We all know that there are several different types of wine glasses depending on what kind of wine you’re drinking. There are wider glasses for red wines, to let them breathe, and there are thinner glasses for white wine to help keep them chilled. There are also different types of glasses depending on the specific type of wine you want to drink.

Key Takeaways

• The bowl shape matters more than the stem, it stays the same whether or not the glass has a stem, and it’s the bowl that shapes aroma and aeration.
• Stemless glasses have a lower center of gravity, so they’re harder to knock over, and they’re easier to store and dishwasher-safe.
• Stemmed glasses keep wine cooler longer, since holding the stem instead of the bowl keeps your body heat away from the wine.

Almost all varietals of wines will have a different shaped wine glass that should be used if you want to get the most out of the wine itself, but there’s one difference in wine glasses that not a lot of people talk about and that is the stem.

A popular trend within the last 10-20 years has been wine glasses that do not have the stem on them. These glasses are flat on the bottom so that you can easily set them down and create a lower center of gravity for the glass which can help prevent spillage.

But, is there a reason you should choose a stemless wine glass vs. a stemmed glass?

When it comes to stemless wine glasses vs. stemmed wine glasses, in most cases you’re going to get the same bowl shape, which is really the most important part of the wine glass.

The bowl is where the wine sits and where you drink from. The shape of the bowl will change depending on which type of wine you’re drinking. Some bowls are designed to allow the wines to aerate more, some are designed to allow the aromas to move up towards your nose more, and some are designed to help keep the wine chilled.

So, whether you have a stem on the glass or not, will not change the bowl shape. If you’re looking to get the full wine experience, the bowl shape should match the type of wine you’re drinking, but if you’re just looking to drink a glass of wine, and don’t necessarily care about all the nuances that come with “the perfect glass of wine”, then any glass will do.

When it comes to the new trend of stemless wine glasses, there are some things you should know when comparing them to their stemmed counterparts.

Advantages of Stemless Glasses

The biggest difference, and possibly an advantage, of the stemless wine glasses, is that without the stem, the glass has a lower center of gravity, making it harder to knock over and spill. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever spilled a stemmed wine glass. Those glasses can easily tip over if grabbed incorrectly or knocked the wrong way. Having the glass sitting as close to the table as possible will reduce the chance of knocking it over and will make it harder to knock over if you were to hit it.

Another advantage to having stemless wine glasses is they are much easier to store. Not everyone has a wine rack or a dedicated area specifically for wine glasses. By reducing the height of the glasses they are now able to fit more easily inside cabinets or drawers depending on where you want to keep them. It also makes them much easier to wash in the dishwasher.

Finally, the stemless style seems to fit more with the way the world is today. They are more casual feeling and give off a much less formal feeling than traditional stemmed wine glasses.

Why Stemmed Glasses Still Have a Place

These all seem like great reasons to make the switch over to stemless wine glasses, but there are a few negatives.

The main drawback of using stemless glassware is that there is no stem to hold. Since most wines are to be served slightly cooler than room temperature, holding a glass by the stem can help prevent your body heat from causing the temperature to rise. When you use a stemless wine glass the only way to hold it is by the bowl itself. This is the main reason that wine purists and sommeliers still prefer to use stemmed wine glasses when drinking their wine, a point other wine and glassware sources back up as well.

The stem also provides a way to aerate the wine more elegantly as you swirl it around, but this is a personal preference.

When it comes to stemless wine glasses vs. stemmed wine glasses it all boils down to personal preference. If you’re going for something more casual and less likely to spill, then the stemless glasses are the way to go. However, if you’re looking to sport a more elegant look at your next dinner party, then we would recommend stemmed glasses.

Next time you’re tasting your way through Paso Robles, take a look at what’s in your hand. Plenty of tasting rooms pour into stemmed glasses to help keep whites and sparkling wines cooler through a full flight, while others lean casual with stemless glassware built for easy sipping on a patio. Either way, now you’ll know exactly why.

FAQ

Does a stemless wine glass affect the taste of wine?

Not directly, since the bowl shape (which affects aroma and aeration) stays the same with or without a stem. The main effect is temperature: holding a stemless glass by the bowl can let body heat warm the wine slightly faster than holding a stemmed glass by the stem.

Are stemless wine glasses dishwasher safe?

Generally, yes, and they’re often easier to wash than stemmed glasses since their shorter height makes them simpler to fit in a dishwasher or store in a cabinet or drawer.

Why do sommeliers prefer stemmed wine glasses?

Holding a stemmed glass by the stem keeps your hand away from the bowl, which helps prevent body heat from warming the wine, useful since most wines are meant to be served slightly cooler than room temperature. Stemmed glasses also make it easier to swirl the wine elegantly to release its aroma.

Is it better to use a stemless or stemmed wine glass?

It comes down to personal preference. Stemless glasses are more casual, harder to knock over, and easier to store, while stemmed glasses keep wine cooler longer and offer a more elegant, traditional look.