To standard pour or to not standard pour, that literally has never been the question, let alone anyone's question. However, it was an easy way to start a conversation on what the heck a standard pour for glasses of wine really is. We're sure it is the burning question on everyone's minds right now: what is a standard pour? So let's dive into this new world and topic, shall we?
What Is a Standard Drink?
First things first, what is a standard pour, and why the heck does it exist? To be honest, the standard pour does not really exist. *Insert a palpable gasp* Well, clearly, it exists because we are currently writing about it. But what we mean is that there are no legal CDC or FDA regulations in the US regarding what actually establishes as a pour of wine at a bar or restaurant, whether you're with a sommelier in Napa or at a trendy bistro in New York. This is likely because if it did, bartenders and restaurant staff would have to have some sort of government-issued specific license that would put regulations on over-pouring. Guess what we are saying: there are no regulations on standard pours, and maybe that's a nice thing. There is a standard size for a bottle of wine, a 750 ml bottle, but even then, different wine has different standards for fluid ounces. Wine bottle sizes still vary greatly from the standard 750 ml bottle of wine, with some larger bottles and some smaller. So you can imagine how many options you have for your pour of pinot noir or chardonnay!
But when it comes to the non-regulated standard pour, many people, ourselves very much included, are shocked to discover that their serving of wine is actually much more than a standard drink. The amount of liquid in your glass, can, or bottle does not necessarily match up to alcohol level in your drink. Different kinds of beer, wine, or liquor can have varying amounts of alcohol content. For example, light beers sit around the same alcohol content as a regular beer. See why it's essential to know how much alcohol your serving size contains?
In the United States, one standard drink, or what would be considered one alcoholic beverage, contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol. So, what is that in popular drinks? For beer, that is twelve ounces of regular beer, which is typically about 5% alcohol. For wine, that's five ounces of wine with about 12% alcohol. For the "hard stuff," aka distilled spirits, that's one point five ounces, which is about 40% alcohol.
How Many Ounces In a Glass of Wine?
So this is the truth bomb that hurt us the most. Apparently, our pours at home were way over the standard pour of wine that is five ounces. This amount applies to both white, red, rose, and sparkling wine. Apparently, it might seem weird that there is a standard pour with a plethora of different glassware around. However, one reason the standard drink exists is it helps when taking inventory. Other reasons the standard pour exists is to control the flavor balance of a drink and the consistency of drinks from one round to another. Wow, oh wow, the things you learn while writing Bev blogs.
How Many mL Is That?
Oh, back to a standard wine pour amount. 147.868 is how many ml are in a five-ounce standard pour.
Are There Exceptions to the Rule?
Well, aren't their exceptions to virtually all rules? There are a few instances where alcohol deviates from the normal wine pour. These are usually when pouring wine for dessert wine, fortified wines, and wine tastings.
A dessert wine pour is typically around two ounces. A lot smaller than a traditional pour, dessert wine is intended to be enjoyed like a dessert, therefore, it is appreciated in smaller glass sizes due to its delightful, albeit incredibly sweet, taste.
Like the sweet wine, standard fortified wine pour deviates from the five ounces due to a wine content difference. Unlike dessert wine, it is not due to its sweet taste but rather due to its high ABV. These types of wines sit at a lofty 20% ABV. So, that's why it is best enjoyed at three ounces.
Ah, and now to wine tasting pour sizes. Obviously, these are smaller due to the amount of wine consumption that tasters will go through. Plus, wine does come with a price tag. The average wine tasting pour sits at two point five ounces. But, because wine tasting pours can depend on the individual tastings.
If you're still craving more information on standard wine pours, then we can keep going. Here's an insider secret that's not such an insider and likely just common sense: training restaurant staff and barkeepers to pour a standard table wine pour and liquor is a big way to help your business costs down.
What Glass Should You Be Using?
If you have ever been to any sort of home store or been alive for more than five minutes, you have probably noticed that there are many different glassware types to serve wine. But here is the truth about wine glass shape and its impact on wine taste: it has not been demonstrated that it has any effect. Some argue that the glass's shape is important because it concentrates the flavor and aroma of wine and, therefore, emphasizes its characteristics. Most wine glasses are stemless that consist of a bowl, stem, and foot.
The standard white wine glass holds between eight to twelve ounces, while the standard red wine glass holds between eight to twenty-two ounces. Wondering why red wine glasses significantly bigger than white wine glasses? Well, the rumor here is older, fuller-bodied, and higher tannin red wines aerate best when spread across a larger surface area. That's precisely why people use a wine aerator; it brings out the best flavor of your wine.
But Hey, We Don’t Judge
Hey, you do you! We made Bev a little more than the standard pour because we're breaking the glass ceiling in the alcohol and beverage industry. Instead, our Bev cans are eight-point-four ounces. So, if you're good at math, you know it is one point sixty-eight glasses.
SHOP BEV NOW