I recently went all in on purchasing an assortment of 375 ml bottles of wine for my wine rack. Previously, my experience was like this: See some smaller bottles on the shelf while shopping. Think how nice it would be to pour a glass of wine without committing to a full bottle. Review selection. Not much to choose from. Review pricing. Decide that for $5 or $10 more it would be better to just buy a full bottle. Move on.
Recently, I asked my local wine shop what options I would have for half-sized bottles if I placed a special order. My go-to resource is Phil at Thief Wine in the Milwaukee Public Market. Phil and his colleague, Jordan, put together such a nice list of options with numerous varietals and price points that I had trouble narrowing it down. Now when I look at my wine rack, I have choices, not only for the type of wine I want to select, but also for the size of bottle I want to open.
You may want to explore your options for ordering the wine you want. The 375 ml bottle creates a number of opportunities.
No need to commit to a full bottle. Pour yourself a glass of wine when you are the only person at your table or gathering who prefers wine.
I recently brought a small format bottle of wine to a picnic-style outdoor theater. It was perfect for the occasion. My friend and I had gone to dinner before the show, and we were able to each enjoy one more glass of wine at the show, with no half-empty bottle to carry back home.
Here a some other ideas:
- Offer red or white. When a gracious guest says “I’ll have whatever you have open,” let them know you can simply open a smaller bottle,
- Meet a friend at your house for wine before going out to dinner. You can pour a couple of glasses of wine without committing to finishing the other half of the bottle.
- For a BYO gathering, you can bring your own bottle of wine in the size you choose.
- Drink alone with friends. Set up a virtual gathering to chat and have a glass of wine with far-away friends, and open a bottle that is just right for you.
- Create a multi-course wine dinner. Offer a paired wine with each course, without having to open many full bottles of wine. This is a great option if you have a small group or if not everyone in the group enjoys wine.
The “economy size” concept applies to wine as with everything else. A bigger bottle is a better bargain. The idea is to give yourself options. Do you want to open a better-bargain full bottle of wine? Or is the smaller bottle better for the occasion? If you have some smaller bottles on hand, you get to choose.
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