Half Bottle (375 ml)
Smaller bottle, half the standard size.
What is Half Bottle (375 ml)? Half Bottle (375 ml) is a wine bottle holding exactly 0.375 litres, precisely half of the standard 750 ml format, known in the trade by its French name demi. The format yields roughly two to three standard pours of 125 to 150 ml, making it a practical choice for solo drinkers, couples, or restaurant guests who want variety without committing to a full bottle. It rose to commercial prominence in 19th-century Champagne, where individual servings and tasting flights drove demand for smaller formats. Today it is recognized under EU wine packaging regulations as a permitted standard nominal volume for both still and sparkling wine.
Format and Physical Profile
A demi typically stands around 9.5 inches (roughly 24 cm) tall with a diameter of 2.25 to 2.375 inches (about 5.7 to 6 cm), giving it a slim, elegant silhouette on the shelf and at the table. Glass moulds exist in both Bordeaux and Burgundy shapes, so a 375 ml version usually mirrors the visual identity of its 750 ml sibling. Champagne producers use reinforced sparkling-wine glass in the same volume to withstand the internal pressure of secondary fermentation.
In some French regions, particularly the Loire, the 375 ml bottle is affectionately called a fillette, while English-speaking markets default to the straightforward trade term half bottle. Whichever name is on the label, the volume and intent are the same: a smaller, more flexible serving size built on the same standards as the full-size format.
When to Choose a Half Bottle
Half bottles are especially common for dessert, fortified, and ice wines, where a small pour is the norm rather than the exception. Classic categories such as Sauternes, Port, Tokaji, and ice wine are routinely offered in 375 ml because two or three glasses are usually all a table needs to finish a meal. The format also suits restaurants pairing different wines across courses, or anyone wanting to explore a serious bottle without opening a full 750 ml.
There is one technical consideration worth knowing: wine generally matures faster in a half bottle than in the same wine in 750 ml. The higher ratio of headspace and oxygen exposure to liquid volume accelerates evolution in the glass, which can be an advantage for early drinking but means very long-term cellaring is better suited to the full-size format. For most everyday enjoyment, the demi simply offers a smarter, more flexible way to pour.
