally set table, the order of setting is also a matter of efficiency.

Also, only place glasses on the table just before dinner, not hours in advance. Glasses that stand on the table for a long time collect dust and sometimes absorb ambient odors from the room. This affects the taste of the wine you later pour into them.

How do you hold wine glasses when setting the table?

Always hold wine glasses by the stem or the base, never by the bowl. Fingerprints on the bowl are visible on clear crystal glass and give an untidy impression at the table. Moreover, you transfer heat to the bowl if you hold it, which is undesirable if you plan to pour white wine or champagne that needs to be served cold.

If you want to move multiple glasses at once, use a tray with a soft lining. This is safer than balancing multiple glasses in one hand, where the stems clink together and the risk of breakage increases.

Check the glasses before placing them

Inspect each glass briefly before placing it on the table. Hold the glass up to the light and check for water streaks, spots, or dust particles. Do not place a glass with streaks or a greasy film on the table. Wash it again or polish it with a clean glass cloth before placing it.

Also, check the rim of the glass for hairline cracks or small damages. Do not place a damaged glass on the table: a hairline crack can expand if the glass is filled, especially with cold or warm liquid. You can read how to clean and check wine glasses in how to clean wine glasses.

Arrangement: even and symmetrical

For a table with multiple guests, an even arrangement of the glasses is a detail that makes the whole look neater. Place the glasses in the same position at each place setting: to the right above the knife, at an equal distance from the edge of the plate and at an equal distance from the edge of the table. This does not have to be measured with a ruler, but a quick glance along the table after setting helps to correct any outliers.

If there are multiple glasses per place setting, arrange them in a fixed order. More about which glass goes where can be read in where wine glasses are placed on the table.

What do you do if glasses are not completely dry yet?

Do not place glasses that are still damp on the table. A wet glass leaves a ring on the tablecloth and feels unpleasant to hold. Always dry glasses completely with a clean, lint-free glass cloth before placing them. Pay extra attention to the base of the glass: often some moisture remains there that you don't immediately see but which will leave a mark on the tablecloth or placemat.

You can read how to dry wine glasses without streaks in how to wash wine glasses.

Placing a carafe on the table: when and where?

If you are serving wine from a carafe, place the carafe on the table after the glasses are already set. The carafe should be in the middle of the table or slightly to the side so that everyone can reach it. Use a coaster or a small dish under the carafe to prevent stains on the tablecloth. A drop of wine on the bottom of the carafe is almost inevitable when pouring.

At a formal dinner, the carafe is not placed on the table but is poured from by the host or a waiter. At an informal dinner on the table, a carafe is cozy: guests can pour themselves, and the carafe becomes part of the table arrangement. View Mémoire's collection of decanters and carafes for models that look good on a set table.

Clearing wine glasses during dinner

At a multi-course dinner, glasses are sometimes changed between courses. An empty glass from a previous wine should be cleared before you place the new glass or before you pour a new wine. Hold the glass by the stem when you take it off the table, so you don't leave fingerprints on the bowl of the new glass you place. At a formal dinner, used glasses are never removed from guests without a new glass being immediately provided in their place.

View Mémoire's collection of wine glasses for glasses whose shape and weight make them pleasant to handle when setting and clearing the table.