Wine Bottles

So you think that wine bottles are just wine bottles? Well think again! Wine bottles have different characteristics and for many different reasons. If you’re thinking about making your own wine, there are many steps in the process to consider. But when it comes to bottling the wine, there are a few things you should be aware of. If you are going to drink the wine within a short period of time, or store it in a dark place, then it doesn’t really matter what type of bottle you use. But if you are going to let it set for an extended period of time, or if you’re keeping it in a place that receives light, you want to make sure you use the correct wine bottles to maintain the highest quality.

Some of the different characteristics of wine bottles are shape, color and size. Each has a purpose or a history as to why they are used. If you don’t have much knowledge about wine bottles, these interesting tidbits should help.

Wine Bottle Shapes
The different shapes of wine bottles are able to let a consumer know about the taste of the wine that is inside. This tradition began in Europe when winemakers decided to make their own uniquely shaped wine bottles that signified the region it came from. It also plays a role in how the wine ages because of air contact at different areas in the bottle.
The three main shapes are the “Bordeaux” style bottle, the “Hoch” or “Rhine” style bottle and the “Burgundy” style bottle. The “Bordeaux” style bottle basically has straight sides with curved shoulders and was named after the Bordeaux region in France where it originated. The “Hoch” or “Rhine” style has a very smooth, tall and slender shape while the “Burgundy Bottle” has a long sloping shoulder that merges into a short cylindrical section. There are other shapes of wine bottles but these tend to dominate the market.
Some bottles have a punt, semi-punt or no punt at the bottom of the bottle. That is the dimple at the base. There is no consensus reason for the purpose of the dimple, but there are numerous theories as to why this may be used.

Wine Bottle Sizes
There is no standard size when it comes to wine bottles. Some people may be surprised by this fact but that is true. There is an extremely wide range in sizes. The smallest size would be the “Picolo” which is a quarter of a bottle and contains .175 liters of wine and the largest size is the ”Melchior” which contains 24 bottles worth of wine or 18 liters. There are a number of sizes in between. A typical bottle contains .750 liters of wine. What size wine bottles you decide to use will be left up to you.

Wine Bottle Colors
There are also many different colors used for wine bottles. Green, blue, amber, frosted white or red are some of the color options to choose from. The main reason for colored wine bottles is to help filter out light. Do you think you would bottle a red wine in a clear bottle? That would not be advisable unless you are going to drink it straight away, then it wouldn’t matter. If you are going to let it age on the other hand, you want to use a dark colored wine bottle.

When you are choosing your own wine bottles to use for your homemade wine, you can really choose whatever style you like. Remember that when you are doing something for yourself, you are in control and you are allowed to be creative and make your own decisions. It all depends on what type of wine you are making, the volume, and how long you want it to sit before you get to enjoy it.