Burgundy or Bordeaux Wine Bottles

For mass produced wine bottles, there are two main glass bottle types in use today, each distinguished by their shape. They are suitable for both still and sparkling wines. These are the Burgundy and the Bordeaux.

The Burgundy bottle is characterised by its sloping shoulder and pear-shaped body, and can be traced further back in history. Its name derives from the region of Burgundy in France, where it was traditionally used for the wines that were produced and bottled locally. The shape of this bottle was primarily because of the ease of production by the glass makers of the time. Other bottles used today are not so constrained on a technical level, but the style remains popular.

The Bordeaux wine bottle is also named after the region in which the wines it contains were produced. Whereas the Burgundy was seen as the easier to produce, the Bordeaux’s design gave consideration to the practicalities of storage in wine racks and shelves. Its straighter sides and rounder shoulder profiles were preferred. The rounder shoulders showed themselves to be of further benefit to the consumer, assisting with the retention of any sediment in the wine.

The colour of the bottle is a major element in the overall presentation of the wine. The colours selected are usually determined by the product that they will be filled with rather than any functional differences. As a general rule, white wines went into flint bottles and red wines into green or amber glass. There is much to be said on the topic of the right colour glass with the right product, but there is little to differentiate between the Burgundy and Bordeaux bottles in this sense.

The punt of the bottle is the conical dip in the base, with a variable depth. Although neither of the bottle types are defined by the depth of the punt in their base, this element still plays an important role when it comes to finding the ideal bottle for any particular wine. Historically, a deeper punt has been associated with more luxury wines, as somewhere for the waiter to place their thumb while they pour the bottle, giving them better grip.

The perception of the punt’s role may have led to a reality through its own self enhancing reputation, but the practicalities of the punt are much more straightforward. The deeper the punt, the stronger the bottle. This is especially important for carbonated (sparkling) wines, since the base of the bottle is often the weakest part. The punt provides a resistance generated by tensile stress through internal pressure as the wine bottle is filled. A deeper punt enhances this and further reinforces the bottle. The punt can also minimise the contact that the base comes into with any surface. This further reduces the chance of surface damage that can lead to fracturing and breaking.

The main considerations when it comes to deciding between Burgundy and Bordeaux wine bottles are:

Which design appeals most aesthetically?
Are there any storage concerns to factor in?
Is there a requirement for a deeper punt either structurally (such as with sparkling wines) or to add prestige?

To learn more about which bottle types are right for your business, take a look at our wine bottles. Alternatively, contact our sales team on 01799 533 400.