II. HOW WINE IS MADE

Bottling Wine

At some point the wine will be placed in bottles. Producers often use different shaped bottles to denote different types of wine. Colored bottles help to reduce damage by light. (Light assists in oxidation and breakdown of the wine into chemicals, such as mercaptan, which are undesirable.)

Bottle sizes can also vary:

    Applying generally to wines other than Champagne

    Split ..................................................... 187.5 ml
    Half bottle ............................................. 375 ml     (aka Fillette)
    Bottle ................................................... 750 ml
    Magnum ............................................... 1.5 liter    (2 bottles)
    Marie-Jeanne ........................................ 2.25 liters (3 bottles) (Red Bordeaux)
    Double Magnum .................................... 3 liters     (4 bottles)
    Jeroboam .............................................. 4.5 liters   (6 bottles)
    Imperial ................................................ 6 liters      (8 bottles)

    Applying to Champagne bottles

    Split ...................................................... 200 ml
    Half bottle ............................................. 375 ml
    Pint ...................................................... 400 ml
    Bottle .................................................... 800 ml
    Magnum ................................................ 1.5 liter      (2 bottles)
    Jeroboam ............................................... 3 liters       (4 bottles) (& Burgundy)
    Rehoboam ............................................. 4.5 liters    (6 bottles) (& Burgundy)
    Methuselah ............................................. 6 liters      (8 bottles) (& Burgundy)
    Salmanazar ............................................. 9 liters      (12 bottles)
    Balthazar ................................................ 12 liters    (16 bottles)
    Nebuchadnezzar ...................................... 15 liters    (20 bottles)

    And also:

    A case is 12 bottles or 24 "half" bottles.

Just prior to filling the bottle, the producer may insert nitrogen, which will sit above the liquid preventing contamination by oxygen. A capsule will be placed over the top of the bottle. Originally made from lead foil, fears of lead poisoning (and U.S. law) have brought about the use of other metals, plastic, or even nothing at all.