Why are wine bottles different shapes?

Wine bottles come in various sizes and shapes for specific reasons. The first bottles to preserve the fruit of the vine properly was amphorae bottles.These were used until the Romans started blowing rounded glass bottles. In the 1730's the shape started to change with straighter sides for stacking purposes. In 1821 the modern style wine bottle was born and could now be manufactured by machinery.

The shape of the bottle allows us to notice at a glance what wine may be inside. The Bordeaux bottles have straight sides and are generally used by the wineries around the world who make Merlot, Cabernat and Malbec. Italy & Spain also use these bottles for their deep, rich reds. The color is usually dark green which keeps the sunlight out. Wider bottles with sloping shoulders (Burgundy) are usually for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Gamay. The Rhone style which is similar to the Burgundy is used for Syrah & Grenache. Champagnes & other sparkling wines need to be in a heavy glass with a deep indented well in the bottom to withstand all the pressure in the bottles from the bubbles. It also can be used as a thumb grip while pouring.

The reason a wine bottles bottom is never flat is to relieve stress on the structure of the bottle. It also aids with the sedimentation within the bottle which forms over time.

They have come a long way since the beginning of making wine but still the type of bottles we finally continue to use have been around for many centuries. Man will do what needs to be done when he has a passion for something he loves. And when it is perfected then he (she) sits and reaps the benefits of his labor. In this case what our ancestors strived to do to preserve wine, we all have benefited from it and it is now conveniently processed for us. All we need is a trip to the store.