From the adorable little split to the herculean Nebuchadnezzar, wine is bottled in a dizzying assortment of differently sized vessels. Not only does each hold a different volume of wine, but they also have cool names derived from biblical kings and other historical figures. Show
Large-format bottles tend to age more gracefully, as they have less oxygen exposure. Of course, these colossal trophy bottles also deliver grandeur and bring the “wow” factor to dinner parties. So whether you want a single pour of Prosecco or to host a party for 200 of your closest friends, there’s a bottle for every occasion. Check out our cheat sheet for wine bottle sizes, the stories behind their names, and how many glasses of wine are in each bottle. Split or PiccoloSize: 187.5 ml, holds ¼ standard bottle or 1 glass of wineThe ideal single-serve bottle, used almost exclusively for sparkling wines. Half or DemiSize: 375 ml, holds ½ standard bottle or 2.5 glasses of wineHalf of a standard 750-ml bottle, this size is a lovely option to share a healthy glass of something special with another person. Half-liter or JennieSize: 500 ml, holds ⅔ standard bottle or 3 glasses of wineWhile there’s no official name, falling between a half- and full-sized bottle, this format is primarily used for Tokaj, Sauternes and several other types of sweet wines. StandardSize: 750 ml, holds 1 standard bottle or 5 glasses of wineOld faithful. This standard bottle equates to approximately five 5-ounce glasses of wine. LiterSize: 1 L, holds 1⅓ standard bottles or 7 glasses of wineThese deliver more bang for your buck and have grown in popularity in recent years, particularly with value European wines. MagnumSize: 1.5 L, holds 2 standard bottles or 10 glasses of wineA collector’s choice for cellaring ageworthy reds, magnums also excel at making a visual splash at parties. Jeroboam or Double MagnumSize: 3 L, holds 4 standard bottles or 20 glasses of wineWhen one magnum just won’t do, the Jeroboam brings twice the volume. It’s named for the first biblical king of the northern kingdom of Israel . Rehoboam (Jeroboam in Bordeaux)Size: 4.5 L, holds 6 standard bottles or 30 glasses of wineAnother reference to a biblical king, Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and grandson of David (of David and Goliath fame). These bottles are used primarily by big Champagne houses for larger quantities of sparkling wine. Methuselah or Imperial (Bordeaux)Size: 6 L, holds 8 standard bottles or 40 glasses of wineThe name of this format can refer to either an Imperial gallon or the oldest man in the Bible. Most just consider it a party in a bottle. SalmanazarSize: 9 L, or 12 standard bottles or 60 glasses of wineNamed after an Assyrian king, this oversized format houses a full case of wine in a single bottle. BalthazarSize: 12 L, or 16 standard bottles or 80 glasses of wineBalthazar, one of the Three Wise Men, would obviously have been smart enough to present a gift of 16 bottles of wine in one vessel. NebuchadnezzarSize: 15 L, holds 20 standard bottles or 100 glasses of wineNamed for the longest-ruling king of Babylon, the Nebuchadnezzar would also be the bottle of choice for Neo and Morpheus. MelchiorSize: 18 L, holds 24 standard bottles or 120 glasses of wineHolding 24 standard bottles (or two cases) of wine and tipping the scales at almost 100 pounds, you might need some help carrying this down to the cellar. Named for the oldest of the biblical Magi. SolomonSize: 20 L, holds 26 standard bottles or 130 glasses of wineNamed after the son of King David, rumor has it that Solomon would only enjoy his Cabernet out of this 26-bottle behemoth. SovereignSize: 26 L, or 35 standard bottles or 175 glasses of wineA newer entry, Taittinger crafted this gigantic bottle in 1988 for the launch of what was then the world’s largest cruise liner, Sovereign of the Seas. Primat or GoliathSize: 27 L, or 36 standard bottles or 180 glasses of wineCould a bottle that can hold three cases of wine be called anything else but Goliath, the giant defeated by young David? Melchizedek or MidasSize: 30 L, or 40 standard bottles or 200 glasses of wineWe can let these two historical kings, Melchizedek and Midas, battle it out for bragging rights on whose name is best suited for the largest wine bottle on earth. Your Visual Cheat Sheet to Bottle SizesPhoto by Julia Lea / GettyIs a bottle of wine 750 ml?Standard wine bottles contain 750 ml of wine. That's 25 fluid ounces, or 1.31 pints. Within one of these 750 ml bottles, it's generally accepted that there are five glasses of wine per bottle. This assumes you're drinking a standard serving size of 5 ounces.
Is 500 ml a bottle of wine?Size: 500 ml, holds ⅔ standard bottle or 3 glasses of wine
While there's no official name, falling between a half- and full-sized bottle, this format is primarily used for Tokaj, Sauternes and several other types of sweet wines.
Is 250 ml a bottle of wine?It is worth remembering that a 250ml serving is a whole third of a bottle.
How many servings is 750 ml of wine?In a standard 750-mL bottle of wine, there are roughly five glasses of wine. This means that with each serving, you'll want to aim to pour yourself one-fifth of the bottle.
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