Around 62% of Americans regularly drink wine, which shows that it’s a popular tipple in our country.
Familiarizing yourself with the different styles of bottles will help you discover your dream wine and deepen your knowledge. But if you have little wine knowledge, you likely won’t know where to start your search.
Sounds like you? Luckily, we’ve got the answers you’re searching for. Here are ten types of wine bottles you should know about.
1. Alsace Bottle
Alsace, otherwise known as “Hock”, is always a quality glass wine bottle and it comes from Germany.
You’ll notice that it is taller and thinner than others on the list. It also has sloping shoulders, which gives it a distinctive edge. Note, Alsace bottles are often used to hold the Riesling grape varieties.
2. Bordeaux Bottle
The glass container manufacturing industry is built on producing Bordeaux wine bottles. As you can guess, this style comes from Bordeaux, France, which is the most iconic wine-producing area in the country.
These bottles have a cylindric shape, with straight sides and high shoulders. Although Bordeaux styles are synonymous with cabernet sauvignon and merlot, you can find many wine varieties sold in this style of bottle.
3. Burgundy Bottle
Another popular wine bottle is the Burgundy bottle. Glass bottle makers create a longer neck than Bordeaux, complete with sloping shoulders, but it has a wider base. Because of this, Burgundy bottles contain chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.
4. Champagne Bottle
Glass bottle manufacturers produced a staggering 34 million bottles last year, whether it’s celebrating graduation or honoring a wedding.
In terms of style, champagne bottles have a similar shape to the Burgundy and are designed to withstand the pressure of bubbles, thanks to the thicker glass. Aside from the classic champagne, the style of the bottle works with other sparkling wines, such as cava or prosecco.
5. Port Bottle
Calling all port and sherry drinkers!
You’ll be familiar with this style of bottle, which is like the Bordeaux style, except for a bulb in the neck. This prevents sediment from drifting to the bottom and ruining the sip. Aside from port and sherry, you can also find Madeira wine, a fortified wine from Portugal.
6. Provence Bottle
Shaped like a bowling pin, the Provence bottle hails from Côtes de Provence. Like Bordeaux is famous for its red wine, Provence is renowned for producing A-grade rosé wines. In it, you’ll usually find Grenache, zinfandel, and the classic Provence rosé.
7. Rhône Bottle
Although it looks like the Burgundy bottle at first glance, the Rhône has a longer neck, giving it an elegant flair. Wine-lovers will likely find Mourvedre, Viognier and Syrah. Other common varieties include Marsanne and Roussanne.
8. Bocksbeutel Bottle
The Bocksbeutel-style wine is popular with German and Portuguese wines. It’s important to note that the design is inspired by traditional canteens, which prevented the bottles from rolling away. In fact, the Bocksbeutal is now protected by the EU, highlighting its heritage.
9. Clavelin Bottle
Another style of bottle is the Clavelin. Unlike others featured, this bottle is short and heavily built. Interestingly, it is the only bottle that can house vin jaune (or “yellow wine”) that comes from the Jura region in France. If you’re interested in sampling it, know that it has a rich taste and has notes of dried fruit and nuts.
10. Dessert Wine Bottle
You’ll find that dessert wine has an entirely different bottle. Unlike everyday wines, dessert wines have an ornate design. Many manufacturers also add a customized stamp or seal, so that it stands out.
Different Sizes of Wine Bottles
You’re an expert on different styles of wine bottles, but it’s important to learn the sizes too, especially if you’re buying from wine bottle suppliers.
There are twelve sizes, starting with a piccolo that is 187.5ml. This bottle holds a single glass of wine and is popular in travel settings, like airplanes. If you want something slightly larger, choose a demi or half, which is half a standard bottle of wine.
Next, is the 750ml standard wine bottle, great for sharing with guests. Or, if you’re hosting a dinner party, you may prefer a magnum as it holds 1.5 liters. This works out to be two standard wine bottles.
A larger option is a double magnum, which holds three liters or four standard wine bottles. Not enough? Then, treat your loved ones to a jéroboam that’s equivalent to six standard bottles of wine.
It’s possible to get a bottle that holds six liters of still wine; this is called an impériale. If you want to pop open the bubbles, this is called Methuselah.
Salmanazar bottles hold 12 bottles, while Balthazar is equal to 16. You can also find Nebuchadnezzer, equivalent to 20 bottles, or the largest you can find, is called a Solomon, which holds 24 bottles and a staggering 200 glasses of wine.
Different Colors of Wine Bottles
On your hunt for the perfect wine, you will notice that bottles come in various colors.
Most white and rosé wine come in clear glass as it lets consumers see their clarity and soft hues. It also helps with your decision-making process. For instance, you can easily pinpoint a blush if you prefer that over a zinfandel.
Another common color is amber, which houses red wines. This is because they take longer to age. Unlike clear bottles, amber glass offers more UV protection, so that it preserves the red wine for longer.
Green glass is also popular with wine manufacturers. Like with amber, green prevents sunlight from breaking down the wine’s tannins that make the flavor. These are known as champagne, antique, or dead-leaf green.
Learn the Different Types of Wine Bottles Today
Now that you know the different types of wine bottles, it’s time to find the right one for your palate.
There are various bottles to consider, whether you want to celebrate an event with a classic Champagne bottle or go with a traditional Bordeaux-style wine. Depending on the size of your party, shop for the size so that the wine flows and everyone has a great time. Happy shopping! Find this post useful? Great! Then, check out the rest of our blog for more advice on wine.
