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

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!

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.

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