Wine bottles made of glass or other materials with a balloon-shaped body in many sizes from 2 to 50 litres and more. The first small-format wine bottles were produced in the 17th century and also had a balloon- or spherical-shaped body. The base of a balloon bottle is only about half the circumference of the bottle's belly in the middle. Together with a slight inward curvature, this protects it against breaking when it is placed on the table. Special wooden racks also allow for stacking. There are also models with a tap for dispensing (see picture on the left). To protect them from breakage and damaging light, they are often covered with a mesh of straw, raffia, willow or similar material as well as plastic, which is why they are also called demijohns.
As honorary chairman of the Domäne Wachau, it is the easiest and quickest way for me to access the wein.plus encyclopaedia when I have questions. The certainty of receiving well-founded and up-to-date information here makes it an indispensable guide.
Hans-Georg Schwarz
Ehrenobmann der Domäne Wachau (Wachau)