The Great Debate: Stemmed vs. Stemless Wine Glasses

Within the wine community there is a stigma surrounding the use of stemless wine glasses. But is it justified? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of both glass styles to help you choose what is right for you.

Stemless

A more recent trend within the wine community is the creation of the stemless wine glass. The motivation behind its creation was to give a more casual spin to wine that would speak to the average consumer; growing the wine community as a whole.

When it comes to stemless glassware, the lack of stem is both its biggest advantage and downfall. On the positive side of things, the lack of stem gives these glasses have a lower center of gravity overall greater stability. This makes them less likely to spill or break.

The disadvantage is that without a stem you are forced to hold onto the bowl of the glass. Not only does this create unsightly smudges, but it also increases the temperature of the wine the longer you hold onto it. As wine warms it becomes less enjoyable to consume, and the flavors within it run the risk of becoming tainted.

Stemmed

If you were to ask a room full of people to draw you a picture of a wine glass, the majority would draw you one with a stem on it. The reason is that this style of glass is the most widely adopted within the wine industry, with its roots dating back to 1730.

One advantage of the stem is that it assist in your ability to swirl the wine. Why is this important? When you swirl wine you help to separate the aromas within it, making more subtle flavors easier to detect. This enhances the overall smell and taste of the wine.

The other main advantage, previously discussed in the stemless section above, is the ability to maintain wine temperature. By holding onto the stem instead of the bowl of the glass, you don't transfer heat from your hand into the wine. This helps preserve the temperature, and more importantly, the flavor of the wine.

Final Verdict

While there are plenty of strong opinions about this topic, the best thing to do is just use the glass that works best for your situation. If you are in a more formal setting, or simply don't want to risk tainting the wine, then go with a stemmed glass.

However if you are in a more casual and chaotic setting, perhaps with pets and kids around, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with a stemless glass. If you are worried about the warmth from your hand ruining the wine, you can always invest in double-walled glasses to better insulate the wine and help minimize that risk.