Why are wine bottles 75 cl?

During a meal, you might have wondered why wine bottles are typically 75 cl and not one liter.

There are many theories about why wine bottles are 75 cl, but discover the true reason behind this particular size in our article.

Many Theories

Wine bottles began to be standardized in the 19th century, and the 75 cl format appeared around this time. Since then, there have been numerous theories explaining why wine producers chose to sell bottles of 75 cl rather than one liter.

Some suggest that 75 cl is an ideal volume for wine preservation. Others propose that this volume fits the ideal amount of wine consumed per meal. Another theory is that 75 cl corresponds to the lung capacity of a glassblower needed to create the bottle.

However, all these theories are incorrect. There is a much more practical and economic reason behind the 75 cl wine bottle format. Furthermore, since 2007, European legislation has standardized bottling, allowing over 8 different bottle sizes ranging from 100 milliliters to 1.5 liters.

75 cl Bottles for Easier Trade

The 75 cl wine bottle format, as opposed to one liter, originated from the need to harmonize trade with England. In the 19th century, England was one of the main importers of French wines. Since the English used a different measurement system than France, wine producers had to adjust their standard volume to facilitate trade with the country.

Wine producers delivered their wine in barrels calculated according to the English measurement: the imperial gallon (one gallon equals 4.54609 liters). To streamline trade, French producers opted for standard volumes that were easy to convert between liters and gallons. Thus, exports were made in 225-liter barrels, equivalent to 50 gallons. Therefore, 50 gallons correspond to 300 bottles of 75 cl. This particular measure then became the standard. Wine is typically sold in cartons of 6 or 12 bottles, with one gallon equaling 6 bottles of 75 cl.

Now that you know the origin of the 75 cl wine bottle format, feel free to explore our selection of French wines from estates and domains across all regions: Bordeaux, Loire, Burgundy, Provence, Rhône Valley. We offer white wine, red wine, rosé, and Champagne to accompany all your moments of conviviality.

FAQ - The 75 cl bottle

Why are wine bottles 75 cl and not one litre?

The format comes from harmonising trade with England in the 19th century. French producers chose a volume that was easy to convert between litres and imperial gallons, which explains the 75 cl rather than a round litre.

Since when has the 75 cl format been standardised?

Wine bottles began to be standardised in the 19th century, when the 75 cl format appeared. It then established itself as the market norm.

How many 75 cl bottles fit in a 225-litre barrel?

A 225-litre barrel equals 50 imperial gallons, or exactly 300 bottles of 75 cl. One gallon corresponds to 6 bottles, which made selling in cartons of 6 or 12 straightforward.

Does 75 cl match a glassblower's lung capacity?

No, this explanation is a myth. Like the ideal-preservation or one-meal theories, it is incorrect: the real reason is commercial and comes from converting volumes into English gallons.

Are other bottle sizes allowed for wine?

Yes. Since the 2007 European legislation standardising bottling, more than 8 formats are accepted for wine, ranging from 100 millilitres to 1.5 litres.