I am curious why bottles are generally shaped according to varietal and/or region. Rieslings, along with other Alsatian varietals, are usually in bottles shaped alike. Pinot and/or Burgundian bottles are generally similar. Port bottles are similar..... There are, of course, exceptions to the bottle shapes as you can see with Turley Zinfandel and others. Is the shape dictated by tradition or are the designated shapes deemed to be better for whatever style of wine they contain – similar to using different shapes of glasses to enhance the drinking of the wine? I know why Champagne must be in the types of bottles that they are in, because of the high pressure, but some of these bottles are just a pain when it comes to cellaring them or putting them in the fridge.

I've been told that the difference in shape between bordeaux and burgundy bottles originated historically from the different types of dépôt both styles of wine have.

Where older bordeaux has large bits of residu, that are held from your glass by the typical shoulder of the bottle, burgundy has usually a more hazy residu, that can only settle by leaving the bottle upright long enough and then decant it delicately.

The rest of the wine bottle shapes are often due to fantasy or tradition, I guess.