BottlePicker Australian wine guide
Popular Australian wine questions answered
Australian answers about standard drinks, bottle pours, opened-wine storage and familiar styles such as Shiraz, sparkling wine and fortified wine.
How many standard drinks are in a bottle of wine?
It depends on volume and ABV. Australian Government examples put a 750ml bottle of 13.5% red wine at about 8 standard drinks, 11.5% white wine at about 6.8, and 12% Champagne at about 7.1. The bottle’s own standard-drinks statement is the best figure for that product.
How many glasses of wine are in a bottle?
A 750ml bottle yields seven and a half 100ml pours, six 125ml pours, five 150ml pours or just over four 175ml pours. A glass poured at home or in a venue is not automatically one Australian standard drink.
How many millilitres are in a bottle of wine?
The familiar full-size bottle contains 750ml, but small bottles, half bottles, one-litre bottles and 1.5-litre magnums also exist. Check the container size before comparing bottle or per-litre prices.
How long does red wine last once opened?
There is no guaranteed number of days. Re-seal the bottle and refrigerate it, including red wine, to slow oxidation. As a practical starting point, check most still reds within three to five days; delicate older wines may fade sooner and more robust styles may remain pleasant longer.
What is a dry white wine?
A dry white has little perceptible sweetness because most grape sugar has fermented into alcohol. It can still smell fruity. Sauvignon Blanc, many Rieslings and many Chardonnays can be dry, but the grape name alone does not guarantee the sweetness level.
What is fortified wine?
Fortified wine is wine to which grape spirit has been added during or after fermentation. The timing changes the sweetness and alcohol level. Australian fortified styles include Muscat, Topaque and tawny-style wines; protected European names may have specific origin rules.
Is Shiraz a red wine?
Yes. Shiraz is the Australian name commonly used for the dark-skinned Syrah grape and its red wines. Styles range from bright and peppery to rich, ripe and full-bodied depending on region, climate, winemaking and bottle age.
Does wine go bad or expire?
Wine can deteriorate through heat, light, oxygen or a faulty closure. Opened wine changes faster than a sealed bottle. Store unopened bottles away from heat and direct light; re-seal and refrigerate opened bottles, then use smell, appearance and flavour to assess them.
Is sparkling wine the same as Champagne?
Champagne is one type of sparkling wine from the protected Champagne appellation in France. Australian sparkling wine is not Champagne, and Prosecco, Cava, Crémant and other sparkling styles have their own origins and production rules.
How many bottles are in a case of wine?
A conventional full case usually contains 12 bottles, but six-bottle cases and mixed packs are common. Check the merchant’s bottle count and each bottle’s volume before comparing the apparent case price.
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