Traditionally a Chianti wine bottle has a wicker basket around the bottom half. Why?
there’s also a straw rope like a handle connecting the basket to the neck of the bottle.
1995 TENUTE,MARCHESE ANTINORI,CHIANTI CLASSIC,MAGNUM | US $21.05 (2 Bids) End Date: Monday Apr-05-2010 17:56:14 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
1997 Fattoria Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia RP & WS92
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1970 Chianti Bottle
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As near as I can figure it started as a marketing gimmick in Italy to dress up what was otherwise a very poor quality jug of wine. The wicker basket took off in the North American market in the 50’s and 60’s as the import of wine began to increase and everyone fell for the “romantic” look of the bottle (and of course it’s iconic use as a candle holder once emptied), despite the fact that it was still awfully cheap wine. Fortunately our palates have improved since then! A link to an interesting article on the subject is provided below.
They used to be shipped in boxes without cardboard inserts to protect the bottle.The wicker basket protected it from breakage.The handle,i don’t know but in Italian restaurants they used to hang the bottles with the rope.
I only know of 5 or 6 producers that use the wicker basket, This is out of 500 to 600 winerys in Tuscany that produce Chianti.
It was originally used to protect the round bottle inside the wicker during shipment,
That shape bottle was a lot easier to make and less expensive than the traditional wine bottle. So I would guess that it was more economical.
Italians called the wicker bottle a “fiasco” (flask)