Some of the most common glass bottle shapes--HIGHTOR Glass Bottles

Bordeaux bottle

Named after the famous Bordeaux region of France, it is blended based on red grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This shape is often used in blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and red wines.

Burgundy bottle

Named after the French region of Burgundy, known for its world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it is a style with a lower shoulder and a larger base. As a result, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are produced in this style of bottle all over the world.

Champagne bottle

Named after the spiritual home of French sparkling wine, champagne bottles are used around the world to hold sparkling wine. There are a few variations on this style, but they all have slightly sloping shoulders (the area below the neck of the bottle) and a large indent ("punt") at the bottom to help safely control the pressure added by the air bubbles.

German / Alsace bottle

These tall, thin bottles are often used to bottle aromatic white wines produced in Germany and the nearby Alsace region of France. You'll usually find them with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, or Pinot Blanc.

Dessert wine bottle

Short and thin, dessert wine bottles commonly used for sweet wines such as ice wine and late harvest wines. They are actually are half-sized bottles (375 ml), used to highlight the luscious intensity and small production of these wines.

The next time you're shopping for wine, keep these styles in mind for a quick-take of what might be inside the bottle. Of course, there are always exceptions to these "rules," so be sure to check the label to confirm you're actually getting the style or grape that you've got your heart set on before parting with your hard-earned cash.