A standard 75 cl bottle of wine typically gives 6 glasses at a normal pour of 12–12.5 cl. A bottle of champagne or sparkling wine yields 6–8 glasses, because the glasses are filled with about 10 cl to preserve the bubbles. If you pour larger restaurant portions (15 cl), you get about 5 glasses. For a dinner, count on 2–3 glasses per guest – so one bottle covers 2–3 people.
You are hosting a dinner and now stand with a bottle in your hand wondering: will it really be enough for everyone? The short answer is that a standard bottle gives about six glasses of wine – but the exact number depends on how much you pour, what type of drink it is, and which glasses you use. Here are the concrete numbers and a little calculator for the next time you plan a party.
The standard bottle: 75 cl
A regular bottle of wine, champagne or sparkling wine holds 75 cl (750 ml). That is the size almost everything comes in, and therefore the number you calculate from. The number of glasses then depends entirely on how large a portion you pour – not on the bottle itself.
There are also magnum bottles (150 cl = twice as many glasses) and the smaller piccolo bottles (20 cl, about 2 glasses), but unless stated otherwise you can count on 75 cl.
Wine: about 6 glasses per bottle
With a normal home pour of 12–12.5 cl you get six glasses from a bottle of wine. That is the portion size most wine glasses are designed for when filled to the widest part of the bowl – never all the way up.
If you count on 2–3 glasses per guest at a dinner, one bottle covers 2–3 people. For a single glass of wine before the meal, you can plan one glass per person.
Champagne: 6–8 glasses per bottle
Champagne and sparkling wine are served in taller, narrower glasses and filled a little less – typically about 10 cl – so the bubbles last as long as possible. That is why you get more glasses from the bottle: 7–8 glasses for a toast where everyone gets a small portion.
If the champagne is to be drunk throughout the evening rather than just for a toast, you can count on 6 glasses per bottle, as the portions then tend to be a little larger.
Tip: For a welcome toast you can safely count on 8 glasses per bottle of champagne. It gives a little room in the budget, and most people only drink one glass when toasting anyway.
Pour size is everything
The number of glasses depends less on the bottle and more on the hand doing the pouring. Here are the most common portions and what they give:
| Drink | Portion per glass | Glasses per bottle (75 cl) | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine (home) | 12–12.5 cl | approx. 6 glasses | Dinner and everyday |
| Wine (restaurant) | 15 cl | approx. 5 glasses | Larger pour |
| Wine (tasting) | 7–8 cl | 9–10 glasses | Several wines per guest |
| Champagne (toast) | 10 cl | 7–8 glasses | Welcome and toast |
| Champagne (evening) | 12 cl | approx. 6 glasses | Sipped throughout |
Glass type and shape
The shape of the glass affects both the tasting experience and how much you naturally pour.
The wine glass
A tulip-shaped wine glass gathers the aromas towards the nose. It is filled to the widest part of the bowl – leaving room to swirl the wine and release its aroma. That is why there is often more air than wine in the glass, even when the portion is “normal”.
The champagne glass
The tall, narrow champagne glass (flute) keeps the bubbles, as the small surface slows the carbon dioxide from escaping. A coupe (the wide, shallow model) is prettier for table settings but loses the bubbles faster.
Tip: Coloured or ribbed glasses catch the light and lift an otherwise plain table. They are an easy way to make the everyday table festive – without swapping out the whole service.
Planning for a party: how many bottles?
If you are planning the shopping for a larger dinner, here is a quick rule of thumb:
- Welcome: 1 bottle of champagne per 7–8 guests (one glass each).
- With the meal: count on ½ bottle of wine per adult guest (about 3 glasses).
- The whole evening: round up to whole bottles, and buy one too many rather than one too few.
Example: a dinner for 8 people ≈ 1 bottle of champagne for the welcome + 4 bottles of wine with the meal.
Frequently asked questions
How many glasses are in a bottle of wine?
A standard 75 cl bottle gives about 6 glasses at a normal pour of 12–12.5 cl. With larger 15 cl restaurant portions you get about 5 glasses.
How many glasses are in a bottle of champagne?
A 75 cl bottle of champagne yields about 7–8 glasses, because champagne is poured in smaller portions (about 10 cl) to preserve the bubbles.
How many cl is a glass of wine?
A normal glass of wine is 12–12.5 cl at home. Restaurants often pour 15 cl, and a wine tasting uses smaller 7–8 cl portions.
How much wine should you allow per guest?
For a dinner, count on 2–3 glasses per adult guest, roughly half a bottle per person over a whole evening.
Why don’t you fill the wine glass to the top?
The wine glass is only filled to the widest part so there is room to swirl the wine and release the aromas. It improves aroma and taste – it is not to save.
Summary
A 75 cl bottle gives about 6 glasses of wine (12–12.5 cl per glass) and 7–8 glasses of champagne (about 10 cl per glass). Pour size is the deciding factor – not the bottle. For a dinner, count on 2–3 glasses of wine per guest and one bottle of champagne per 7–8 guests for the welcome. The glass shape affects the experience: tulip-shaped wine glasses gather the aromas, while tall champagne glasses keep the bubbles.
Read also
- How should glasses be placed on the table?
- How to remove limescale from glass?
- Cocktail glasses and drinkware: make the home bar festive
Find your favourites among our wine glasses and champagne glasses – and make the table festive.
