When you think of a wine glass odds on you’d draw one with a stem, but there is the option to have stemless wine glasses. The debate between the two probably comes down to two crucial elements. Firstly, are you less likely to spill your wine in a stemless glass? Secondly, will you overheat your wine without being able to hold it by the stem? That is after all what the stem is for, to hold the wine glass. We’re going to take a look at the differences between them to decide if choosing stemless or traditional wine glasses changes your entire wine-drinking experience at home.
What are Traditional Wine Glasses?
Vessels to drink wine from have been around for a very long time, dating further back than the Egyptians, but traditional wine glasses as we know them today may have come from Venice, Italy around the 1400s[1]. Venice was at the heart of the glass blowing world then, you can still see glass blowing in Venice today on the island of Burano.
The wine glass as we know it, with the stem, bowl, and foot is engineered perfectly to give the best wine drinking experience. The stem is there to keep your hands off the bowl of the glass, to prevent your body heat from messing with the temperature of the wine. The shape of the bowl is also engineered to help enhance the wine’s aroma and flavor. The foot acts to balance the glass.
But here’s the downside: they’re fragile. Thin stems on traditional wine glasses can make drinking difficult, even though they look sleek, modern and beautiful to the eye. With such delicate designs stems lose their functional purpose and you find your wine glasses breaking easily. They are also not really versatile enough for you to take in the garden or survive the swich of a cat tail.
Depending on the style of the glass you buy, you’ll find them high maintenance, even though they help to bring out the flavor and bouquet of your wine and look elegant.
What are Stemless Wine Glasses?
Stemless wine glasses look a bit like tumblers, but with a fancier shape. Perfect for relaxing get togethers. One of the best features about stemless wine glasses is that they’re just so practical and it takes a lot more to tip one over. They also go in the dishwasher without the concern of snapping the stem. They don’t have a stem. But here’s the catch: since there’s no stem, you’re basically cupping the glass and heating your drink.
Stemless glasses have a modern versatility that traditional wine glasses don’t have. They’re perfect for those casual, relaxed moments when you don’t want to fuss with fancy glassware. Stemless glasses are also amazing for outdoor occasions at home, picnics, backyard parties, you name it. Just be careful about leaving them out in the sun too long, or you’ll end up with a lukewarm drink.
Pros and Cons of Traditional Wine Glasses
Traditional wine glasses feel special and holding one makes you feel just a little bit sophisticated. Using them to enjoy your drink at home though does have pros and cons when there is a different design available.
The Pros
- They keep your wine at the right temperature.
- The bowl and design for different varieties of wine help the aromas of what you drink gather. Then when you take a sip you get that moment where you taste your wine and get all the notes, flavors and smells you’re meant to get.
- They look elegant, and just bring that touch of luxury to your drinking experience no matter what you pour in your wine glass. Sitting at home with a traditional wine glass elevates your drinking experience to a luxury moment.
- Perfect for dinner parties. They look good on the table, but they bring flavor to the drinks you serve too. They can also elevate a quick casual meal, or even impromptu takeout between friends.
The Cons
- The stems make this style of glass delicate. They snap very easily, making washing and handling for maintenance nerve wracking, especially if you have expensive wine glasses.
- The stem also makes your glass more likely to fall over, spilling the contents. This is particularly true of light-weight wine glasses and wine glasses with narrow and ornate stems, which look beautiful but are not practical to drink from and maintain.
- Traditional wine glasses are balanced by the foot, so if you put them down on even a slightly uneven surface they are likely to spill, tip and chip.
- Not easy to store in the kitchen as they can clink together and break. May need to invest in specific wine glass storage to store wine glasses safely.
- High-maintenance.
Pros and Cons of Stemless Wine Glasses
Practical, but less of a luxury feel when bought in glass, stemless wineglasses in other materials can have a much luxury appearance. Let’s look at the pros and cons.
The Pros
- Easier to handle and less likely to fall over in comparison to traditional wine glasses
- Easy to look after and maintain. There’s no anxiety putting stemless wine glasses in the dishwasher when they are dishwasher safe.
- They don’t get easily knocked over by pets or a surface wobble.
- They look modern, sleek, and sophisticated.
- Easy to store in a cupboard without having to think about investing in different storage methods
- Easy to use outdoors as they don’t have a problem balancing on uneven ground surfaces at picnics, or wobbly or even garden tables.
- Versatile for serving other drinks.
The Cons
- Your hand warms the wine, which is a problem if you enjoy drinking crisp white wines.
- There’s not the same luxury and elegant feel with stemless glasses and it can just downgrade your experience.
- They don’t have the same wow presentation factor if you are holding meals at home for gatherings where your table layout is a centrepiece and forms a big part of your gathering.
- Not good for doing wine tasting at home.
- They show fingerprints as you drink.
- If you like to swirl your wine to enjoy the notes the experience isn’t as good.
Which Wine Glass is Best for You?
The question of which style of wine glass you should choose is incredibly personal. It’s a bit like when you choose your coffee mug, it depends on what kind of wine drinker you are and the experience you are going for. There is not a right answer for everyone, you have to choose the wine glass that meets your needs and elevates your experience.
Ask yourself: Are you the kind of person who loves a formal dinner party, where everything is just so? Or are you more of a casual sipper, who likes to drink wine while watching Netflix?
If you’re really into wine tasting and want to get the most out of every bottle, traditional wine glasses are likely going to give you the best experience. They’re designed to enhance the flavor and aroma, just be prepared for hand-washing and careful storage. Best for people who enjoy white wines and rose the most.
On the other hand, if you enjoy a casual drinking and prefer a relaxed experience without the anxiety of ‘mind the wine glass’, stemless glasses are probably best. They’re practical, easy to clean, and versatile. Best for red wine drinkers.
Other Considerations When Choosing Wine Glasses
There are a few other things to take into consideration when deciding which glass is best for you.
Material
The material your glass is made from not only influences the look of your glass, but also the taste of your wine. Crystal tends to be thinner, giving you that beautiful “ting” sound when you toast, but it’s also more fragile and expensive. Glass is thicker and more durable, but our wine will taste different in crystal glasses. Plastic wine glasses are great for outdoor events as they are less likely to smash. Other materials like copper or insulated wine glasses impact the taste, the temperature and your overall experience.
Size and Shape of Bowl
The size and shape of the bowl impacts the taste and there are different glasses for different varieties of wine so you can get the most out of your drink. If you enjoy wine and drink it often, having the glasses to enhance the taste of your favorite variety may be a worthwhile investment.
Storage
Traditional glasses with stems take up more space, and you must be careful with them, especially if you’re storing them in a cabinet. Do you have the space for traditional wine glasses in your cabinets, particularly if you have a small kitchen or narrow cabinets?
Conclusion
The questions of stemless or stemmed wine glasses really does just boil down to whether you like your glasses standing tall with a stem or not. Picking the best options for your needs is the best way to decide whether traditional or stemless wine glasses are best,
At the end of the day, wine is all about enjoying the moment, whether it’s at a fancy dinner party or on your couch in sweatpants. Pick the glass that makes you feel good and don’t be afraid to experiment.
