How many glasses in a bottle of wine?

This is one of those simple questions with a surprisingly useful answer — especially when you're planning a dinner party or stocking up for an event.

The standard pour is 125 ml (about 4.2 oz), which gives you exactly 6 glasses from a standard 750 ml bottle. That 125 ml fills a typical wine glass to about one-third — which is actually the ideal amount. The empty space above the wine is where aromas gather, so filling the glass higher doesn't just look excessive, it actually reduces your enjoyment.

In practice, pours vary. A fine dining restaurant might pour 120–150 ml (5–6 glasses per bottle). A casual wine bar often pours 150–180 ml (4–5 glasses). Professional tastings use just 50–70 ml per sample, stretching a single bottle to 10–15 pours.

For different bottle sizes: a half-bottle (375 ml) gives 3 glasses, a magnum (1.5 L) gives 12, and a Jeroboam (3 L) gives 24. Magnums are actually better for ageing because the ratio of wine to air (in the headspace and through the cork) is more favourable — so the wine evolves more slowly and gracefully.

Planning for a party? A good rule of thumb is half a bottle per person for a full dinner (including aperitif). For a cocktail-style event where wine isn't the only drink, one bottle per 3–4 guests usually works. For a wine-pairing dinner with 3–4 different wines, plan one glass (125 ml) of each wine per person — so roughly half a bottle of each wine per 3 guests.