What is Roemer Glass? These traditional German wine glasses with green stems are all over Germany, and they are used to serve delicious wines from the Rhine or Moselle Region. We had a set in our home while I was growing up… and my family in Germany has them. I’d bet that most German families have a set in the Schrank. I even have a few sets myself! But what makes these glasses special? And why are the stems of the glasses Green? And why are they named for Romans?
It turns out that these glasses have a very long history!
What is Roemer Glass?
When the Romans expanded their empire into the edges of Germany, they brought an appetite for wine with them. But, since it was easier to produce wine in these far outposts than to haul Amphora over the Alps, they sought ideal growing conditions for their grapes. In what is now Southwest Germany, they established the first vineyards. The garrison in Trier, Germany’s oldest city in the Moselle Valley, is ideally situated for growing because of the shale soil and moderate climate. Soldiers dealing with the Germanic Tribes on the other side of the Rhine were thirsty, and Roman viticulture moved up along the Rhine River Valley. (Fun Fact: Vines along the Moselle and the Rhine still use the same Roman trellising techniques from that time.)
Basically, a Romer Glass is a wine glass with a green base that looks coiled and topped by a clear bowl. The first Römer glasses were produced in the 16th Century along the Rhine and in the Netherlands. The style evolved from “Waldglass” and started out simply as a cone on top of a coiled stem called Bekemeyers. Over time, the bowl of the glass got thinner and rounder, and the bottom of the coiled stem was given a wider base.
The green color comes from the potash and sand from the forest. Originally, the entire glass was made green, but wine lovers felt that the green interfered with the color of the wine, so the glasses are now made with a green stem and clear bowls.
Roemer Glass from the late 17th Century on display at the Met- Dutch- Public Domain
By the end of the 17th century, the bowl of the glasses were thin and hemispherical (a half circle). Often today, the bowl is etched with vines or grapes, and sometimes the glass rim is gold. You’ll find them with all sorts of lovely decorations.
Today you can buy modern versions of these old Römer glasses!
waldglas roemer, 2 stuks, 18th century Römer , ancient glass verzameling
Why are the Stems Bumpy?
The base of the glasses were originally made by coiling the glass over a form. This made a hollow stem that stayed bumpy or layered. Because of the thickness, the stem is officially called a “trunk” (but that’s kind of hard to get used to, so let’s continue to say stem).
Most German households have a set of these glasses…. Now you can have them too….maybe as a sign of your heritage, or as a reminder of a wonderful visit in Germany.
Where Can I Buy Roemer Glasses
Vintage Roemer Glasses
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Vintage German Roemer Wine Goblets ~ Wine Glasses ~ Beehive Stem ~ Grape Leaf Design ~ 5oz ~ Vintage Bar GlassesVintage MCM Roemer Green Bubble Stemmed Etched Wine Glasses; Set of 6; Retro BarwarePair of Vintage Roemer Wine Glasses with Etched Grapevine Design – 4.5” Tall, Green Ribbed StemVintage Roemer Green Beehive Stemmed Wine Glasses with Grape Motif in Gold and CrystalsSet of 2 Vintage Luminarc France Arcoroc Green Stem Beehive Etched Wine Vine Roemer Glasses, 1970’s Barware Coil Stem Rhine Wine Glasses .2lGreen Beehive Stem Wine Glasses – Set of 6 GobletsPair Roemer Wine Glasses Goblets with Olive Green Stem, Mid Century Germany Barware, Housewarming Gift Wedding Glasses Etched Grape design4 Vintage German Roemer, Clear Cordial or Toasting Glasses with Green Deco Ball Stems, in Etched Grapevine Pattern
Vintage German Roemer Wine/Cordial Glasses, Olive Green Bubble Stem, Grape Vines/Foliage, Gold Trimmed Rim,Vintage Roemer Rhine wine glass x 2. Olive Green Roemer Glass, W. Germany, 1970s. Grape pattern in gold colour. Wine goblets.Rhein Roemer Style 6oz Wine Glasses , Crystal Grape Leaves Cut Design, Bulbous Green Stem , Set of 6 Vintage Barware
New Glasses
Old Style Römer Glasses
These vintage glasses are pieces of history!
4 Vintage Green Pale Green Traditional Wine Goblet Hock Glass Römer beehive StemVintage Handcrafted Roemer Green Glass by Olda Glass – Czech Republic – Hollow Beehive Stem & Applied Prunts – 7″ Tallwaldglas roemer, 2 stuks, 18th century Römer , ancient glass verzameling
