Bordeaux Bottles

The Bordeaux bottle is defined by its high, abrupt shoulder and straight cylindrical body. That shoulder is not only stylistic — when an aged red throws sediment, the square shoulder traps the deposit as the bottle is tipped, helping pour a clearer glass. The 750 ml standard, now fixed by EU and US law, grew up around this shape.

Its straight sides are the practical reason it dominates global wine: cylindrical bottles bin-store densely, label without distortion and run smoothly on high-speed bottling lines, which is why it is the default for everything from estate Cabernet to bulk private-label wine.

Classically the bottle of Bordeaux's Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends, it is now used for still reds and whites of almost every variety, rosé, and the great majority of New World and private-label wine. Dark green is traditional for reds (it also screens light that can degrade wine), while flint shows off the color of rosé and whites.

Two finish systems dominate: a cork mouth made to the CETIE bore standard, and the BVS 30 x 60 finish for aluminum screw caps. The bottle weight is a real specification — 'eco' bottles run around 380–410 g while heavy prestige bottles exceed 550 g — and it affects both shipping cost and shelf perception. A molded punt is standard, partly tradition, partly for strength and stacking.

Wine is filled cold, so thermal shock is rarely an issue, but fill height and headspace must be controlled so corks seat correctly and labels align. For cork closures, allow the bottle to stand briefly before laying down so the cork settles. Screwcap (BVS) finishes need an undamaged thread and a clean sealing ring for a reliable seal.

Specify a green or amber glass where the wine will see retail light for long periods, since UV and visible light can cause 'lightstrike' off-flavors, especially in delicate whites and rosé.

Wine bottles are narrow-neck containers formed by blow-and-blow or, for lighter weights, narrow-neck press-and-blow (NNPB), which controls glass distribution and allows lightweighting without weak spots. Color comes from iron, chromium and manganese oxides added to the batch.

After forming, bottles are annealed in a lehr to relieve stress, then surface-treated; finish bore and screw threads are gauged closely because cork and cap sealing depend on them.