EN
Did you know that wine bottles come in all shapes and sizes? Well, these shapes aren't just décor, they do serve a purpose! The shape of a wine bottle giveaway can tell you a lot about what's inside. Here's a look at some common wine bottle shapes and what they mean.
A prime example is the Bordeaux shape bottle. It is a straight-sided tall bottle with a high shoulder. Full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are commonly in Bordeaux bottles. The straight sides allow the wine to age well, and the high shoulder allows sediment to settle at the bottom of the bottle.
The second most popular wine bottle shape used is called Burgundy. The Burgundy bottles are shorter and more rounded than Bordeaux bottles and have sloping shoulders. Pinot Noir and light reds, and also white wines such as Chardonnay, are generally stored in Burgundy bottles. The rounded nature helps the wine develop complex tastes while the sloping shoulders help retain the wine's fragrance.
The same goes for wine bottle styles, which have developed over the decades to suit the desires of wine consumers. Wine Bottles used to be rather monotonous and plain until Dating back. But once the beverage started gaining popularity, manufacturers began to design more whimsical styles for their bottles.
The flute is one of the common shapes of a wine bottle. Flute bottles are long and slender, having a long neck. Flutes are mostly employed for bubbly wines such as Champagne and Prosecco. The constricted shape maintains the bubbles within the wine, and the elongated neck facilitates pouring in a controlled way without splashing.
One of such modern shapes is the squat. They are broad and short bottles, having a wide base. Moscato and Riesling are some sweet wines that are packed in squat bottles. The broad base stabilizes the bottle on the shelf and shortness makes it easy to pour.
The Hidden Messages Imbedded in Wine Bottle Labels
Did you know that there are hidden meanings in wine bottle labels? Most winemakers will employ unique designs and patterns on their bottles to narrate the story behind their wine. Here's a look at some common symbols you may find on wine bottles and what they mean.
One of such symbols is the crest. Crests are most frequently employed to represent the winery that produced the wine. They may have images of grapevines, barrels or even animals that represent what the winery stands for. A crest may reveal to you something about the history of the wine you are drinking.
The label can be another important symbol, since labels contain minimum information about the wine, like its grape variety, year and alcohol level, for most winemakers. Labels also serve as a way to display pretty artwork, or extravagant writing that embodies the personality of the wine, for most winemakers.
Types of Wine Bottle Explained
The difference in the design and shape of the wine bottles. Red, customized wine decanter white, or sparkling wine - there is a bottle for all. Let's have a look at some of the most popular wine bottle types and what makes them.
One of the classic forms of wine bottles is the standard. Standard bottles are straight-sided and medium-height, both of which are suitable for most types of wines. The wines pourable in standard bottles are red, white, or rosé. They are enjoyable table wines.
And then there's the magnum, another very popular bottle size. They are half again larger than a regular bottle, containing about 1.5 liters of wine. Magnums are usually reserved for special events because they can age longer and have a more full-bodied taste. They are perfect to share with friends and family.
What Bottle Shapes and Styles Can Reveal About the Wine
The style and shape of a wine bottle tell you so much about the contents of the bottle. Various wines create different-shaped bottles to enhance its flavor and aroma. If you pay attention to the shape and style of the bottle, you may have an idea of what you might find in the bottle when you open it.
Tall and narrow bottles, for instance, are usually reserved for white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. The narrow shape preserves the wine's light flavors and bouquet, decanter with glass stopper and the long neck provides a smooth pour.
Decanter with glass stopper are typically used for fuller-bodied wine like Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The broad shape allows the wine to breathe and take in bolder flavors, and the larger size is a indicator that this is wine to be sipped at leisure.
Briefly, wine bottle shapes and designs are not about appearance alone: they can tell you a lot about what lies within! From Burgundy to Bordeaux, from flute to short, it's a bottle of history. Next time you take a bottle of wine off the shelf, glance at its style and shape for a second longer. You never know, you might learn to drink wine all over again!