The Burgundy bottle is characterised by its sloping shoulder and pear-shaped body, and can be traced further back in history. Unsurprisingly, the 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 maker when compared to some of the other bottle designs that we see in use today.

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, with the straighter sides and rounder should profiles being preferred. The rounder shoulders showed themselves to be of further benefit to the consumer, assisting with the retention of any sediment in the wine.

While 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, with white wines going into flint bottles and red wines going 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.

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. While this perception may have led to a reality through its own self enhancing reputation, 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, and a deeper punt enhances this. The punt can also minimise the contact that the base comes into with any surface, further reducing the chance of surface damage that can lead to fracturing and breaking.

So, when it comes to choosing between the Burgundy and the Bordeaux wine bottles, the main considerations are as follows:

• 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 or contact our sales team on 01799 533 400.