Wine Bottles

The bottle, hand blown until the 19th century has evolved down the centuries; but it is only in the last 150 years or so that the capacity to make reasonably tough glass bottles easily and cheaply has led to the development of the present variety of shapes.Wine bottles come in many shapes and sizes and may help to give an indication of the type of wine and where it is from.

The classic French Bordeaux shouldered bottle dark to pale green with punt and normally a capacity of 74/76 cl. had evolved by the early 19th century  and is now the universally recognised standard bearer for red and white Bordeaux wines and for wines of the same style. 

The Burgundy bottle (pictured) medium to dark green, with its distinctive sloping shoulders and continuous line also with a punt. 

Champagne is basically a reinforced Burgundy bottle but traditionally it contains 0.80cl instead of 0.75cl.  It is heavier and thicker to resist internal pressure of around five atmospheres. Such bottles are used for sparkling wines all over the world

Chateauneuf du Pape, a Burgundy bottle with the Papal crossed keys embossed on the shoulder; reversed for domaine bottled Chateauneufs