No Stupid Questions, part 2

Welcome to part 2 of our “No Stupid Questions” series!

Bordeaux, sparkling, burgundy, hock… what do all of these words have in common? They’re all wine bottle shapes! But…

Why do wines come in different shape and color bottles?

We’re so glad you asked!

All of Silver Thread’s bottles contain 750mL of wine (aside from the 1.5L), but the shape of the bottles differ. Back in the day when glass bottles were obtained from local artisans close to the winery, each region had a signature shape. The tall flute or “hock” bottle that we use for Riesling was the shape the Germans, Austrians, and Alsatians used. The steep-shouldered bottle we use for Blackbird originated in Bordeaux, France, the homeland of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The familiar Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bottles are called Burgundy, the name of the region those grapes call home.

In the U.S., we don’t have any rules or regulations dictating our choice of bottle shape and color. However, we like to put each wine in the shape and color bottle of the region that made that wine famous. Therefore, our Gewurztraminer is bottled in the brown flute of Alsace, the Estate Riesling in the antique green hock bottle of Rheingau, Germany, and our red Pinot Noir in a traditional Burgundy bottle.

Bottles left to right: Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Riesling