What Can I Learn About a Wine by the Shape of Its Bottle?

A lot. Bottle shapes are used to identify the wine inside. They won’t tell you if it’s any good — you’ll have to determine that yourself. Lucky you.

The Claret / Bordeaux Bottle 

Claret

This bottle is defined by its high shoulders. (Think: the silhouette of a linebacker.) Expect to find Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons, pinot grigios, Malbecs, and Sauvignon blancs in here; it’s the most common bottle shape in production.

The Burgundy Bottle

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The Burgundy has shoulders, but they’re gently tapered — less football player, more futbol player. Uncork a bottle, and you’ll find a pinot noir, Beaujolais, Chardonnay, or a number of oaked whites inside.

The Mosel / Hock Bottle

Mosel

These bottles are slim, slender and delicate, an apt reflection of the dessert wines and Rieslings within.