Which Wines To Be Served In A Stemless Wine Glass?
There are several reasons that many love drinking their wines in stemless wine glasses. One is convenience. No worries of spills when you feel like gesticulating when talking and accidental breaking of the stem. No extra space needed to store stemmed glasses. They also fit well in the dishwasher so you have more time to spend where it matters.
Almost any type of wine can be served in stemless wine glasses but the best types are those that are bold, earthy, and dry because stemless wine glasses give out a vibe of boldness that stemmed wine glasses lack. Medium-bodied Syrah and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon are good red wines to serve in stemless glasses. Dry Rose and dry Viognier are also good wines to serve in stemless wine glasses.
These are wines that are best served in stemless wine glasses.
Syrah is made from red wine grapes grown in France while Shiraz is made with the same red wine grape grown in Australia and South Africa. This is a spicy, earthy and bold wine with firm tannins so expect more astringent taste in these wines. The bold combination of aromas and flavors make it a very interesting wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the most well-known wine in the world. Dry and medium- to full-bodied, these are also earthy and bold with strong aromas of dark fruits, spices, tobacco, and leather. It takes longer to aerate because of the tight tannins, usually at least 30 minutes. Swirling also helps to soften the tannins further. Cabernet Sauvignon is a varietal of Bordeaux that also includes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
Crisp and dry is the best way to describe the rosé wines that are best served in stemless wine glasses. When you can't decide whether to take the red or the white, better settle for something in between that tastes just as amazing. Dry rosé wines work best for stemless wine glasses.
Viognier & Chardonnay are dry white wines that could be served in stemless glasses. In fact, Riedel, one of the reputed stemware makers, has come up with a special Riedel stemless wine glass for Viognier and Chardonnay. Viognier is more aromatic with its peach, tangerine, and honeysuckle while Chardonnay is more subtle with its apple, lemons, and tropical fruits like star fruit aroma. Even if they differ in the aromatic profile, they are both full-bodied, making them good wines to be served in stemless wine glasses.
Stemless wine glasses can be used for all kinds of wines, even champagne. The good thing about stemless wine glasses is that they are very versatile that can be used in formal and outdoor settings.
Word of caution: stay with stemmed glasses if you're serving barbeque as it tends to get messy. You don't want your wine glass to look gross with all that barbeque sauces on your fingers.
As a general rule, whites are served at a colder temperature, usually icy cold compared to red wines.
During the summer and especially outdoors, it is best to serve red wines because they are better when a little warm (but not summery warm, keep it below 18 degrees Celsius), unlike the white wines. Without the stem to buffer your wine and your hand, serve your red wines chilled. It will get to the right temperature with both the ambient temperature and your hand warming it.
Need some tips on how to be a proper lady even when holding a stemless wine glass? Read more here. And remember how we said stemless wine glasses are very versatile? Here’s the thing, it does not have to be used for wine only. Think more. Broke a wine glass and it’s beyond any salvaging? Think again. Salvage them and make some broken glass candles for a romantic dinner setting.
There are still naysayers about stemless wine glasses, arguing that stemmed glasses are still the best way to go, especially during formal settings. As the host, it is your job to make the party pleasurable to your guests but at the same time, easy enough for you. After all, you will be the one who will have to clean up after everyone left. It is better to be able to stuff all those dirtied glasses into the dishwasher and put up your feet a bit as you enjoy the happy feeling of having hosted a successful party with friends.