If you’re used to relaxing at the end of the day with a generous glass of wine, you might be surprised to learn what a standard serving actually looks like. Many of us, when pouring wine at home, tend to fill our glasses much more than what is considered a single serving. When you order wine at a restaurant or bar, you’ll notice the pour is often smaller than what you might expect. This is because a true serving of wine is only 5 ounces. Depending on your wine glass, this can appear quite modest.
“People are often surprised when they see a proper pour of wine,” explains Victoria James, a sommelier and wine director. At home, it’s easy to pour much more, with estimates suggesting many people pour themselves anywhere from 7 to 9 ounces, and often indulge in more than one glass. This over-pouring habit is especially prevalent when using larger wine glasses, which are increasingly popular.
You might wonder why wine glasses come in so many different shapes and sizes. It’s not just for show! Wine glasses are designed to enhance the tasting experience by accentuating the unique flavors and aromas of different wines. For instance, a tall, narrow flute glass is ideal for sparkling wines like Champagne. The flute shape helps to preserve the bubbles for a longer period. On the other hand, red wine glasses typically have a wider bowl and a larger opening. This design allows you to fully appreciate the complex aromas of red wines as it gives the wine more surface area to breathe and release its bouquet. While these various glasses enhance the wine experience, most are designed to hold significantly more than a 5-ounce serving, which can contribute to over-pouring.
Enjoying a glass of wine with dinner can be a pleasant way to unwind. However, exceeding the recommended serving size can have unintended consequences. Drinking too much wine, especially close to bedtime, can disrupt your sleep patterns. Furthermore, the calories in wine can quickly add up if you’re not mindful of your pours. A standard 5-ounce serving of wine, whether red, white, rosé, or sparkling, contains approximately 105 to 125 calories. If you consistently over-pour, these calories can contribute to weight gain and hinder weight loss efforts.
If you’re aiming to be more conscious of your wine consumption and stick to proper serving sizes, here’s a helpful tip. A standard 750mL bottle of wine contains roughly five 5-ounce servings. Therefore, when pouring, try to visualize dividing the bottle into five equal portions. This can help you gauge a more accurate serving size. For a visual guide, refer to the image above which illustrates what 5 ounces of wine looks like in different types of glasses. Keeping this visual in mind can help you pour more accurately and enjoy wine in moderation.
