Wine has been produced and enjoyed for thousands of years, and throughout history, wine bottles have come in various shapes and sizes. However, it wasn’t until the early 18th century that the 750 ml size began to gain prominence. This standardized size was primarily influenced by the technological advancements in glass manufacturing.
There are many theories about it. These are the ones I personally find most realistic:
1. In 18th century Europe, they first realised how important it was to store wine in glass bottles. At the time, glass bottles were hand made by artisans who would blow them one by one. Because of this, the size of the bottle they could produce was limited by the strength of their lungs. They could blow bottles up to 650 or 750ml. The 750ml bottle became the standard container for wine so to maximise the liquid stored in one container.
2. In the 19th century the main customer of the French wine producers was England. The English unit of measurement for liquid volume is imperial gallon, which is equal to 4.54609ltrs.
To simplify the calculations when converting units of measurement, the French transported wine from Bordeaux in 225litre barrels or exactly 50 gallons, corresponding to 300 bottles of 750 ml. To make it easier for them, they assumed that 50 gallons = 300 bottles.
So, one gallon corresponds to 6 bottles. In fact, this is the reason why even today, wine cases often contain 6 bottles.
3. Wine is a complex and delicate beverage that often improves with age. The 750 ml bottle size was found to be optimal for wine aging and maturation. This size allows for the right balance between oxygen exchange and wine volume, ensuring that the wine ages gracefully and develops its desired flavours and aromas over time.
Cheers!
