Chevalier Aerating Wine Glasses

Pour wine into one of these stemless glasses and it runs through a patented built-in aerator, falling through laser-cut holes instead of sitting in a bottle or decanter. The idea is that the wine gets air as it goes in, so you skip the separate gadget and the countertop mess. Chevalier says it spent 15 years refining the design, and the glasses are hand-blown with a 7 oz capacity.

That 7 oz size is worth knowing about. It’s a modest pour, closer to a restaurant serving than a big goblet, so a refill or two over dinner is likely. The maker says aeration makes wine smoother and brings out subtle flavors. That’s a reasonable thing to expect from a glass built this way, and a casual drinker will probably notice the pour itself before anything else. Cleanup is simple, since they’re dishwasher-safe, though the inner aerating section is a detail to load with some care because it’s more delicate than a plain tumbler.

The set of two comes in premium packaging, which makes it a sensible host or housewarming gift, or something for a wedding registry. The pour is the part guests will watch, and it gives you a story to tell. The stemless shape also keeps things relaxed, so they work for a dinner party or a movie on the couch, and they should tuck into a cabinet more easily than stemmed glasses.