I think the newer ones don’t deform in the dishwasher. I had some a couple years ago that did, but the replacements have not. I don’t generally put them in there, but sometimes guests do when they’re helping to clean up. If you have outside seating areas, or stone or concrete floors, I think these are a great option. Maybe some cheap stems from world market or home goods as suggested, and a set of these as well.
No, most of your guests don’t care, but do YOU really want to be the well-heeled owners being mocked for abject cheapness, or cursed by guests who neglected to bring their own?
Murphy’s Law Vacation Corollary 6b clearly states that every time you bring stemware, one will break in transit while the cabin comes well-stocked, and every time you don’t, the cabin will turn out to be owned by clueless/teetotalers who leave you glassware that downscale Reno casinos wouldn’t stock.
Do the right thing! It isn’t just a business decision, its your personal brand. It’s simple Golden Rule territory. As proven upthread, you don’t have to spend a lot of $$$. So do the right thing.
I’d buy a decent set but with the knowledge that guests will more likely be playing wine pong with them than drinking fine burgundy. If I was bringing good wine I’d be traveling with stems because 99.99 percent of cabins don’t have stems.
I agree with the Crate and Barrel suggestion. They make several “imitation” glasses, including some that look like Zaltos, only thicker glass. Dishwasher safe, under $5.00 per stem, perfect for your needs.
Maybe you should ask the winery owners what they use. Karen from JEC once told a group of us in their Sonoma tasting room they use a brand that can bounce off a tile floor. I just don’t remember which manufacturer it was, but it’s worth asking her directly.
I have stayed in rentals that have “higher end” glasses like Riedel Soms. There is a sign on the cabinet that if you break these you buy them at X price (don’t remember) but it was high. Like $80. It’s an option if you feel like you should have good stems and you have the ability to collect for breakage.
For me it was a great feature. I didn’t break any either.