10 Exciting Facts About Wine & Champagne Bottles

Wine & champagne bottles have some fascinating history and are steeped in exciting facts and drama. As we are a hybrid packaging supplier with glass bottles being one of our central departments for commercial and wholesale brands, we have embarked on a pleasant journey to bring you our top ten facts about the etiquette of glass bottle making.

#1 – Why Is A Wine Bottle 750ml?

The standard wine bottle size is 750ml which works with the current European legislation for bottle packaging. They state that wine can be sold if packed in a specifically sized container. The 750ml bottle seems to be the most all-rounder regarding consumer practicality and manufacturing standards. Here are a few facts about the 750ml standard glass bottle:

• 750ml is the exact quantity of wine per 6 serving for glasses of 125ml
• The 750ml standard measure was a metric adaptation of the fifth (a fifth of a gallon)
• Glassblowers in the 18th century had the strength to blow an average bottle size of 750ml

#2 – Why Is 750ml Called A Quart?

A fifth is a unit of volume formerly used for wine and distilled beverages in the United States, equal to one-fifth of a U.S. liquid gallon, or 25+3⁄5 U.S. fluid ounces (757 millilitres); it has been superseded by the metric bottle size of 750ml, sometimes called a metric fifth, which is the standard capacity of wine bottles worldwide and is approximately 1% smaller.

#3 – Why Is 750ml Called A Full Bottle?

The full bottle terminology dates back to the origin of the glass bottle blowers. The capacity of their lungs was referenced as a “full bottle”. The average blower could fill a bottle with air and reach a size of 600ml – 800ml. This resulted in the average-sized wine bottle being 750ml.

#4 – What Are The Standard Sizes Of Wine Bottles?

Bottle manufacturers tend to offer a range of sizes and designs. However, a 750ml bottle is the most popular by far, but other sizes are also available:

• 125ml
• 250ml
• 350ml
• 500ml
• 700ml
• 750ml
• 1000ml
• 2000ml

#5 – What Are Examples Of Wine Bottle Shapes?

Wine bottle shapes come in all sorts of designs and sizes. Glass tends to offer a premium weight and projects a sense of luxury to many consumers. Wine glass bottles can also be coloured and shaped into many desired bespoke shapes. A good manufacturer will offer a range of stock wine or champagne bottles that can be viewed, tested and matched with a range of different caps and closures.

#6 – How Many Bottles Is A Methuselah?

Methuselah has many meanings but more importantly, in the world of wine and champagne – ‘Methuselah’ is the meaning for an oversized bottle containing 6L. This large bottle is the equivalent of 8 bottles of champaign. You will typically see F1 racing drivers receiving these famous large bottles on the podium after the race is complete.

#7 – What Is A Jeroboam?

A Jeroboam is also known as a “Double Magnum”. It is typically 18″ in height and 5″ wide and contains the equivalent of 4 standard bottles of wine! Jeroboam is a wine bottle with a capacity four times larger than that of an ordinary bottle. Here is a list of other exciting bottle sizes:

• Salmanazar – 9-litre champagne bottle
• Mathusalem – 6-litre champagne bottle
• Jeroboam – 5-litre wine or champagne bottle
• Magnum – 1.5-litre wine or champagne bottle
• Bouteille – 0.75-litre glass bottle
• La Demie – 0.5-litre glass bottle
• Le Quart – 0.2-litre glass bottle
• Check here for more amazing different sized bottles.

#8 – How Many Bottles Are In A Balthazar

The Balthazar is also a large bottle used for champagne. Balthazar is a 12-litre bottle equivalent to 16 bottles of champagne. Other bottles include:

• Nebuchadnezzar: 15L – 20 bottles of Champagne
• Solomon: 18L – 24 bottles of champagne
• Sovereign: 26.25L – 35 bottles of champagne.

#9 – What Does The Term Corked Mean?

Sometimes, when a wine bottle is sealed with a cork, the cork may not close properly or could be faulty. For wine, if the terminology ‘corked’ is used, it means the wine is spoilt and has a musty smell upon opening. So it’s a good idea to smell and taste a sample of your wine before drinking.

#10 – Is 75cl The Same As 750ml?

Yes, 75cl is equivalent to 1 bottle of 750ml, which is six glasses of 125ml of wine or four drinks of 184ml. Furthermore, If you were to ask for a large glass of wine in a restaurant or pub, you should receive a glass with 250ml, which would be three glasses of wine per 750ml bottle.

Discover Berlin Packaging UK

Do you have a wine or champagne bottle idea that needs a professional touch? Berlin Packaging UK offers a beautiful collection of premium bottles, and the option to create something unique. If you want to enter into the world of sparkling beverages or perhaps produce a fine, velvet red wine? We have the tools to help get your project off the ground. So why not get in touch today and speak to one of our friendly Account Managers. We are ready to take your call and develop your ideas into a reality.