A Complete Guide to Wine Bottles

Wine bottles are typically made from glass and can be produced in many different sizes and volumes. These bottles are more than containers. They can also be used to interpret wine details that wine experts cannot explain. Each wine bottle has a unique structure depending on the wine it contains. Each part of a wine bottle has a particular meaning. Let’s first find out what these parts mean.
Closure

Closures are used for sealing wine bottles. These closures come in a variety of styles, including Screw Cap and Cork.

Cork Closures

These closures allow the wine to be exposed to very little Oxygen. While it allows wine to breathe, there are chances that wine under cork might get affected with cork-stigma/cork-taint due to the chemical Trichloroanisole (TCA). This happens during winemaking, and it does not affect wine’s originality. Synthetic corks are available in some wines that are less expensive. Synthetic corks can be made from rubber or plastic, so they are less expensive than other types of cork.

Screw Caps

Screw caps are a cost-effective option for wineries, similar to synthetic cork. Screw caps do not necessarily make wines more expensive. These caps let wine breathe while they age. Screwcaps are not affected by cork-taint, unlike cork closures.
Capsule

Capsule is a metal wrap around the closure. Capsule holds the cork tightly, preventing wine from drying out or vaporizing too fast.
Neck

The neck, located below the closure is a delicate area of the bottle that is used to grip the bottle. When the wine reaches the neck, it is considered to be at its best. If the wine level is lower than the neck of the bottle, it means that the wine has either leaked or evaporated from the cork during its ageing process.
Shoulder

After the neck, the shoulder is the most sloping part. There are three types of shoulder levels: high shoulder, middle shoulder and low shoulder. All bottles have different shoulders. Clear shoulders are not a feature of all bottles (e.g. Burgundy, Alsace), while others have more prominent shoulders.
Body

The main body is the main component of a bottle. Although it is cylindrical, its diameter can vary.
Label

The body has a sticker that contains information about the wine, such as the volume of the liquid, alcohol by volume, vintage, origin, variety, and so on.
Punt

This is an indentation made on the underside the bottle when it was being formed during the moulding process. This is used to strengthen the bottle’s structure.
Heel

The bottle’s heel is the bottom portion that allows it to stand straight.

All wine bottles have a different physical form depending on what type of wine they contain. Some bottles have a longer length while others are shorter. There are 12 different types of wine bottles.

Wine bottle shapes

Bordeaux

Bordeaux bottles are tall and straight with high shoulders. A dark green glass will be used if the bottle is used for red wine. If it is used for white wine, a lighter green glass will be used. Bordeaux bottles can be used to store a wide range of grapes, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc.

Burgundy

The Burgundy bottle has a classic, elegant look with its gently sloping shoulders. It also has a slightly wider body. Both red and white wines can be served in a green-coloured glass. This bottle is used for Chardonnay, Aligote, and Pinot Noir. Burgundy is more sought-after than other bottles so it is often stylized. It is often made with thicker glass, which is frequently used for Pinot Noir.

Rhone

The Rhone bottle looks almost identical to Burgundy. It is slightly thinner and taller that the Burgundy bottle. This bottle has a longer neck and is often embossed by a coat or arms. It also has more angular, sloping shoulders. This style is used for Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre. For red wines, a green-coloured glass is used. White and rose wines are made with clear glass.

Champagne

This olive-green bottle is always happy and full of joy. It is strong, but still graceful. It is thick with thick glass and has gentle sloping shoulders. Champagne can reach pressures up to 80-90 psi. These bottles would explode in transport during the early days. They are therefore designed with technical requirements in mind.

Cotes de Provence

This clear glass bottle is used for red and rose wines. Some producers still use traditional wine bottles in Cotes de Provence. Locals call this bottle “corset”. It’s been in use for many decades, and it is unlikely to be discontinued anytime soon.

Mosel and Alsace

The Mosel and Alsace bottles are tall and slim, with a long neck. This bottle is used primarily for wines from Alsace (France), and Mosel (Germany). This bottle is used by wineries that use grape varieties like Riesling or Muller Thurgau. This bottle is used by New World winemakers to make sweet wines.

Rhine

The Rhine is a tall, slim bottle with a long neck. The Rhine has a very punt. This bottle is made from dark brown glass, which makes it stand out from other bottles. This German bottle can be used to preserve grape varieties such as Riesling, MullerThurgau, and Bacchus.

Chianti

The Chianti bottle is round in shape with a bulging bottom and straw basket. This bottle is also known by the fiasco. The basket at the bottom acts as a base for the glass, providing extra protection during transport and handling. This bottle is no longer used. Most Chianti wines are now bottled in standard bottles such as Bordeaux.

Bocksbeutel

Bocksbeutel is a German translation of “beer bag”, but it can also be used to store wine. It is a flattened, ellipsoid-shaped wine bag that contains the same volume as other bottles (0.75 Liters). The neck is short and often has an embossed badge at the left shoulder. This badge is usually used to identify the domain name. The bottle has a flattened design to make it easier to transport and prevent it from rolling on uneven ground.

Jura

Jura is less well-known and popular. It is made of light-coloured glass. The top half has slightly flared shoulders and the bottom half has curved shoulders. Its long neck blends in with the shoulders. This bottle is used by many grape varieties, including Savagnin and Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir.

Vin Jaune

Vin Jaune is a very unusual shape. Vin Jaune wine is legally allowed to use this bottle, which is short, heavy, and stocky.

Fortified wine

The Bordeaux bottle is somewhat similar to this bottle. The bottle has a straight body and rounded shoulders. The neck is bulged to prevent any debris from getting into the glass. The dark black glass keeps wine safe from the sun. This bottle can be used to preserve Fortified wines like Vermouth, Port and Marsala.

Winemakers can also use other types and shapes to increase sales, in addition to the 12 bottles. The most common bottles used in the world are Bordeaux, Germanic, and Burgundy.

Most wines are sold in 750.00 ml bottles. Magnum bottles are used by large commercial brands that sell inexpensive wines.