It’s a dilemma every host or hostess knows well: how many bottles of wine do I need for the party I’m hosting? You need to calculate how many glasses are in each bottle, how many glasses each guest will drink, how big are the glasses are that you will be pouring, and more.
It’s enough to make your head spin.
We’ve been there, and we’ve got you covered. In this article, we are going to break down how many glasses of wine are in a standard bottle, tell you all the bottle sizes that exist in the world, and give you tips on how to stretch a bottle of wine when you’re running low.
How is wine measured?
There are a few different measurements used for wine. You may find yourself confused by what these numbers actually mean. The most common measurement used is fluid ounces. Fluid ounces aren’t measured by weight, like ounces usually are, but by volume. A standard glass of wine is about five fluid ounces.
Another measurement you may see on your wine bottle’s label is mL, or milliliters. One mL is 1/1000 of a liter. The average glass of wine is about 147 mL. A standard bottle of wine holds 750 mL.
How many glasses of wine are in a bottle?
As previously mentioned, a standard wine bottle holds 750 mL of wine, which is equal to 25 fluid ounces. If a standard glass of wine is five fluid ounces, and 25 divided by 5 equals 5, then we can conclude that there are about five glasses in a standard bottle of wine.
However, this measurement isn’t cut and dry. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself running out of wine after only pouring three or four glasses. According to studies, the average wine glass has grown sevenfold over the past 300 years. In 1700, an average wine glass held 66 mL, or just over 2 ounces. With glass sizes growing so substantially, it’s difficult to eyeball when you’ve poured a standard glass.
Today, a standard white wine glass holds 12 fluid ounces, or 360mL. A standard red wine glass holds anywhere from 12-14 fluid ounces, or 415 mL. When pouring a standard glass of wine, you should be filling your glass a little less than halfway if you want to get the standard five glasses out of your bottle.
How many different wine bottle sizes are there?
While we know a standard bottle of wine is 750mL, did you know there are 16 other sizes of wine bottles on the market today? The standard size is the one you’ll see most commonly, but there are many others available on the shelves of your local liquor store.
- Split or Piccolo: This is the smallest available wine bottle size, holding only 187.5 mL, or one large glass of wine.
- Half or Demi: The second smallest available, holding 375 mL, or two and a half glasses.
- Half-liter or Jennie: As the name suggests, this size holds half a liter, or 500mL, aka three glasses of wine.
- Standard: As discussed, the standard wine bottle holds 750 mL, or five glasses of wine.
- Liter: A liter holds 1000 mL, or seven glasses.
- Magnum: Probably the largest bottle you’ll see regularly, a magnum is 1.5 L, equal to two standard bottles, and holds 10 glasses of wine.
- Jeroboam or Double Magnum: Holds 3 L, or four standard bottles, equal to 20 glasses of wine.
- Rehoboam: Equal to 4.5 L, or six standard bottles. This holds 30 glasses of wine.
- Methuselah: 6 L, or 12 standard bottles, or 40 glasses of wine.
- Salmanazar: 9 L, or 60 glasses of wine.
- Balthazar: 12 L, or 16 standard bottles, or 80 glasses of wine.
- Nebuchadnezzar: 15 L, or 20 standard bottles, or 100 glasses of wine.
- Melchior: 18 L, or 24 standard bottles, or 120 glasses of wine.
- Solomon: 20 L, or 26 standard bottles, or 130 glasses of wine.
- Sovereign: 26 L, or 35 standard bottles, or 175 glasses of wine.
- Primat or Goliath: 27 L, or 36 standard bottles, or 180 glasses of wine.
- Melchizedek or Midas: 30 L, or 40 standard bottles, or 200 glasses of wine. This is the largest bottle of wine in the world. Midas bottles can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
You likely won’t come across bottles bigger than a magnum in your day-to-day life. But hey, now you know what size to buy if you’re ever expecting 200 guests for dinner.
How many bottles do I need for my guests?
Now that you know how many glasses are in a standard bottle, you need to calculate how many bottles you’ll need to purchase for the number of guests you plan to have. While the top 10% of American drinkers could consume two bottles in a single evening, this isn’t the norm. Most people will drink around one to two glasses on a casual evening with friends.
To be safe, plan for each guest to have around three glasses. If you’re having three guests over, and you’re also planning to have a few glasses, you’ll need the equivalent of about 12 glasses of wine, or about three bottles. It’s a good idea to always keep a spare bottle around the house in general, to break out if necessary.
How do I stretch a bottle of wine?
If the worst happens, and your wine is disappearing faster than you can keep up with, don’t panic. There are ways to stretch out your bottles, so there’s enough for everyone.
Pour smaller glasses
This one seems obvious, but hey, maybe you didn’t think of it! If you find yourself running low on wine, pour smaller glasses for your guests. This way, everyone can have a little more wine, instead of one person getting a big glass and another person getting nothing.
Make wine spritzers
Wine spritzers are delicious, refreshing, and will stretch your bottle farther! Here are a few tried and true wine spritzer recipes that your guests are sure to adore.
Simple White Wine Spritzer
- 3 oz chilled white wine
- 1 oz club soda (any flavor)
- Lime wedge to garnish
Pour your wine and club soda into a wine glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime and serve.
Red Berry Wine Spritzer
- 3 oz sweet red wine
- 3 oz berry-flavored club soda
- Frozen blueberries and raspberries
Combine your club soda and red wine in a glass filled with ice. Pop in your frozen fruit for a refreshing garnish.
Pomegranate Champagne Spritzer
- 4 oz champagne or prosecco
- 1 oz pomegranate juice
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur
- 2 oz chilled sparkling water
- 1-2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
Combine your champagne, pomegranate juice, elderflower liqueur, and sparkling water in a glass field with ice. Top with pomegranate seeds and serve.
Make Sangria
Making a pitcher of sangria for your guests is another great way to stretch your bottle of wine. Here are a few standard sangria recipes to get you started, but don’t be afraid to get creative.
Traditional Spanish Sangria
- 1 medium apple, sliced
- 1 medium orange, sliced
- 3-4 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ⅓ cup brandy
- 1 750 mL bottle dry red wine
Add your apples, oranges, and sugar to a large pitcher, and muddle with a muddler or large wooden spoon for 45 seconds. Add your orange juice and brandy, and muddle again for 30 seconds. Add your red wine and stir to combine. Taste, and add more sugar, orange juice, and brandy to taste if you like. Let chill in the fridge, and serve over ice.
Simple White Wine Sangria
- ½ cup apricot brandy
- ¼ cup peach schnapps
- 1 bottle white wine
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 2 limes, sliced
- 1 ½ cup strawberries, sliced
- Club soda, prosecco, or ginger ale to taste
Combine your brandy, peach schnapps, and fruit in a large pitcher. Muddle for 30 seconds. Add in your white wine and let chill. Serve over ice, and top with club soda, ginger ale, or prosecco if you like.
Order wine delivery
Okay, okay, this isn’t technically stretching the bottle, but it’s good to have in your back pocket. Ordering wine delivery from Saucey is a great way to keep your guests happy when you’re running low on vino. We offer speedy delivery and no order minimums, so you’ll get exactly what you want, delivered right to your front door.
Takeaway
Buying enough wine for your guests can be confusing and stressful. But now that you know exactly how many glasses are in a standard bottle, how many glasses you can expect everyone to drink, and how to stretch your bottles if they’re going too quickly, you’re completely prepared to host your next gathering.
Remember, you can always count on Saucey for all your wine, beer, and spirits delivery needs.
