If you’re accustomed to coming home at night, whipping out a giant wine glass and filling it up to the tippity top with your favorite Pinot, then you’re probably going to be disappointed the next time you order some vino at a bar or restaurant. Though we’d all like to believe otherwise, an actual serving of wine isn’t very big. In fact, it’s only 5 ounces, and depending on the type of glass you’re using, that can look really small. “Oftentimes, people are shocked when they see a proper pour of wine,” sommelier Victoria James, wine director at New York restaurant Piora, tells SELF.
“At home,” she continues, “you’re probably pouring yourself 7 to 9 ounces, and, let’s be honest, you’re probably having more than just one.”
Over-pouring is a problem that is especially common if your favorite wine glass is a large one. Now, you’re probably wondering, why can’t all wine glasses just be the same damn size? Why all the red-glass, white-glass tomfoolery? Well, James explains that wine glasses come in many shapes and sizes for a reason. Different glasses are designed to accentuate the different flavors and aromas of different wines.
For example, she says that a flute is good for Champagne because it keeps the bubbles in the glass for longer, while the larger, more open rim on a standard wine glass will allow you to, “get your nose in and appreciate the complex aromatics.” And, aside from that flute, the majority of these glasses can accommodate a lot more than a single 5-ounce serving. And that’s where things can tend to get tricky in the over-pouring department.
A glass of wine with dinner can be a great way to unwind at the end of a stressful day. Too many glasses, on the other hand, can mess with your sleep and stack on the calories, which can get in the way of any weight loss goals you may have. A single serving of wine, whether it be red, white, rosé, or bubbly, will have between 105 and 125 calories, and, if you’re over-pouring, those calories can add up quickly.
If you’re actually interested in paring down your pour of wine, there are a couple things you should know. In a standard 750-mL bottle of wine, there are roughly five glasses of wine. This means that with each serving, you’ll want to aim to pour yourself one-fifth of the bottle. If you’re in need of a visual aid, we’ve got just what you need. The graphic below demonstrates what 5 ounces of wine actually looks like in six different glasses. File it away and never wonder how much you’re drinking again.
