Many months ago, I wrote an article on wine glasses and how to
care for them. A charming woman recalled the column and asked for
my thoughts on the stemless wine glasses that started to come out a
few years ago. She had encountered one for the first time at a
dinner party a few weeks ago.
Many months ago, I wrote an article on wine glasses and how to care for them. A charming woman recalled the column and asked for my thoughts on the stemless wine glasses that started to come out a few years ago. She had encountered one for the first time at a dinner party a few weeks ago.
As I have mentioned before, I am not a purist by any means. I like trying new things and letting the experiences dictate how I perceive things. This certainly goes for the wine I buy, drink and share with friends.
Stemless wine glasses have gained in popularity, so let’s examine some of the pros and cons that often come up in conversation when looking at the stem vs. stemless debate:
Pros
– The stemless wine glass is an approachable component for one who wants to enjoy wine. Similar to a tumbler, many folks remember this is how their grandparents or parents enjoyed wine, family-style with no pretense. Many Italian restaurants will favor a tumbler over any wine glass.
– Even though stemless ware has been around for a while, it is still considered trendy and cutting-edge. For many, the glass makes as much of a conversation piece as the wine itself.
– The compact design allows one to store and clean the glasses with greater ease. For those that put their glasses in the dishwasher, the stemless will fit on the top rack. Stemless ware is often considered a good choice for everyday use.
n Without a stem, the glass balances better on a table. Less accidents, breakage and spills.
Cons
– Food and wine complement each other perfectly, but if you are trying to eat while drinking with a stemless, you are bound to get an array of smudges and fingerprints all over the glass. Holding the glass in your hand hinders the visual pleasure associated with seeing the wine’s color and density.
n For individuals with small hands, the bulbous bottom may produce a challenge for holding with only one hand. If the small hand also gets greasy, you may end up with more breakage than anticipated.
– Heat from your hand may be transferred to the bowl of the glass, thus warming the wine too quickly or too much.
– Raising your glass and toasting to celebrate is more difficult, as is swirling the wine.
It took me a while to get used to the stemless, but I do own a set of six glasses. I do like them in casual situations or when I am enjoying a glass of wine in the comfort of home. I still am a fan of wine glasses with stems and tend to pull these out more often, especially if the event is a bit more formal.
Riedel, the most prominent name in crystal glassware, has an assortment of stemless wine glasses that they have dubbed the “O” series. The “O” series was the brainchild of Maximilian Riedel, his first creation as an 11th generation glass maker.
The Riedel company trademark is to create a wine glass (whether stemmed or stemless) that has a specific size, bowl shape and opening that that will enhance the varietals of wine to their fullest potential, both in aroma and taste. I have not had the opportunity to explore this claim in great detail, but some people do swear by it.
Many stores carry the “O” series and you can purchase a two-pack for around $20. There are other producers of stemless ware too, so one is not limited.
Stay cool with some great wine, a great way to beat the heat.
Cheers!
