In today’s marketplace, wine bottles come in a wide variety of sizes for differing occasions, but it’s not always apparent how and why these vessels got their names. This guide breaks down the different wine bottle sizes and their names to demystify the terminology and make you a more savvy wine patron.
Piccolo (187ml)
Piccolo is the Italian word for “small,” which is the perfect name for the charming wine bottle size. This small vessel contains one-fourth of the volume of a standard-size wine bottle. Also known as a Quarter Bottle or Pony, this wine bottle size is typically used for single servings of Champagne and other sparkling wines.
Demi (375ml)
Demi is the French word for “half,” these wine bottles get their name because their size contains exactly half of the volume of a standard bottle of wine. It's also known as a Split because this vessel contains approximately two glasses of wine.
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Standard (750ml)
The basic unit of measurement in the world of wine, a Standard bottle contains 750ml or about 25oz and will yield four to five glasses of wine. Standard bottles have two main shapes: Bordeaux bottles with straight sides and tall shoulders, and Burgundy bottles with gently sloping shoulders and wide bases. These terms refer to the two most important wine regions in France and the grapes they made famous. The so-called Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc traditionally come in the former shape, while the grapes of Burgundy such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are typically bottled in the latter shape.
Magnum (1.5L)
Magnum bottles contain the equivalent of two standard bottles of wine. Large format bottles such as Magnums are preferred by connoisseurs for their superior age-ability, mostly due to the reduced surface area of wine in the bottle with respect to the oxygen that slowly seeps in via pores in the cork closure (too much oxygen will spoil wine and turn it to vinegar, while a small amount over time will help it mature and develop additional complexity). Magnums are typically more expensive than two standard bottles of the same wine, owing to the fact that wineries have to retool their production lines in order to accommodate the larger bottles. These wine bottles get their name because of their massive size. They contain about ten full glasses of wine and certainly make a big impression at large gatherings.
