Sale Pricing | Wine Cooler Blog

Wine Types: Wine Bottle Sizes & Shapes

A client called me the other day inquiring about a wine cooler that could store Magnum bottles of wine. I knew a Magnum bottle of wine held about twice what a standard 750 ml bottle held, but I did not know what the specific bottle dimensions were. I needed a quick lesson on wine bottle sizes in order to respond to customer questions. What I found out is wine bottle shapes and sizes can vary by region, state, country and even wine type. Also, I came to realize that they are so many different bottle sizes that a single article about all of them would be impossible. Subsequently, I decided to concentrate my research on a few of the basic standard size wine bottles.

WINE BOTTLE SIZES

Most wine will come in a standard 750 ml. bottle and in fact this size bottle is the basis for naming many of the other bottle sizes. Wine cooler and chillers are typically sized to handle the standard 750 ml. bottle. Some of the standard sized wine bottles that you are most likely to come across are: Split (1/4 bottle, 0.1875 liters ), Half (1/2 bottle, 0.375 liters), Bottle (full bottle; 0.750 liters), Magnum (2 bottles, 1.5 liters), Double Magnum (4 bottles; 3.0 liters), Jeroboam ( 6 bottles, 4 ½ liters), Methuselah (8 bottles, 6.0 liters), Salmanazar (12 bottles; 12.0 liters), Balthazar (16 bottles; 12.0 liter), and Nebuchadnezzar (20 bottles; 15.0 l.). It is interesting to note that many of the larger sized wine bottles were named after Biblical Kings and other figures. The United States waited until 1979 to adopt the metric measurements for bottles of wine and use the 750 ml. standard bottle.

The Split size bottle stands about 7 ½ inches tall with a bottom diameter of about 2 ½ inches. These wine bottles are often used for desert and sparkling wines and are small enough to drink in one serving as they lose their fizz rapidly after opening. The most widely sold standard 750 ml. bottle stands about 11 ½ to 12 inches high and is typically 3 ½ inches in diameter at the base. Magnum bottles stand about 14 inches tall and are around 4 inches in diameter. Jeroboam bottles stand 19 ½ inches tall with a base diameter of about 5 inches. The higher capacity bottles such as the Methuselah (22 inches tall) range upward in size to the Nebuchadnezzar that is 31 inches tall. Imagine picking up a bottle that is over 31 inches tall and pouring its wine into your delicate glass stemware.

WINE BOTTLE SHAPES

Wine bottle shapes are as varied as their sizes. Most wine producers opt for bottle shapes that are most appropriate for their wine. For example, Chianti and some other Italian wines come in a round-bottomed bottle encased in a straw basket. Champagne and other sparkling wines come in bottles that are thicker walled because of the excess internal pressures. Wine producers often choose a wine bottle shape strictly for marketing purposes. For that reason, a German Company uses a bottle shaped as a “house cat’” for a Riesling wine it produces.

WINE BOTTLE COLORS

There are several traditional colors that you will find being used in wine bottles. Dark green bottles are typically used for red wines (Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone). Mosel, Rhine and Alsace wines often use a lighter green or amber colored bottle. Clear bottles seem to be the most popular for white wines in many countries. Champagne is typically bottled in a dark to medium green color. Some wine producers also use colors relating to their individual marketing strategies.

FUTURE WINE PACKAGING

The future of wine packaging is wide open. Many producers are opting for cost reducing screw type caps instead of corks. Because the weight of the bottle approximates about 40 percent of the total bottled wine weight, plastic bottles and tetra packs are being explored as a lighter alternative that is cheaper to handle and ship. Packaging wine in lighter containers and exporting wine in bulk quantities then bottling it in smaller bottles closer to the point of consumption are all strategies being explored to improve wine sales and reduce shipping costs. Perhaps, the cost of a good imported French wine will become more affordable in the future.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice President, Ideal Wine Coolers

Wine Storage Solutions: Avanti Wine Coolers & Beverage Centers

Ideal Wine Coolers is pleased to announce that a new product line has been added to our on line store. Avanti wine cellars, beverage centers, compact refrigerators and mini freezers compliment our other Danby, Haier, Vinotemp, EdgeStar and Summit wine and beverage coolers.

The Avanti wine bottle coolers can be used in counter top, free standing and under counter applications. Wine bottle capacity ranges from 8 to 166 wine bottles. Features that are available include French door designs, table top to pantry size classes, dual zone wine compartments, clear and mirrored glass doors, slide out shelves, interior lighting, auto defrost and more.

The Avanti compact refrigerators are perfect when space is an issue as in a apartment, condo or dormitory room. Avanti mini refrigerators range in capacity from 1.7 to 3.1 cubic foot capacity. Several models also incorporate a small freezer section that will aid in keeping your food properly preserved. Another Avanti appliance we carry is a unique ice maker water dispenser that will fit your kitchen counter top and make up to 30 pounds of ice per day.

We also carry two different Avanti Beverage Coolers. Our Avanti Side-by-Side beverage center model has dual zone storage for both beverage cans and wine bottles and is made for either free standing or under counter applications. The smaller Avanti beverage can cooler has a storage capacity of 3.1 cubic feet with a reversible door, adjustable shelves, auto defrost, stainless steel door trim and full range temperture control.

Ideal Wine Cooler’s original Mission Statement stated that we would continue to find more quality products to maximize the choices our customer has. We believe the Avanti products that we have added will provide our customers with the best possible range of choice.

ALSO CHECK OUT OUR HALLOWEEN SALE THAT IS ACTIVE UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER. We have reduced pricing on our entire product line at our web store. Additionally, you can get additional bonus saving of $10 to $30 dollars off the reduced pricing. Any one purchasing more than a $750 cooler will also receive a FREE 1 year extended in home warranty that will add to the standard factory warranty. For details CLICK here.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

Wine Storage Solutions: Wine Cooler Shipping Cost Truths

As a web based retailer of wine coolers, beverage centers and other beverage cooling products, the single most frustrating part of our business is shipping. Adding another side to the equation, consumers are often reluctant to pay for shipping of these beverage appliances. I don’t blame consumers for seeking the lowest possible price when buying one of these appliances, but they need to realize shipping these items is not cheap.

Weight and Distance

If one is looking for a wine refrigerator that will store 24+ plus bottles of wine or a beverage center that will store over hundred cans, you must realize these appliances are going to weigh in at 100 pounds plus. Weight is not the only factor related to shipping. UPS, FedEx or standard freight shipping is also based on distance from the warehouse pick-up spot to the home or business of the consumer. Obviously, an item warehoused in Los Angeles, for example, will cost more to ship to New York City than the same item warehoused in New Jersey.

Over Sized Package

Most shipping companies also have restrictions based on package sizing. UPS typically will add an additional charge of over $50.00 per package for shipments exceeding their predetermined size limits. This additional charge often results from “double-boxing” the wine cooler and beverage center appliances. These appliances often come with glass doors and adjustable legs making them particularly vulnerable to damage from the shippers without the added box protection.

Delivery Issues

UPS and FedEx home deliveries are really geared to handle smaller packages quickly and efficiently, but give them something that weighs over 100 pounds and that quick and efficient operation begins to deteriorate. Image a package delivery driver that comes to your neighborhood to deliver a heavy package to you and has to “man-handle” this heavy package to your door. Our neighborhood UPS driver doesn’t even have a dolly to move it with. One of our customers reported that their driver struggled with their delivery and eventually dropped it on the ground. Our “double-boxing” requirement saved it from damage.

Wine Cooler Pricing Verus Cost

Any seller of wine and beverage refrigerators obviously has to purchase their products from a factory or wholesaler. They also must determine the best pricing structure for retailing the appliances considering base cost, overhead expenses and required profit margin. Shipping costs also become part of the marketing consideration. Consumers are going to look at the bottom line by adding up product cost, shipping cost and potential sales tax costs. The retailer that can market the “best bottom line” to the consumer will get the sale. Retailers will use several different strategies for determining market bottom line figures.

Consumer Bottom Line

Consumers will rightfully continue to look at their bottom line total cost. However, I believe they need to be more aware of the shipping dilemmas related to appliance weights, distance and boxing protection. Before you buy take the time to call the retailer, some times better deals can be made than are presented on the web site. For example, if a buyer is from an area near our warehouses, they will have much reduced delivery prices that apply or they may even be able to pick-up the item themselves. Lastly, look for personal customer service where you can talk to a human-being and get the true facts about your bottom line.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers