The evolution of the Burgundy bottle type is roughly as follows:
Origins and Early Formation (a vague phase until the 19th century):
The line of development is not particularly clear until it is explicitly mentioned in the 19th century, but containers for storing and transporting wine must have existed in the early days of the long history of winemaking in the Burgundy region of France. During a period when glass blowing and other processes were not yet mature and widespread, there may have been a variety of containers of less regular and uniform materials and shapes.
Initial finalization took place in the 19th century:
Development and application of glass processes: advances in glassmaking in the 19th century allowed for the production of more regularly shaped bottles.
Shape design factors:
In order to make it easier for workers to blow, the shape was deliberately designed to slide down from the mouth to the shoulder of the bottle and become larger, with smooth lines.
The main grape varieties in Burgundy, such as Pinot Noir, are thin-skinned, light-colored, with low tannins and less heavy sediment, so the bottles did not need to be designed with a distinctly square shoulder like the Bordeaux bottles in order to settle the dregs of the wine, and gradually formed a shape with a relatively narrow shoulder, a rounded body, a larger belly, and an elongated neck.
Burgundy wines also had a certain status and character in the market at that time, and this bottle shape also matched and associated with the style and image of Burgundy wines.
Late 19th Century - 20th Century :
As Burgundy wines spread throughout the French and European markets, their distinctive bottle shape became more recognizable to consumers and traders.
Burgundy châteaux and negociants pay more attention to standardizing and regulating bottle shapes in order to better present and differentiate their products.
Late 20th century - present:
Globalization:
With the global popularity of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, Burgundy bottle styles are increasingly being adopted around the world.
Some New World countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile use it for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
Other regions use Burgundy bottles for wines that have stylistic similarities to Burgundy wines (e.g., Pinot Noir), such as light-bodied wines with complex layers of flavors or brightly colored wines (e.g., Gamay and Nebbiolo wines, etc.).
Evolution of packaging and design:
Although the basic shape is retained, there is constant innovation and development in terms of the color of the glass of the bottle, the decorative details of the bottle (e.g., some wineries do artistic designs, reliefs, etc.), and the cork.
The color of the bottles is still mainly the traditional dark green, but some châteaux offer Burgundy bottles in different colors (e.g. transparent) according to the positioning of their products and the needs of the market.
