Wine questions: bottles, servings, storage and styles

How many units are in a bottle of wine?

Multiply the ABV number by the bottle volume in millilitres, then divide by 1,000. A 750ml bottle contains 9 UK units at 12% ABV, about 10.1 units at 13.5%, or 10.5 units at 14%. Check the label for the actual strength and size.

Source: NHS alcohol-unit guidance

How many glasses of wine are in a bottle?

From 750ml you can pour six 125ml glasses, four 175ml glasses with 50ml left, or three 250ml glasses. The number depends on your measure. UK still wine sold by the glass uses 125ml, 175ml or permitted multiples of those measures.

Source: GOV.UK specified quantities

How many millilitres are in a bottle of wine?

A standard wine bottle holds 750ml. Other UK packaged-wine sizes include 187ml, 200ml, 375ml half bottles, 500ml, one litre and 1.5-litre magnums. Check the listing: a bottle price without its volume is easy to misread.

Source: GOV.UK bottle quantities

How long does wine last once opened?

Put the closure back on and refrigerate the bottle. Most still wines are worth checking within three to five days; sparkling wine usually loses its bubbles sooner, while fortified wines can keep longer. Style, temperature and air exposure change the result. Discard wine with an unpleasant smell, flavour or appearance.

Does wine expire or go bad?

Yes. Unopened wine can deteriorate through age, oxidation, poor storage or a faulty closure. Once opened, it changes faster because it is exposed to oxygen. There is no universal expiry date that tells you how every bottle will taste.

What is Prosecco wine?

Prosecco DOC is an Italian protected denomination covering defined parts of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Sparkling Prosecco is the familiar style, but the DOC also includes semi-sparkling and still wines. Look for the denomination and Italian origin on the label.

Source: Prosecco DOC Consortium

What is orange wine?

Orange wine, also called amber wine, is made from white grapes with extended skin contact during fermentation. The skins add colour, texture and tannin, sometimes with savoury or oxidative flavours. The name describes the method and colour; it is not made from oranges.

Source: Wine & Spirit Education Trust

What is a dry white wine?

Dry white wine has little perceptible sweetness. Most grape sugar has fermented into alcohol, although fruit aromas can still make the wine seem ripe or fruity. Legal residual-sugar thresholds depend on the wine style and applicable labelling rules.

What is a sweet white wine?

Sweet white wine retains noticeable sugar after fermentation. It can range from lightly sweet to a concentrated dessert style. Acidity affects how that sweetness tastes. Check the individual bottle: a grape name alone cannot tell you its sugar level.

What is a fortified wine?

Fortified wine has grape spirit added during or after fermentation. When it is added affects the sweetness and strength. Port, Sherry and Madeira are familiar examples, each with its own protected origin, methods and styles.