The size ... bottle of wine ... if it matters

There are several theories about the standardization of the bottle of wine in 75 cl, one attributes this to the capacity size lung of a man. Formerly, when the manufacture of glass was a manual process, to the fullest extent they could get the craftsmen to blow one time was about 75 cl.

There are also other sources that say that in ancient times, consumed a family a bottle of 75 cl. per meal. Today, standard bottles of something less than a liter have been great to us so that we open a bottle and drag it to eat for a few days. Consequently, many inventors have been devising all sorts of rich devices to conserve this precious liquid and prevent rust and, therefore, be hindered by the air remaining in the bottle, reaching some of them to be very efectivos.El same problem happens to us when we went to eat at a restaurant and wine left over, something unusual for a romantic dinner partner. With the added disadvantage here, drink half the bottle and pay a whole. Although significant problems, great remedies and fortunately, there is a movement to establish the healthy habit of the bottle to take home. Of course, makes sense: the same price as the 30 cl. the past so why do we despise?

He is also credited this size to quality standards that indicate a wine packaged in a liter bottle was of low quality while wine between 700 and 800 ml was of good quality.

As you can see there are so many theories of standardization of the size of the bottle of wine does anyone know the reality, or they all have part of the truth?.

However, new customs and practices have increased the range of formats. The bottles known by most people, are usually sold in retail establishments and restaurants, half bottle and the bottle, but there a few sizes.

• Octavo: 9,4 cl
• Benjamín: 18,75 cl
• Half bottle: 37,5 cl
• Medium: 60 cl
• Standard bottle: 75 cl
• Mágnum: 1,5 l
• Jeroboam: 3 l
• Rehoboam: 4,5 l
• Matusalén: 6 l
• Salmanazar: 9 l
• Baltasar: 12 l
• Nabucodonosor: 15 l
• Salomón: 18 l
• Sovereign: 25 l
• Primat: 27 l
• Melchizedec: 30 l

37.5 cl bottles. and 50 cl. proliferate in the hospitality industry (supermarkets, hotel minibars, aircraft). The first is the most appropriate for solo diners and couples the excesos.Al unlikely to be as small container, the downside is that the wine evolves quickly (this is the reason that great wines are always in big bottles): less than 9 months from the date of bottled for a white wine and something else if it is a red. Fewer problems will give 50 cl format, with the wine this size better preserved although of course evolution is still faster than the standard format of 75 cl. Although it is a good solution when a meal drinkers are a couple.

First to use the bottle of 50 cl. and discover its possibilities were the champagne, the famous Benjamin, and sweet wines, especially the high price. Output Low sweet wines have had if we had to ask for a bottle of 75 cl for dessert after having already enjoyed a meal all washed down with wine quality. And something similar happens with the champagne, very appreciated by our French neighbors to the appetizer. This wine is impossible to keep once opened, not even the food takes us to dinner.

Larger bottles have evolved as the wines become better in many cases than the standard range, and more enduring quality over time. The large size favors aging the most progressive and harmonious wine as having more capacity wine evolves this uniform, which also can be stored longer. They also support more rapid temperature changes to contain less surface contact with the bulk of the liquid, and the wine is ultimately more secure. They also contain less oxygen in relation to the liquid (the ratio is obvious) and enhance the aromatic and taste.

Wines Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva get their best grades in these formats, but on all sparkling wines, which reach a quality round. He concludes that this type of format is ideal for those with cellars.

Benefits of a Magnum can also be transferred to other bottles of larger capacity, but the fact is that few, very few producers choose to market them. Some dare as Double Magnum 3 L and are now very few who bet on the 4.5-Rehoboam l or the Methuselah of 6 litros.Aunque level of quality is difficult to doubt their attributes, it is true that some initiatives in this have felt overwhelmed, and long, traditional formats. This is the case with the recent launch of Château Cheval Blanc format Solomon (18 liters), the equivalent of 12 bottles of normal size, and reached an auction price of about 5,500 euros. These formats, that have traditionally been used for champagne, seem to start to find their niche in the wine market.