Stemless wine glasses are very different from traditional wine glasses. The bowl of stemless wine glasses is shaped just the same as traditional ones – minus, well, the stem.
When they first came out, they became controversial among wine enthusiasts because they are unconventional.
However, stemless wine glasses have become popular over the years. Does that mean that they are better than traditional wine glasses?
The truth is that one isn’t better than the other, but stemless wine glasses do have their benefits.
Here is a Short Comparison Between Stemless Wine Glasses and Traditional Wine Glasses:
Both stemless and traditional wine glasses have wide bowls that let air in to open up the flavors of the wine. However, traditional wine glasses have stems, so you do not project the warmth of your hand to the bowl that holds the wine. Therefore, the wine stays at the ideal temperature.
When Do You Use Stemless Wine Glasses?
Stemless wine glasses are made for an enjoyable wine drinking experience minus the fear of breaking the glass.
The thin stems of traditional wine glasses can be fragile and prone to breaking. The absence of stems in these glasses makes them fit better in your hands, thus decreasing the risk of dropping and breaking them.
Stemless wine glasses are sturdier and more stable. They are good for casual gatherings and parties. They are even good for everyday use.
You can also use them for picnics as their shape allows you to pack them securely.
Many airlines use stemless wine glasses because they are sturdier than traditional wine glasses. It makes for a safer and easier way of serving wine during flights.
Do Stemless Wine Glasses Make a Difference?
Stemless wine glasses are unconventional, and they can make a difference in your wine drinking experience.
Wine is meant to be served at below room temperature. The stem on traditional wine glasses functions to keep the wine at an ideal temperature. It prevents the projection of the warmth from your hands to the bowl. So it prevents the wine from becoming warm.
Many wine drinkers swirl the wine to let air in further to open up its flavors. They do this by holding the wine at the stem. Swirling the wine by holding the bowl looks less elegant and just plain awkward.
Also, stemless wine glasses have no use for wine glass charms. Although these are not necessary, they add some fun to wine glasses. You can use glass charms to decorate wine glasses during themed parties.
They are also a good way to “mark” your wine glass, so it is easier to identify them, especially during large gatherings.
These are the differences that stemless wine glasses make, but other than that, the primary functions of wine glasses with lesser risks of dropping and breaking the glass.
What Are the Advantages of Stemless Wine Glasses?
Despite the lack of stems, these wine glasses have some advantages.
The stem can be quite fragile, and its lack makes the wine glasses sturdier. They are easier to hold, so the risk of you accidentally letting the wine glass slip, drop, and break is less than if you are using a traditional one.
Stemless wine glasses also have a shorter height, so there is less risk of accidentally knocking it off the table and shattering it – which can happen a lot.
The shape of stemless wine glasses makes them easier for you to store in your cupboard or cabinet. They can help you save space, as the stem alone can occupy space big enough for one stemless wine glass.
Stemless wine glasses are also very versatile. Apart from using them to serve wines, you can use them for any drink. You can use statement pieces for any gathering – even if you are not serving wine. You can use them for water, cocktails, and sparkling drinks.
They are also easier to clean. Many stemless wine glasses are top-rack dishwasher safe, so you can be saved from the hassle of manually washing them after hosting a party.
Are Stemless Wine Glasses for Red or White Wine?
Stemless wine glasses are good to be used for any wine.
Stemless wine glasses are quite versatile. You can use them for casual gatherings, and they are also good for formal occasions.
The main purpose of the stem is to keep wine at below temperature, which is ideal.
Since stemless wine glasses cannot do that, it is best to take note of these temperatures when serving specific wine, so you still get to drink them at their ideal temperature.
- Shiraz – 64°F or 18°C
- Cabernet Sauvignon – 63°F or 17°C
- Bordeaux – 64°F or 18°C
- Rioja – 61°F or 16°C
- Pinot Noir – 61°F or 16°C
- Chianti – 59°F or 15°C
- Zinfandel – 59°F or 15°C
- Rose – 54°F or 12°C
- Beaujolais – 54°F or 12°C
- Viognier – 52°F or 11°C
- Chardonnay – 48°F or 9°C
- Riesling – 47°F or 8°C
- Champagne – 45°F or 7°C
As long as you serve your wine with stemless wine glasses at these temperatures, you would still get to enjoy them as you would if you served them in traditional wine glasses.
Another tip is to avoid holding the wine glass if you are not drinking. Set it down if you are not sipping from your glass. This is to prevent the warmth from your hand from warming up the wine.
Are Stemless Wine Glass Considered Tacky?
While stemless wine glasses are far from the traditional ones in terms of appearance, they are not tacky. They are okay to be used for formal occasions.
A stemless wine glass made of crystal, with an elegant shape, can look very stylish at a table setting or on a bar top. They have that hint of mature sophistication.
Do Good Restaurants Use Stemless Wine Glasses?
Whether restaurants use stemless wine glasses or not depends entirely on the restaurant. Since stemless wine glasses have revolutionized and changed wine drinking, many restaurants have been using them for practical reasons.
The choice of glassware does not define if the restaurant is good or not. As long as the restaurant serves wine at an ideal temperature and makes adjustments for the lack of stem, it is perfectly fine to use stemless wine glasses.
Of course, there are still a lot of more formal restaurants that use traditional wine glasses – especially if their cuisine is more suitable with wine. Some restaurants have recommendations for pairings on food and wine, so you can expect these restaurants to use traditional wine glasses.
There are still a lot of wine enthusiasts or connoisseurs who are critical about using stemless wine glasses. For them, traditional wine glasses are the way to go.
When choosing a wine glass at home, it is entirely up to you to choose which of the two would be better to get if you want a more elegant vibe when entertaining guests. Go for traditional wine glasses.
If being practical is more your priority, go for stemless wine glasses. After all, you are the host, and you are the one who will be cleaning up after a party. It would be nice just to put the glasses in the dishwasher and relax after hosting a gathering, right?
Sources:
What’s Good and Bad About Stemless Wine Glasses
What are Stemless Wine Glasses?