Generally speaking, (I use that phrase a lot throughout this manual, but, rules are made to be broken…and generally are) tradition plays a major role in the art of making wine. European influence has had a major impact on the wines that we find and enjoy in today’s market. For the lack of having anywhere else to start, I have chosen to start with the bottle that wines are stored and shipped in. Whether you choose to believe it or not, with a little practice, almost anyone could identify the type of wine contained within a bottle … blindfolded, if you were allowed to feel the shape of the bottle. Traditionally, there are only three basic bottle types. Some European laws have gone so far as to mandate, which types, or styles of wine that can be bottled within each style of bottle. Let’s investigate this. The three standard bottle shapes used in today’s market are shown below. The Alsacian, the Burgundy, and the Bordeaux are names of the styles, pictured from left to right, and the wines contained within each bottle are from lighter…to fuller and bigger in style. (Just as you would find them in a tasting) In the European market, specifically France, wines are named after regions. French laws dictate the types of grapes that can be used to make each wine from that region along with many other standards, which must be met. Each of the bottles we have shown below are named after French wine growing regions thus, the wine contained within each bottle will be made from specific grape varietals. Since grape varietals all have distinctly different flavor and aroma characteristics it will make the identification of the wine in the bottle an easier task. I have already given you one hint of what you might find in each bottle, remember the bottles are lined up left to right, and from lighter to fuller in style.

Outside of France and specifically in the United States, wines are not named by region, as they are in France, but are named after the predominant grape varietals used to produce that wine. Remember? In France we said that the government mandates which grape varietals each region may use to produce a wine named after that region. The knowledge of what those varietals are will help us then in our identification process, regardless of where the wine is produced.

 

ALSACIAN	BURGUNDY	BORDEAUX
Bottle Identification
ALSACIAN or RHINE Green or brown glass Lighter styled white wines German Rieslings Chenin Blancs Gewurtztraminers Can be either sweet or dry Generally fruitier, or sweeter	BURGUNDY Generally Green glass Red or White wines Fruitier less dry styles, softer More feminine in style Chardonnays Chablis Pinot Noirs or Petite Sirahs Barolos or Barberas Less tannic-softer-Feminine	BORDEAUX  Generally Green or clear glass Red or White wines Drier-Bigger-More masculine Cabernets Merlots Chianti or Shiraz Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon Higher tannins and acidity
FOOD MATCH  Ideal cocktail wine if sweet or fruity is preferred Spicier dishes Asian cusines Some South American dishes Saltier dishes Cheeses	FOOD MATCH   Dishes with fruit based sauces Poultry Seafood Lighter white or red meats (I.e. Pork or Veal) Game	FOOD MATCH Dishes with rich red sauces Heavy Red meats Butter or cream sauces for the whites

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