I’m sure many wine lovers will notice that there are often some differences in the shape of wines from different regions or different types of wines. Some bottles are tall and straight, while others are small. But do you know the special meaning behind these different bottle shapes?
In fact, the different shapes of wine bottles were originally created by different traditional glass blowing methods in the places where they were born, reflecting in part the history and tradition of the bottle’s origins. As the global wine industry evolved, these bottle shapes were gradually adopted by producers in other countries and regions to accommodate wines of the same or similar style as their original varietal.
From this perspective, the shape of a wine bottle can sometimes tell us something about the style or grape variety of the wine. Common bottles on the market are usually named according to their respective wine origins, such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, etc. Today, let’s take a look at five common bottle shapes on the market.
Burgundy bottles
The Burgundy bottle has a long neck, narrow shoulders, and a thick body that is usually dark green. This bottle shape originated in the 19th century and was originally used to hold Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. As Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties became more popular around the world, Burgundy bottles became more common.
In addition to Burgundy wines, some wineries will use Burgundy bottles for wines with similar flavors to Pinot Noir, such as wines made from grape varieties like Nebbiolo and Gamay. When Burgundy bottles are used for white wines from other regions, these wines are traditionally Chardonnays aged in oak barrels, but now some unoaked Chardonnays will also be served in Burgundy bottles.
Bordeaux Bottles
The Burgundy bottle was followed by the Bordeaux bottle. Compared to Burgundy, the Bordeaux is tall and straight, with shorter shoulders and a higher position. Some believe that this design helps to separate the wine sediment from the wine as it ages during decanting, while others believe that the shoulder is simply to distinguish it from Burgundy.
In addition, the Bordeaux bottle has a deep depression at the bottom. This bottle shape is often used for red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, as well as white wines made from Blanc and other varieties. The Bordeaux bottle is also used worldwide due to the popularity of wines made from classic Bordeaux grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Côtes du Rhône Bottles
The shape of the Côtes du Rhône bottle is similar to that of the Burgundy bottle, but the Côtes du Rhône bottle has a slightly longer neck and is slightly taller and thinner. In addition, many wineries in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône will also have the signature emblem of the production region or winery printed on the underside of the bottle neck to indicate their unique identity.
The Rhône bottle contains mainly Grenache, Syrah and Mauve de Vieux wines. Many Shirazes made in the New World also use this bottle shape.
Hawker Bottles
The foreign name for the Hawker bottle is “Hawker” and this bottle shape is also known as the Mosel or Alsace bottle. The body is long and slender, the neck is long and slender, and the exterior color is mostly brown, green or blue. The bottle is said to have originated in Moselle, Germany or Alsace, France. Hawk bottles are now mainly used for Riesling, Gewurztraminer and some sweet wines.
Champagne Bottles
Champagne bottles have long sloping shoulders and often have deep grooves in the bottom, making them thicker and more stable than regular bottles. In addition to Champagne, other types of sparkling wines such as Prosecco, Cava, and Sechert also use this bottle shape. These sparkling wines have a certain amount of air pressure and therefore require a thicker, more stable bottle shape to ensure safety.
In addition to these common bottle shapes, there are also Port bottles for fortified wines (with a special spherical bulge at the neck), Provence bottles for pink wines (with an overall shape like a bowling ball bottle), and more. Next time you are tasting wine, pay more attention and carefully determine the shape of the bottle used for this wine.
