The Evolution of Wine Bottle Shapes: A Fascinating History

Most people are concerned with the quality of wine rather than with the vessel that contains it. The shape and composition of a wine bottle seems like a small detail, but holds a fascinating history. In this blog post, we take a journey through time and explore how wine bottle shapes and materials evolved. Let’s uncork the past and discover the stories behind these iconic vessels.

In the Beginning, There Were No Wine Bottles

Ceramic Wine Containers – From Bulky Shapes to a Narrow and Slim Design

In ancient times, people stored wine in bulky shaped earthenware containers. From the Bronze Age, wine vessels developed into a narrow and slim shape called the amphora, a design like an elongated flower vase with a long neck and pointed bottom. This shape allowed a tight fit among the containers and facilitated storage and transport. The narrow neck allowed a small amount of air to enter the bottle, limiting oxidation of the wine. A pointed bottom held back the sediment, and also made it easy to bury the bottle in the earth for cooler storage. The problem, of course, is that pottery breaks.

Wooden Barrels, A Better Way to Store Wine

Oak Wine Barrels – Even Better for Storage and Taste

Wooden wine barrels appeared in Europe during the Iron Age. The preferred wood was oak, as it was plentiful in European forests. Oak wood is soft and easily shaped into a barrel. Also, oak barrels are waterproof due to the compact grain of oak compared to other types of wood. People later noticed that oak pleasantly affected the taste of the wine stored within.

Glass Wine Bottles Finally Make an Appearance

According to Suhru Wines in their article History of the Bottle:

‘…Glass bottles were not used in wine on a large scale until the 17th century, although they were different shapes—squat, with large bases and short necks—than the wine bottles today. It wasn’t until the 1820s that glass wine bottles began to resemble the ones we use today…’

The Wine Cork Changed the Shape of the Wine Bottle

Surprisingly, the diminutive cork changed the shape of the wine bottle from a wide, bulky vessel to a narrow, cylindrical one. Wine bottles could now be stored on their sides.

Wine Bottle Shape Depends on the Grape

Originally, different wine making regions determined wine bottle shape. This made it easy for customers to know where the wine came from and what type of grapes were used. Today, advertising and aesthetics determine the shape of the wine bottle. Here are some classic wines and their typical bottle shapes:

Now that we know a bit more about wine containers and shapes, we can enjoy the wine even more. L’Chaim!

Further reading: What’s Behind The Unique Shape of the Brandy Glass