Comments on: Traditionally a Chianti wine bottle has a wicker basket around the bottom half. Why? http://tncwines.com/traditionally-a-chianti-wine-bottle-has-a-wicker-basket-around-the-bottom-half-why Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:28:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: joe s http://tncwines.com/traditionally-a-chianti-wine-bottle-has-a-wicker-basket-around-the-bottom-half-why/comment-page-1#comment-8913 joe s Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:04:42 +0000 http://tncwines.com/traditionally-a-chianti-wine-bottle-has-a-wicker-basket-around-the-bottom-half-why#comment-8913 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) 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)

]]> By: Noodles McGurk http://tncwines.com/traditionally-a-chianti-wine-bottle-has-a-wicker-basket-around-the-bottom-half-why/comment-page-1#comment-8912 Noodles McGurk Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:19:46 +0000 http://tncwines.com/traditionally-a-chianti-wine-bottle-has-a-wicker-basket-around-the-bottom-half-why#comment-8912 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. 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.

]]> By: Chris http://tncwines.com/traditionally-a-chianti-wine-bottle-has-a-wicker-basket-around-the-bottom-half-why/comment-page-1#comment-8911 Chris Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:27:59 +0000 http://tncwines.com/traditionally-a-chianti-wine-bottle-has-a-wicker-basket-around-the-bottom-half-why#comment-8911 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. 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.

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