The Best Stemless Wineglasses, According to Restaurant Owners and Frequent Party Hosts

Austrian glassware company Riedel, which has been around since 1756, is the perennial favorite wineglass-maker. Its “O” series of stemless glasses — around half of the pros interviewed for this story raved about them — were introduced as tumblers in 2004. This particular style is technically intended for Cabernet and Merlot red wines. Cedric Nicaise, wine director at Eleven Madison Park, likes them because there are relatively few compromises compared with a traditional stemmed style. “They still provide great aromatics, and the glass is very thin so smelling and drinking wine are great experiences,” Nicaise says. (Although he warns about using them for cocktails: “The glass is delicate, so be careful when putting in ice.”)

Beverage manager Roman Tartakovsky’s favorite Riedel stemless style is the curvaceous, undulating silhouette of the Swirl because of its “unique shape for swirling the wine,” he says.

Vanessa von Bismarck, co-founder and partner of the PR firm BPCM, is a self-described traditionalist when it comes to wineglasses, usually opting for stemmed styles, but she’s also a fan of the wide, ultrarounded Pinot-Nebbiolo style in the O series. “The shape and the hand feel is more comforting than the more traditional long-stem wineglass,” she says. Von Bismarck also likes to serve white wine or gin-and-tonics in stemless glassware when she entertains at home.

Okay, so they’re not technically wineglasses, but Victoria James, beverage director at the New York Korean steakhouse Cote, suggests this sturdy style for at-home drinking. “This tumbler brings me back to brasseries and vineyards in France, where these are used for a simple casse-croûte,” she says. “The thickness of the glass allows you to grip it and not heat up the wine too much, which is an issue with thin stemless tumblers, and they are dishwasher safe, stackable, and last forever.” She says to use these for a casual Tuesday-night bottle: “They’re meant to be used for everyday, glou-glou wine, something you would gulp alongside a sandwich.”

These angular glasses intended for wine or cocktails won’t chip or break, and they have a nice, thick base. “I’ve always been a big fan of Schott Zwiesel’s products: They’re not the most inexpensive wine glasses out there, but they’re aesthetically beautiful, functional, and generally more durable than their closest competitors,” Jones says. Although different versions are available for red or white wines, Jones suggests using these for any grape. “It’s wide enough at the base to be considered proper for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but the overall shape is sleek and vertical, like a Bordeaux glass, so it’s perfectly suitable for Sauvignon Blanc or rich reds like Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel.”

Yvette Leeper-Bueno, owner of Harlem restaurant Vinatería, uses only stemmed glasses at her restaurant but loves these short bodega-style glasses for at-home drinking. “When I was traveling in Spain, I saw them everywhere in Barcelona,” she says. “The culture of drinking there is so casual and fun,” which goes with the informality of these flat-bottomed glasses. They’re not technically perfect for wine, as they don’t let it breathe, “so anything too special might not be a good fit for these glasses,” says Leeper-Bueno. “But they are easy to hold and stackable.” Jill Bernheimer, owner of Domaine in Los Angeles, agrees (only they transport her to a Parisian bistro instead of Spain). “I reserve these glasses for chilled reds, pét-nats — the less complicated (but no less delicious) wines,” she says. 

Pottery Barn also stocks a bodega glass, which Ariel Arce, owner and restaurateur of Air’s Champagne Parlor and Tokyo Record Bar, likes for their short, stout shape, “so you can’t knock them over,” she says. Arce was tipped off to the beauty of the bodega glass by friends who went to Spain and started drinking txakolina, the sparkling white wine that comes from the Basque region. “They had a dinner party where they served wine in these glasses, and I fell in love,” she says.

If you do prefer plastic, or find yourself in a scenario where you really need something not breakable at all, Govino is “the only stemless ‘glass’ I tend to use,” says Steven Grubbs, wine director at Atlanta restaurants Empire State South and Five & Ten. He pulls them out for “casual, rugged, and outdoor portable drinking. I believe if you’re in a scenario where stems are too precious or dainty,” he says, “then actual glass is probably a liability there too; enter good, smart, effective plastic wine cups.” Thomas Pastuszak, wine director at the NoMad (and founder of Empire Estate, a winery in the Finger Lakes region), uses the 12-ounce ones, too. “It’s a super-versatile size, great for sparkling, white, or red wine, and it also nicely fits cocktails on ice, like an Aperol spritz,” he says. “There’s a really convenient dimple on the bottom and side of the glass, for an even more stable grip.” Pollari shares this plastic pick, too.

Andy Maturana, chef and owner of RAPT, an NYC-based catering company, goes through approximately 3,000 Govino stemless styles at his events each year; he likes the slightly larger 16-ounce version.

“These glasses are pretty and a no-brainer: They can’t break, and they look nice on the table,” says Arce. Her earliest encounters with indestructible drinkware are quite relatable: “Plastic glassware was a big thing in college; you didn’t have to worry about breaking anything.” These days, she likes using them for outdoor parties.

Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff frequently hosts dinner parties (in addition to many charity galas), and when entertaining at home, she opts for glassware that looks as fancy as possible. “I love Saint Louis wineglasses; they make whatever you’re drinking look expensive,” she says. This handcrafted crystal tumbler is from the French brand, which dates back to the 16th century.

Another work of art masquerading as a stemless wineglass: this gorgeous handblown Murano-glass style, which Jenny Vorhoff of design company Studio Riga uses at home. “I have a few sets of six in various colors, and they look even more chic and collected when mixed together,” she says. “They are actually quite sturdy and feel heavy in the hand, like crystal.” Stemless wineglasses have a subtle but important purpose when entertaining at home, as they “tell my guests that dinner is going to be relaxed, and relaxed dinners are the most fun,” she adds.