We Tested 15 Stemless Wine Glasses to Find the Best Options for Your Next Dinner Party
A lot of wine was consumed to put each glass through our Lab tests.
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Stemless wine glasses combine elegance and practicality. Without the long stem, they can be easier to drink from and simpler to clean (many are even dishwasher-safe). These glasses are best suited for red wines or beverages unaffected by slight warming from body heat, but they're versatile enough for water, cocktails or even an iced coffee
Traditional wine glasses include a stem to facilitate swirling and prevent the wine from warming by holding the bowl. However, a well-designed stemless wine glass should feel stable in your hand, allowing for effortless swirling, and feature a bowl shape similar to its stemmed counterpart that enhances the aromas and flavors of your wine.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, I tested 15 different stemless wine glasses side by side. I'm a reviews analyst who has tested glassware and wine products and even started my career working for a wine distributor, conducting dozens of large-scale wine tastings. For this test, I worked with three other Lab pros, including Good Housekeeping Recipe Editor Susan Choung, who covers all our wine content at GH. We tested each glass for wine taste and flow, stability, ease of cleaning, comfort of drinking and holding, and more. We also enlisted a group of 13 consumer testers to put the stemless wine glasses to the test in their daily lives. Read on to find out which stemless wine glasses received high scores in both Lab and home tests.
Made In Stemless Crystal Wine Glasses
Pros
- Testers found the glass to be comfortable to hold
- Accommodates a variety of wines and beverages
Cons
- Difficult to hand wash without a bottle brush
Recommended wine: Universal | Set size: 4 or 8 | Glass weight: 3.4 ounces | Glass capacity: 16 ounces | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
These German-made crystal stemless wine glasses from Made In come in a set of four or eight and are designed for a many different wine varietals and beverages. We found them to be lightweight and durable in our testing and they received high scores in both performance and ease of use. I did find them more challenging to hand wash because of their narrow mouth, but much easier to load in the dishwasher.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: All testers agreed that this glassware was comfortable to hold and enjoyable to drink from. "The bowl is not too big and just tapered enough," said Good Housekeeping Recipe Editor Susan Choung. "The wine flows nicely and the lip is not too thick." A consumer tester added: "It felt fun to swirl my beverage in the glass given its curvier bowl shape."
Pros
- Stable piece of glassware
- Comfortable to hold, not too lightweight or too heavy
Cons
- Doesn't aerate tannic red wines very well
Recommended wine: An aerated red or white wine | Set size: 4 | Glass weight: 6.5 ounces | Glass capacity: 20 ounces | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
At just around $5 per glass, these stemless wine glasses from Mikasa are a great deal, and they were one of the top-tested pieces of glassware in our tests. These crystal glasses are comfortable to hold and felt very stable resting in testers' hands or on the countertop.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: "This glass was very comfortable to hold, the perfect weight, not too heavy or too light that it felt fragile," said one consumer tester. Analysts in our lab found the glass didn't aerate a Cabernet Sauvignon well, leaving it tasting a bit more astringent. Because of this, we would recommend using a decanter to aerate your wine before pouring it into these glasses, especially if you're serving a younger, more tannic wine.
Pros
- The bottom is wider and makes the glass feel stable
- Thin rim doesn't cut into your lip when drinking
Cons
- Glasses can vary dramatically in weight
Recommended wine: Universal | Set size: 2, 4, 6 or 8 | Glass weight: 2.3–3.9 ounces | Glass capacity: 17 ounces | Dishwasher-safe: Yes, bottom rack recommended
These hand-blown stemless wine glasses from Glasvin have an elegant, tapered design, making them easy to hold and drink from. However, they come at a higher premium compared to others. They were designed to hold all styles of wine and beverages and we found the Cabernet Sauvignon that we tested in these to taste delicious as well. Note that since these glasses are hand-blown, the weight of each glass varies. When I weighed out four glasses, the heaviest glass was 3.9 ounces and the lightest was 2.3 ounces.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: "I really like the shape of this one," said Deputy Editor Sarah Gregory, "The bottom is wider so it feels stable." Testers noted that the very thin rim didn't cut into their lips, like other thin stemless wine glasses we tested.
Riedel Wine Friendly Tumbler
Pros
- Accentuates wine's taste
- Similar design to that of a stemmed wine glass
Cons
- We found the rim to be a bit too thin for comfort
Recommended wine: Universal | Set size: 2 | Glass weight: 3.5 ounces | Glass capacity: 20 ounces | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
Our team loves Riedel's Wine Friendly line of glassware and this tumbler is no different: It's an approachable glass that is designed to hold all styles of wines. This crystal stemless wine glass actually looks just like one of their traditional wine glasses, but without the stem, and we found it to nicely accentuate the taste of wine.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Out of all the stemless wine glasses we tested, the Cabernet Sauvignon tasted the best in this glass from Riedel. "Wine tastes much softer, silkier and less tannic, probably due to smaller entry," stated Choung. Testers discovered that the rim of the glass was so thin that it could cut into your mouth.
Lenox Tuscany Classics Stemless Glass Set
Pros
- Versatile glassware
- Stable and comfortable to hold
Cons
- The indent is the bottom is distracting
Recommended wine: Universal | Set size: 6 | Glass weight: 5–5.7 ounces | Glass capacity: 15 ounces | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
Need a bunch of glasses for a party? These glasses from Lenox come at an approachable price point for a set of six. We also think they're versatile enough to hold sparkling and white wine, especially if you're drinking more quickly like one does at a party (make sure not to warm up your wine by holding the glass for too long).
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: We found these glasses to be very stable and comfortable to hold, thanks to their slender design. However, testers confused by the indent on the bottom: "I don't know the purpose of the indent on the bottom, and I don't love the way the wine sits around it as it gets low. It feels distracting." We also noticed that water would rest in the indent after the glasses were cleaned in the dishwasher.
Schott Zwiesel Tour Stemless Red Wine
Pros
- Unique, modern design
- Rounded rim is comfortable to drink from
Cons
- Heavy
Recommended wine: Shiraz, Pinot Noir or Zinfandel | Set size: 1 | Glass weight: 8 ounces | Glass capacity: 17 ounces | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
This stemless wine glass has a stunning design that almost resembles a gemstone. It's much wider in shape and heavier (half a pound!) than most glasses we tested, but we found the shape helped accentuate some delicious-tasting notes in red wine. Which makes sense since Schott Zwiesel recommends this glass for Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS: Many testers provided similar feedback regarding the glass's size and shape: "The wide base makes it slightly uncomfortable to hold," one noted. However, others appreciated the modern design, mentioning that the rounded rim was comfortable for sipping.
More stemless wine glasses we tested
- Fable Home Stemless Wine Glasses: These glasses were comfortable to hold but almost too lightweight, so they felt unstable for testers.
- Schott Zwiesel Forté Universal Tumbler: These stemless glasses have a nice heavy bottom for stability, but also a thick rim that testers found to be clunky when trying to delicately sip wine.
- Riedel The O Wine Tumbler Cabernet/Merlot: Resembling their stemmed wine glass counterpart in design, these glasses are very elegant, but we did find that the thin rim of the glass cut into our lips when sipping.
- Williams Sonoma Vintage Etched Stemless Wine Glasses: If you're looking for a glass with a bit of flair, these are great, but testers found that the etching dug into their hands when holding them.
- JoyJolt Spirits Stemless Wine Glasses: These stemless wine glasses are a steal, but we did find the large bowl to be very uncomfortable to hold.
- Williams Sonoma Reserve Stemless Red Wine Glasses: We appreciated the classic design of these glasses, but they received lower scores in comfortability.
- Schott Zwiesel Level Red Wine Tumbler: These glasses are a bit unique in design: While some testers enjoyed the leveled shape, others weren't keen on the design for wine.
- Mikasa Cheers Stemless Wine Glasses: Hosting a party? Each of these glasses has a different design so that you won't misplace your wine, but we didn't like the way wine flowed out of these glasses.
- JoyJolt Hue Stemless Wine Glass: These glasses come in different colors, making them great for parties. While they're not for the wine connoisseur, they are fun for those who like colored glassware at an affordable price point.
How we test stemless wine glasses
To find the best stemless wine glasses, our pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab reviewed the ease of use and performance for 15 different pieces of glassware. Four Lab analysts evaluated the glasses and 13 home testers provided feedback.
All stemless wine glasses were tested blind, and each piece of glassware received a random number for the entire testing process. We used the same wine (Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon) throughout testing, and put each piece of glassware through the following tests:
✔️ Comfort of holding: Each glass was carefully assessed by hand to evaluate its width, weight and overall durability.
✔️ Comfort of drinking and flow: Testers drank from each glass to assess the ease of use, along with the thickness of the rim and the size of the opening. The flow of wine was assessed, focusing on its speed, the angle at which it poured and whether the flow was disrupted in any way by the glass.
✔️ Taste: Our team of testers evaluated the wine's aroma and flavor, noting whether the glass enhanced the overall tasting experience.
✔️ Stability: Glassware was tested for ease of swirling wine and overall stability on a countertop.
✔️ Ease of cleaning: Glasses were observed after sitting unwashed for 24 hours to see how easily they could be cleaned by hand using a sponge and soapy water. We noted if extra scrubbing or a bottle brush was required. For dishwasher-safe glassware, multiple washes were conducted to assess ease of loading, cleaning performance and durability.
What to look for when shopping for the best stemless wine glasses
✔️ Type of wine: For this test, I focused on universal stemless wine glasses or those designed for red wines, as we believe stemless glasses are best suited for red wine. While there are stemless wine glasses specifically tailored for white wines and sparkling wines, they are not included on our list because we haven't tested them yet.
✔️Set size: Stemless wine glasses are available in various set sizes. Choose a set that provides the best value for the quantity you require. We found the Lenox Tuscany Classics Stemless Glasses offers the best deal for someone who enjoys entertaining.
✔️ Weight: Stemless wine glasses are perfect for gatherings, as they’re easy to carry from one room to another. However, if the glasses are too heavy, they may strain your hand, and if they’re too light, guests might unintentionally slam them down. I found that a weight of around 3 ounces provides an ideal balance and feel.
✔️ Glass capacity: While you won’t typically fill a wine glass to its full capacity, having extra space allows for easy swirling and proper aeration without spills. Since a standard pour is about five ounces, all the stemless glasses listed here are well-suited for the job.
✔️Ease of cleaning: One of the best features of stemless wine glasses is that most are dishwasher-safe, unlike their stemmed counterparts. For maximum convenience, opt for dishwasher-friendly designs or choose glasses with a wide opening to avoid needing a bottle brush when washing by hand.
What is the point of stemless wine glasses?
Stemless wine glasses are the casual alternative to traditional stemmed glasses. While we find them ideal for red wines, their versatility makes them perfect for cocktails, water or even iced coffee. Since your hand rests directly on the bowl, stemless glasses can warm the beverage, making them better suited for red wine or drinks with ice.
Are stemless wine glasses still in style?
We don't think they ever went out of style — they serve a purpose and are rather durable. Most are dishwasher-safe and easy to carry around at parties, or for drinking wine on your front porch. They also have a lower center of gravity which makes them harder to knock over and less prone to spilling unlike their stemmed counterpart.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Eva Bleyer has tested all kinds of kitchen gear for Good Housekeeping, including gas ranges, microwaves, kitchen scales and blenders. She holds a B.S. in Food Studies, Nutrition and Public Health from New York University and is a trained chef from the Natural Gourmet Institute. Previous to working at GH, Eva also worked in the wine industry for a wine distributor, where she led events and group tastings. Eva led and conducted the side-by-side test of 15 stemless wine glasses for this story.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
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