This was said by architect Louis Kahn in the 1960s. He believed that the asymmetrical elements of a building or its natural flaws enhance its completeness.
Philip Kotler, a master of design management and professor at Northwestern University, noted that "differentiation transcends the intrinsic value of a product." The modern design world is focusing on what is known as "wabi-sabi." This too is the beauty of imperfection. The atypical designs of architect Zaha Hadid and the crumpled clothes of Issey Miyake are all in this context.
By the 17th century, wine bottles took on a shape similar to what we see today. Before then, wine was primarily stored in pouches made of ceramic or goat leather. The official appearance of the modern wine bottle came in 1821, when the Cotswold Glassworks in England revolutionized the manufacturing process. They blew glass into a consistent shape to create bottles. The smooth, straight form facilitated transportation and storage.
The standard capacity of a wine bottle being 750ml was established at this time. It was the optimal size that a glassblower could make in one blow. Today, still, nine out of ten wine bottles adhere to this standard.
Currently, wine bottles are primarily divided into two types. Bottles with straight, right-angled bodies are called Bordeaux style. In contrast, bottles with curves are referred to as Burgundy style. These two regions are famous wine-producing areas in France.
The reason each famous wine region has different bottle shapes stems from practical needs, which have now become a means of expressing regional characteristics.
In the 19th century, Bordeaux was a center of wine trade connecting England and Paris. To enhance loading efficiency during the long journey to England, bottle shapes needed to be straight and uniform. The wines from this region are usually aged for consumption, and the sharp shoulders are suitable for managing sediment in older wines.
In contrast, Burgundy wines were primarily consumed in nearby areas where they could be delivered via carriage. To prevent bottles from rolling during transportation, the base of the bottles from this region was made wide.
Wine bottles from the southern Rhône region of France exhibit the free-spirited qualities of southern France. This area, referred to as southern France, has an entirely different culture from the Paris area. It follows the rhythm of nature without being rushed.
According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, 95% of grape farmers in the Rhône region still adhere to traditional cultivation methods. They use natural fertilizers instead of chemical ones. Rather than mechanical harvesting, they handpick grapes. They strive to obtain the best grapes within the limits set by nature.
In 1952, this region's winemaker, Charles Brotte, envisioned a wine bottle that embodied this aesthetic. He held a wine bottle design competition for Provençal potters and awarded the top prize to a bottle shaped like grapevines bent by the seasonal winds.
This northwestern seasonal wind, known as the Mistral, symbolizes the Rhône Valley. As vines twist and turn in this wind blowing from southern France towards the Mediterranean, they are spared from pests. The Mistral keeps the grapes dry during harvest season, enhancing their sweetness.
The wines of La Fiole, led by the Brotte family for generations, were later bottled in these atypical and twisted wine bottles. The name La Fiole comes from the Latin word 'phiala,' meaning precious vial. At one time in the 14th century, the papacy was centered in the Rhône region's city of Avignon, and Pope John XXII used this place as a summer villa where he managed the vineyard himself.
Brotte capitalized on this and adorned the wine bottle "La Fiole Châteauneuf-du-Pape" made from vineyards that include the term "pape" (Pope) with golden powder. The softly glowing twisted bottle evokes images of an ancient precious vial accumulated over time.
Brotte emphasizes that the twisted and bent bottles symbolize how the Rhône region approaches wine. He encapsulated the beauty crafted by nature and time, embracing craftsmanship that rejects perfect standardization. Wine historian Hugh Johnson remarked that "La Fiole has elevated wine bottles to the status of art pieces."
La Fiole's La Fiole Côtes du Rhône Rouge won the grand prize at the 2024 Korea Alcohol Awards. The importing company is Dongwon Wine Plus.