How much wine to pour per glass

Quick answer

For a normal glass of still wine at home, pour approximately 100–150 mL. Use the lower end for tasting, stronger wines or an occasion involving several wines. The higher end may suit a meal or relaxed serving.

The important visual rule is not to fill the glass to the rim. Stop well below the top, leaving enough room to lift and gently swirl the wine. Headspace makes the glass easier to carry, reduces the chance of splashing and helps aromas collect above the wine.

There is no single “correct” wine pour. The appropriate amount depends on the wine, the glass, the occasion and whether you are tasting or drinking with a meal.

Pour for the occasion

A tasting pour is usually smaller than an ordinary serving. You need enough wine to assess its colour, aroma and flavour, but not a full glass—especially when several wines are being tasted.

Sparkling wine is often poured at around 125 mL, although venue serves can be larger. Pour it steadily and leave room for the bubbles to settle.

Fortified wines such as port are commonly served in smaller measures because they generally contain more alcohol. The Australian Government uses 60 mL of port as a reference serve. These figures are useful guides, not universal requirements for serving at home.

A 750 mL bottle provides roughly:

• seven 100 mL pours;
• six 125 mL pours; or
• five 150 mL pours.

The actual number will vary if pours are generous or some wine remains in the bottle.

Glass size can be misleading

A large-bowled wine glass may make 150 mL look surprisingly small. The same amount can look much fuller in a narrow glass. That is why “fill the glass halfway” is unreliable advice: glasses differ considerably in shape and capacity.

Glass shape can affect how aromas gather and how sparkling wine looks, but it does not determine one correct volume. A large glass is not an invitation to pour more. Think of the bowl as space for the wine to move and release aroma, rather than a target to fill.

For more on how bowl shape affects serving, see Wine glass types explained.

Pour size is not a standard drink

In Australia, a standard drink contains 10 g of pure alcohol. It is not the same thing as a standard-sized glass.

The number of standard drinks in your pour depends on both the volume and the wine’s alcohol by volume (ABV). For example, the Australian Government lists approximately:

• 1.0 standard drink for 100 mL of red wine at 13.5% ABV;
• 1.6 standard drinks for 150 mL of the same wine;
• 0.9 standard drinks for 100 mL of white wine at 11.5%; and
• 1.4 standard drinks for 150 mL of that wine.

Check the standard-drink information on the bottle, particularly when serving a higher-strength wine. Current Australian Government guidance also explains that drinking less alcohol reduces risk.

An easy way to pour consistently

Measure 100 mL, 125 mL and 150 mL into your usual glasses once. Notice where each level sits, then use that visual guide when pouring. Always leave room below the rim.

That small habit helps with hosting, tasting and estimating how many servings remain—without pretending that every glass or occasion needs the same amount.

Frequently asked questions

Should I pour wine halfway up the glass?

Not necessarily. Glasses vary in size and shape, so a halfway mark may be far more—or less—than a moderate serving. Use a volume of about 100–150 mL for ordinary still wine and leave swirling space.

Is 150 mL one standard drink?

No. A 150 mL pour may contain more than one Australian standard drink, depending on the wine’s ABV.

Does a bigger wine glass mean a bigger pour?

No. A larger bowl can make the same amount look smaller. Its extra space is useful for swirling and aroma, not as a signal to fill the glass higher.