Why Wine Bottles Are 750ml: History Behind the Standard Size

Wine drinkers sometimes notice something odd: for all the variety in the wine world, the bottle size barely changes. Everywhere you go, it’s still that familiar 750ml. It’s such a normal sight that most people never stop to ask why. But there is a story behind it—one that goes back quite a long way.For readers who care not only about bottle size but also proper wine storage, exploring a dedicated wine fridge can be helpful.

Where the 750ml Standard Really Came From?

Over time, plenty of explanations have floated around.One popular idea is that early glassblowers could only blow about 750ml of air in a single breath, and since the bottles were shaped by hand, the size was basically determined by their lung capacity. Another thought is that 750ml matches what a person might drink with a meal—roughly six glasses. Some people even say the smaller bottle stores better than a 1-liter size or is easier to pack when shipping.These theories sound fun, but none really explain the whole picture.

The actual reason formed back in the 19th century, and somewhat surprisingly, it had more to do with British measurements than anything happening in French vineyards. France calculated liquids in liters, while Britain relied on gallons (1 gallon ≈ 4.546 liters). That mismatch made wine trading rather messy.

Since Britain was a major buyer of French wine, merchants eventually agreed on using 225-liter oak barrels—which is close to 50 gallons—for transport. From there, they needed a bottle size that divided the barrel cleanly.
A 225-liter barrel divides evenly into 300 bottles, which works out to 750ml each. Convenient enough, and it reduced a lot of unnecessary calculation. Once everyone adapted to it, the size stuck.

That’s also why wine is sold in boxes of six or twelve. One gallon lines up with six 750ml bottles, and double that makes twelve, so the packaging followed naturally.

Why are most wine bottles dark or green?

The color choice has a story too.Back in the 18th century, when glass bottles became more common for wine storage, the bottles frequently came out green. This wasn’t a marketing decision. It was simply because glassmakers couldn’t fully remove iron from the raw materials, and the glass ended up with a green tint whether they liked it or not.

Even with modern technology—where we can make glass nearly any color—dark bottles are still widely used. The reason is straightforward: wine doesn’t get along with light.Light exposure is actually one of the key topics in wine storage basics.

Light speeds up oxidation and makes wine age faster. Dark glass reduces how much light passes through, helping preserve the quality. Proper wine closures, especially natural corks, also play a key role in controlling oxygen exposure.This is why many Bordeaux producers still use deep green bottles for red wines meant for aging. Tests have shown that dark bottles let through only 8%–37% of light, while clear bottles allow more than 90%.
Of course, not all wines need that kind of protection. Sweet whites and rosés are usually meant to be enjoyed young. To show off their color—and simply look more appealing—producers use clear glass for these wines.