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I. Bottle shape.

1. Bordeaux
The high shouldered 'Bordeaux Bottle' is used by most wineries for Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and most Bordeaux blends. The Bordeaux bottle is also generally used for the white Bordeaux: Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon and their blends with Muscadelle.

2. Burgundy
The slope shouldered 'Burgundy Bottle' is generally used for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir around the world.

II. Color.

In general [ exception: clarets ], red Bordeaux wines have a dark purple and almost opaque color, while the Burgundy wines have a bright and clear ruby red color.

As far as the whites are concerned the color od Bordeaux is more concentrated towards gold, while white Burgundys are showing more light robe.

III. Label

“Château” is more often used in Bordeaux, while “Domaine” in Bourgogne.

IV. Nose & taste

Many red Bordeaux wines are rich, bodied, thick, and have a certain weight.
Bourgogne red wines are fruity, tart, and show a less pronounced roughness.

This originates with the grapes used.

There are 8 varieties allowed in Bordeaux:

Red Bordeaux:
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Gives bitter wines, good for long maturation, with typical herbaceous or green bell pepper flavor
- Merlot: in the traditional Bordeaux blend. Merlot's role is to add body and softness .
- Cabernet Franc: is lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon, making a bright pale red wine and contributing finesse and a peppery perfume to blends with more robust grapes.
- Petit Verdot: it is added in small amounts to add tannin, colour and flavour to the blend.
- Malbec: brings very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to Bordeaux blends.

For the great millesimes, their best maturation is after 15 - 20 years, and even longer. Traditionally regarded as the best investment wines.

White Bordeaux:
- Sauvignon Blanc: In general gives wines crisp, elegant, and fresh with grassy flavors
- Sémillon : The Sémillon grape is rather heavy, with low acidity and an almost oily texture. It has a high yield and wines based on it can age a long time
- Muscadelle: It has a simple aroma of grape juice and raisins

Red Burgundys:
are 100% made with Pinot Noir (except the Gamay).
This particular grape variety, is widely considered to produce some of the world's finest wines, but is quite difficult to cultivate and transform into wine. Bourgognes are considered to be the most elegant wines. This is because of their finesse and light structure. The tremendously broad range of bouquets, flavors, textures and impressions that Pinot Noir can produce, is totally unique. Traditional red Burgundy is famous for its fleshy, 'farmyard' aromas, but changing fashions and new easier-to-grow clones have favoured a lighter, fruitier style. Dominating fruits flavors, are these of cherry, raspberry or currant.

It is drank, usually after 5 years, except for the Grand Cru which will fully mature after 10 years and longer.

White Burgundys:
are 100% made of Chardonnay (except of Aligoté).
Traditionally in Bourgogne, both fermenation, as well as maturation, are processed in the barrels. Wines are always round, flavors are highly concentrated ( white fruits, white flowers, marzipan, hazelnut). In addition to being the most expensive, the Burgundy examples of Chardonnay were long considered the benchmark standard of expressing terroir through Chardonnay .

No doubt, that Bourgognes are totally different, from Bordeaux.

However, there is no doubt as well, that there is no, any other wine regions all over the world, offering such wide complexity and quality of produced wines, as well as generations long winemaking traditions.

Adam Stankiewicz, VINTRIPS