Why do wines come in different shaped bottles

You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can judge a wine by its bottle. Here are common bottle types which are of French origin but have become norms for the rest of the wine world as well.

BORDEAUX
This straight sided bottle with tall shoulders and a pronounced punt (indentation on the bottom of a wine bottle) is widely used for Italian, New World and wines from the Bordeaux region. The glass can be dark green, light green or clear for reds, dry whites and sweet whites respectively. Apart from wines from the Bordeaux region, the grape varieties used are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and sometimes Zinfandel.

BURGUNDY
This gently sloped-shoulder bottle with a small punt has a fatter girth than other bottles and can contain both red and white wines. This shape is used for New World Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and also Loire Valley wines.

RHONE
This is similar to the Burgundy bottle except that it is slightly slimmer. It comes in a green glass for both red and white wines. Besides Rhone it is used in the new world Shiraz.

CHAMPAGNE
This bottle has a deeper punt and is made with thicker glass, more for a scientific reason than for design - to withstand the pressure of the wine inside. It is used not just for Champagne but for all sparkling wines.

ALSACE/MOSEL
This lean bottle without a punt is distinctive to the Alsace region of France and Mosel of Germany. It is used for wines like Rieslings, Gewürztraminer and Muller Thurgau. The wines could be of different styles ranging from dry to sweet dessert wines which can be read on the label.

RHINE
This one is the same as Alsace or Mosel, except that the glass is brown in colour. It is also known as ‘hock’.

FORTIFIED
This bottle is sturdy and has a bulged neck to capture the sediment. It is used for wines that are best had young like Port, Sherry, and Madeira. Hence, it comes with a cork stopper rather than a long cork. The colour of the glass ranges from dark brown to black.

UNIQUE BOTTLES
These are used more for new world or non-classic wines. No particular norms are followed when it comes to the shape, size or colour of the bottle in relation to the wines.

Why the colours?

Wine bottles can be found in various shades of green, brown or could be clear. The type of wine decides the colour of the glass in most cases. Dark coloured bottles are used to protect the red wines from exposure to light which in turn prevents oxidation and the pigment greatly depends on the materials available in that region. White and Rose wines are kept in clear glass bottles to show off the clarity and rich hues. The colours of the wine bottles also depend on the history of the particular regions and the ability of the glass industry in those areas.

Now that you know your wine bottle shapes, you're one step closer to being a wine guru!

*compiled from internet sources to include: wikipedia