Servings per Bottle of Wine



Standard Wine Bottles

A standard bottle of wine holds 750 mL.

  • approximately six glasses,
  • a size that enables two people to enjoy three glasses each.
  • a 750-mL bottle contains approximately 25.4 ounces.

Wine ages better in larger bottles. And a magnum of table wine or a jeroboam of champagne is impressive.

Wine Bottle Sizes

Here are the various sizes, based on a 750-mL bottle.

  • Split: a quarter-size bottle (2 glasses)
  • Pint: half a standard bottle (3 glasses)
  • Standard: a 750-mL bottle (6 glasses)
  • Magnum: two bottles (12 glasses)
  • Jeroboam: four champagne bottles (24 glasses)
  • Rehoboam: six champagne bottles (36 glasses)
  • Methuselah: eight champagne bottles (48 glasses)
  • Salmanazar: twelve champagne bottles (72 glasses)
  • Balthazar: sixteen champagne bottles (96 glasses)
  • Nebuchadnezzar: twenty champagne bottles (120 glasses)

  • When deciding the number of wine bottles to purchase for a party, buy more wine than is needed, and allow for slight overages: calculate on the basis of five glasses of wine per 750-mL bottle, rather than six.

    Before making your purchase, check with the liquor store to see if the unopened wine bottles are refundable. A good rule is to be generous but never pressing.

    To ascertain the number of wine bottles to purchase, remember that a glass is filled no more than half full, or 4 ounces. One bottle serves six people a 4-ounce drink; two bottles serves twelve people; three bottles serves eighteen people. Remember, allow for overages and have extra bottles handy.

    The number of servings per bottle is largely determined by when the drink is taken.

    Aperitifs

    • Aperitifs are served before meals when guests are thirsty; plan on five to six servings per bottle.
    • When champagne is served as an aperitif, allow two glasses of champagne per person.

    Table Wine

    The amount of table wine is commensurate with the number of courses served with the meal and the length of time the guests are seated at the dinner table.

    • Multi-Course Meals. At a multi-course meal, normally one glass of white wine and two glasses of red wine are served. A minimum of three glasses of wine is poured per person for a total of 12 ounces per guest.
    • Simple Meals. At a simple meal, two glasses of wine are served per person, or a total of 8 ounces of wine per guest.
    • Luncheons. At luncheon, one and a half glasses of wine suffice, or 4 to 6 ounces per person.
    • Champagne with Meal. When champagne is served as a table wine, three glasses a person is sufficient.
    • Dessert Wine. Because dessert wine is served at the end of the meal, one glass is sufficient. Based on a 3-ounce serving, a bottle of dessert wine holds approximately eight glasses.
    • Champagne with Dessert. When champagne is served with dessert, one glass per guest is ample.
    • Liqueurs or Cordials. Following dessert and coffee, guests have little appetite or thirst, and a liqueur or cordial is offered in a small glass. Liqueur and cordial bottles hold approximately sixteen servings, a figure based on 1 ½ ounces per guest.
    • Brandy. The average serving of brandy consists of an ounce or two. Generally one drink is served, and the average bottle of brandy holds around twelve servings based on a 2-ounce drink.