Wine bottles come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Ever wonder what the significance is of the shape of a wine bottle?

The simple answer is that wine bottle shapes are largely based on tradition. And, many of the traditions are based on early glass-blowing techniques.

The Burgundy bottle (far left and far right) is most often used for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This makes a lot of sense - Red Burgundy is traditionally Pinot Noir and white Burgundy is Chardonnay. These bottles have a long neck and sloping shoulders.

The Bordeaux bottle (Second from the left) is the most common bottle type. A Bordeaux bottle has straight sides and high shoulders. The most popular type of wine in Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot blends. With white wines, this shape is most often associated with Sauvignon Blanc. But, being the most traditional shape, you’ll find lots of wines sold in this shape of bottle.

The Rhône bottle (middle) looks a lot like the Burgundy bottle but is just a little thinner and taller. The neck is slightly longer with more sloping shoulders. Rhône bottles are often embossed with a coat of arms below the neck. This style is also used for Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah.

The Alsace bottle (fourth from the left) is taller and thinner than other types. The main grape contained in Alsace bottles is Riesling.

So, there you go. With these four bottle shapes you should now be able to identify the style of wine before you even read the label!

Next time we’ll take a quick look at some other unique things about wine bottles. Until then, “Cheers!”