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Have you ever gone to order wine and been completely baffled by the different wine bottle sizes available?
There are so many wine bottle sizes that it can be overwhelming trying to make a decision. Understanding how much wine each bottle holds and their uses can help you make smarter decisions and take bar inventory faster and more accurately. We can help with both.
We took a look at the most common and uncommon sizes of wine bottles. And we broke it all down for you by ounces and ml.
Some of these bottles you'll use on a daily basis and some may never encounter. We'll explain how much wine each bottle holds and a few other helpful tips. Please note that all usage of ounces in this article refers to fluid ounces.
What Are the Different Wine Bottle Sizes?
The most common wine bottles you'll come across in the bar business are the 750 ml standard wine bottle and 1.5 liter Magnum bottles. Most people will never even interact with any size of a wine bottle but the standard, but they may want to know how many ounces in a wine bottle. Only the finest vintages of wine are sold in larger sizes.
However, there are a number of unique wine bottle sizes out there. You may encounter some if you're experimental in your wine journey or purchasing wine for high-class affairs. From small, single-serving bottles to a bottle twice as large as a full case of wine. We'll break down both the usual and unusual sizes below.
Common Wine Bottle Sizes Chart
Here's a chart with the most common sizes of wine bottles, along with how many ounces and ml they contain. Many of these are common liquor bottle sizes as well, so expect to see them often.
Uncommon Wine Bottle Sizes
Split Wine Bottle
This small bottle of wine called a split is also called a piccolo and holds 187.5 ml of wine. That's one-quarter of the standard bottle and is usually used for single servings of Champagne.
Rehoboam Wine Bottle Size
Now entering the Biblically-named sizes, the Rehoboam wine bottle holds 4 liters of wine. Only the finest of vintages are likely to be seen in this size or larger. These bottles avoid oxidation better and result in more flavorful aged wine.
Salmanazar Wine Bottle Size
The Salmanazar holds 9 liters of wine or the equivalent of 12 bottles of wine. That's a whole case of wine!
Balthazar Wine Bottle Size
The equivalent of two Imperial bottles, a Balthazar bottle holds 12 liters of wine.
Nebuchadnezzar Wine Bottle Size
The Nebuchadnezzar bottle of wine holds a hefty 15 liters. That's the same as 20 standard bottles. It is named after a Babylonian king.
Solomon Wine Bottle Size
Also known as the Melchior, the Solomon bottle contains an astonishing 18 liters. That's equivalent to 24 standard bottles of wine or two full cases of wine. If you get your hands on a bottle this large, be careful. Adhere to the correct wine storage temperature and use the proper wine cellar lighting. Don't waste a bottle of wine worth thousands of dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions On Wine Bottle Sizes
If you're selling wine, enjoying it, or just looking to learn more, there are a few more things you may like to know. These common questions include:
How Many OZ in a Bottle of Champagne?
Champagne is meant for a party of any size - from solo enjoyment to New Year's Eve bashes. Since Champagne is meant for so many occasions, bottles of Champagne come in many sizes. That said, a standard 750 ml bottle of Champagne holds 25.36 ounces, which is roughly enough to fill five or six flutes. There are also mini bottles for smaller celebrations, and you can find giant bottles for huge parties. The question of how many oz in a bottle of Champagne really depends on the occasion.
How Many Servings in a Bottle of Wine?
Typically, a standard bottle of wine will pour out four or five servings. This is assuming a standard size pour. If you're pouring an extra full glass at the end of a long week, this number will change. Learn more by reading about how to pour wine.
What are The Interesting Wine Bottle Size Names?
You’ve probably noticed that wine bottle sies have very interesting names. That’s because a majority of them come from Biblical references to kings and other important figures. This may seem odd, but historically, wine was typically fermented by monks in monasteries.
Here’s the origin of some of the different wine bottle size names:
- Jeroboam - The first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
- Rehoboam - The first king of the Kingdom of Judah.
- Salmanazar - Based on Shalmaneser V, king of the ancient Neo-Assyrian Empire.
- Balthazar - One of the three wise men in the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus.
- Nebuchadnezzar - Based on Nebuchadnezzar II, the second king of the ancient Neo-Babylonian Empire.
- Solomon - Solomon was the son of David and the king of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah.
All Bottled Up
The wine bottle is a beautiful creation. With a long slender neck and graceful shape, any size bottle can be a masterpiece on your shelf. They're more than just art pieces, though. Wine bottles are the key to happy customers and a well-run business. Look in your cellars to learn more and we'll show you how to sell wine. or create a wine list.
You may want to serve guests champagne in Piccolo bottles for New Year's Eve. You may break out a Rehoboam of 100-year-old wine for a celebrity. Understanding the servings in each and when to use them will keep a good bar manager on top of their game. Don't let any wine go to waste.