Many people wonder why wine bottles are 75cl and not 1L. Find the answer to this question that puzzles many people.
During a meal, you may have wondered why wine bottles have a capacity of 75cl instead of one liter. There are many theories to explain why wine bottles are 75cl. Discover the true reason for this particular format in our article.
75cl bottles to facilitate trade
Wine bottles were standardized to 75cl because, at the time, the main clients of French vineyards were our English neighbors. But the difference in measurement between the English and the French was a concern for trade. The English measurement system is the Imperial gallon, which is precisely equal to 4.54609 liters. Conversions from one measurement to another are not simple, so a common quantity had to be found.
To avoid complications during conversion, it was agreed that 225 liters would be transported in barrels, which rounded up to 50 gallons. The goal was to have a round number. Furthermore, 225 liters correspond to 300 bottles of 75cl. Fixing the capacity at 75cl was therefore the solution to facilitate exchanges with the English and continue sales. Introducing another volume would have complicated things.
The capacity of 75cl was standardized to simplify the situation and is now established across Europe. 1 gallon was equivalent to 6 bottles.
Even today, the wine trade is still marked by this history, as wine cases are mostly sold in packs of 6 or 12 bottles!
