How Many Bottles in a Case of Wine?
You’re probably here because you’ve reached a dilemma.
There’s a big occasion coming up, and you have no idea how much wine to buy.
Maybe it’s a wedding, a milestone birthday, or a college graduation.
But buying a case of wine can be quite a commitment, especially if you’re not sure how large of a case to get or what types of wine should be included.
Let’s dive into the number of bottles in a standard-size wine case to help you save money if you’re considering buying in bulk.
How Many Bottles of Wine Are in a Case?
Let’s dive into some simple math.
The average wine case in the United States contains 12 bottles of wine 750ml each, about nine liters of wine in total.
That’s about 60 glasses of wine, and most of your guests will likely have about two to three glasses each, depending on everyone’s preferences.
While 12 bottles are typical, a few factors can alter the wine volume in your case.
For luxury cases, you can expect about six bottles per case, as each bottle will be higher in price due to its supreme quality.
There are also special wine cases that contain various bottle sizes. Some of these include “demi” or “half,” a bottle half the size of a standard 750ml bottle.
On the other end, “Magnum” is a wine bottle equivalent to two standard bottles or about 1.5 liters.
Larger bottles like Jeroboam (6 bottles), Imperial (8 bottles), Salmanazar (12 bottles), and beyond can come in cases with as little as two to three bottles due to their size.
Wine Fact: Did you know that the larger wine bottle sizes from three to thirty liters are named after biblical wise men and kings?
Now let’s get to the kicker when it comes to most wine cases: the cost.
How Much Does a Case of Wine Cost?
If you have an upcoming special occasion like a wedding to plan for, it’s a special and precious time. There are a lot of emotional decisions to make, and part of that is keeping your guests happy and fulfilled as you celebrate.
To better help you with these tough decisions, here’s a run down of some of the prices you can expect as you budget for your occasion.
Generally, a case containing 12 bottles of good quality wine runs about $150-$300. This can vary, especially with luxury wine cases, which can easily cost around $500-$600.
But before you shut your wallet, you’ll still be saving more money than if you were to buy separate bottles wholesale.
Most wine suppliers offer a volume discount of around 10-20% when you buy in bulk.
For example, with a $250 case, you could get a $25 bottle of wine for $10-$15.
This is why buying in bulk is much cheaper than purchasing individual bottles off the shelf. With a case, you’re getting all those individual bottles for a much lower price!
Some distributors will also offer free shipping when you buy a case online.
Other aspects that may influence the cost are the vineyard the wine case comes from and which wine shop you’re shopping at.
If you want to maximize your wine case, we recommend getting a mix of red, white, and sparkling wines. This way, you’re getting the most bang for your buck, and your guests will have a variety to choose from!
If you still want to splurge on a few special wines for your day, enjoy luxury while saving a bundle on our Luxe collections, all under $320.
Let’s set pricing aside for a moment and look at some of the types of wine you may want to include in your case.
What Wines Should Be Included in Your Wine Case?
When buying wine in bulk, you can customize your order to include the types of wine you love. There may also be special packages like holiday-themed wine cases or wedding wine cases.
If you can build your own wine case, we suggest going with half red wines and half white wines to start.
You can choose a mix of light and full-bodied wines for each or do a majority of one type, whichever you prefer!
If you like sparkling wine, add a Rosé and a white bubbly like Champagne, Moscato, or Riesling.
Pro Tip: To save even more on your next wine set, check out our selections for under $100 and under $50.
Let’s look deeper into the logistics of wedding wine cases since most buyers are likely shopping for this occasion.
Wine Cases for Weddings
Depending on the size of the wine bottles and cases you plan to buy for your wedding, you can play around with how many liters of each wine you want.
In general, people stick with the standard 12-bottle cases of wine for this event.
The types of wine you include will depend on the season and location of your wedding.
If you’d like some help getting started on what wines to choose for your special day, see our Top Picks for Wedding Wines.
Fall and Winter Weddings
For indoor fall and winter weddings, you’ll want to include primarily red wine for your guests. About 50% of your wine should be made up of fuller-bodied reds like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
Weddings during the cooler months will have a smaller amount of white and sparkling wine. About 30% of your wine selection should be white wine, with the remaining 20% reserved for celebratory bubbly.
Spring and Summer Weddings
Shoot for about 25% of each type of wine for outdoor weddings during the spring and summer months. This includes an even split of sparkling, red, Rosé, and white wine.
But unlike reds for fall and winter weddings, opt for light reds like Pinot Noir, Lambrusco, or Cinsault.
Keep things light during your warm-weather wedding, and don’t forget the chilled Champagne!
A Debrief on Wine Cases
Planning for your special occasion is an exciting time. Whether you have an upcoming dinner party to host or your wedding day is right around the corner, what’s in your wine case will ultimately come down to the wines that are special to you.
If you’re looking for the perfect wine case for your next event, check out the Macy’s Wine Shop and choose from 3-bottle, 6-bottle, and 12-bottle wine sets.
Don’t miss out on our super saver sets for under $100, under $50, luxe wine gifts, and wedding wines. Let us help you on your wine journey, visit the Macy’s Insiders Blog for more wine information to help get you started!