BOTTLE FORMATS

A Bit of History

In 1866, a standard format for wine bottles was officially established to facilitate trade between France and Great Britain, the main purchaser of French wine. There was some concern at the time because the British used a different measurement system than the French. To avoid confusion during the transition, the two countries agreed on a wine transport capacity of 225 liters, which is equivalent to 50 gallons (1 gallon = 4.54609 liters), or approximately 225 liters. A barrel of 225 liters is equivalent to 300 bottles of 750 ml. Increasing the bottle capacity to 750 ml resolved the conversion issue between France and England, thus facilitating exchanges. 750 ml bottles are now standardized worldwide. One gallon equals six 750 ml wine bottles. This is why the market sells wine crates filled with 6 or 12 bottles. Wine is bottled in various formats. The most common bottle is the traditional 750 ml bottle, but different sizes are also available. Each bottle is named differently depending on its capacity.

Why are there so many bottle formats?

Wine stored in larger bottles is less likely to oxidize than in smaller bottles. To properly store wine, it is important to avoid sudden temperature changes to prevent deterioration and poor conservation during maturation. In conclusion, the larger the bottle volume, the longer it will take for the wine temperature inside the bottle to change.

Formats