how many glasses in wine bottle

Believe it or not, measuring how many glasses are in a bottle of wine is an exact science. If you like filling your glass to whatever level you are in the mood for, this fact may be unwelcome – but there is an upside; it makes planning a social event way easier.

How much wine to buy for a party?

When you are arranging a dinner or party, you have enough stress without blindly guessing how much wine you need for your guests. Probably the best approach is to assume most people will drink between two and three glasses each over the course of an evening. This is especially true for dinner parties if you plan to serve sparkling, red, white, and sweet wine to match each course (OK – maybe three to four glasses each!). Count your heads, calculate how many glasses that means in total, and make sure you have a little more wine in stock than you need so you are covered. You can always put any extra aside for your next celebration.

So, how many glasses of wine in a bottle are there?

Standard wine bottle + standard serving amount

Did you know that in the world of wine, there are nearly 20 different bottle sizes ranging from a Split to a Midas? While the story behind this array of bottle sizes is a fascinating one, the bottle we are interested in here is the 750ml bottle. Also known as the Standard, this is the size we enjoy and share wine from most of the time.

From a Standard, you get five 150ml glasses of wine. That is a nice, easy number to remember that makes it simple to do the math for your get together. Put another way, if you calculate how many ounces in a bottle of wine there are, you will come up with the number 25. This works out as five ounces for each glass.

Wine glass size vs. serving size

Is there any reason why you cannot take a red wine glass and fill it to the top with Cabernet Sauvignon or pour half a bottle of that gorgeous Pinot Gris into suitable stemware (yes, there really are glasses that big)?

In all seriousness though, it is the United States Department of Agriculture that has decided on the benchmark of five servings per Standard bottle. There is some enological reasoning behind all of this. Whether you are solo sipping or hosting a gathering, you want maximum enjoyment from your wine. When it only fills part of the glass, there is room for its special aromas and flavors to unfurl.

However, you can divide a 750ml bottle into bigger servings if you prefer: four glasses of wine come out at six ounces each while a Standard bottle will give you three large eight-and-a-half ounce glasses. Just remember that some space in the glass enhances your drinking experience.

It is also worth noting that some sweet wines like Tokaj and Sauternes can come in smaller bottles than the Standard. Simply pick the glass serving measurement that suits you and factor this into your calculations for the overall supply you need.

How many glasses in a case of wine?

Speaking of overall supply, whether you are getting a stock of wine to replenish your wine rack or cellar, or you are holding a party, you are likely thinking in terms of more than two or three bottles.

This leads to the question of how many bottles are in a case of wine.

Wine cases generally come with three flexible capacities. These are three-bottle, six-bottle, and twelve-bottle cases. If you are having a dinner party, you might want a full twelve-bottle case of reds, whites, or a mix of both, and a three-bottle case of sweet wines to go with dessert. On the other hand, if you are celebrating an important milestone such as an anniversary or a success like a college graduation, a six or twelve-case of bubbly will flow nicely.

While three, six, and twelve-bottle cases are the norm, it is not out of the question to get a single bottle box. This will fit the bill if you want to order a very special bottle to sample or savor.

 

Working out how much wine is in a bottle and case is clear cut. It all depends on what you are ordering your wine for and how much you need. Just remember the glass measurement guide, do some math, and you will be good to go.