Here in Bordeaux it is common to come across little girls (37.5cl), bottles called Bordeaux (75cl), magnums (1.5L) but also double magnums (3L), jeroboams (4.5L ), imperials (6L), balthazars (12L), nebuchadnezzars (15L) to melchiors (18L)… And the names also change depending on the region! Indeed, the jeroboam in Burgundy is 3L for example. These bottle sizes have their origins in history. We remember that the English were a very big trading partner of Bordeaux. The famous Bordeaux barrel of 225L was actually linked to the English unit of measurement: the imperial gallon. So 225L corresponded to 50 gallons. 225L is also 300 bottles of 75cl. 1 gallon therefore makes 6 bottles, which may also explain the origin of the wooden cases of 6.
What about Japanese sake? Everything comes from Go which is still today the traditional unit of measurement for sake.
The Go is also a unit of measurement for rice in Japan: so we know how much rice we need for its preparation. Rice cookers are built according to the Go. The masu, this square container, was used precisely to measure the rice. A masu contains exactly 1GB. A GB is 180ml. Sake bottles are based on this unit of measurement: 180ml, 360ml (2GB), 720ml (4GB) and 1800ml (10GB). The 1800ml bottle dates from medieval times as glass bottle techniques developed. This bottle is called Isshobin (Bottle of 1 Sho). It was the standard bottle size and it continues to be the most popular. The service in the glasses (ochoko) and in the carafes (tokkuri which are 180ml) is also a function of the Go.
Chloé Cazaux Grandpierre is a “made in Bordeaux” woman! In 2012 she launched the Chloé and Wines blog to talk about her wine and spirits discoveries with a focus on wine tourism. Since 2014, she has been a sake sommelier and is the only female sake educator in France. Otsukimi, Moon Drinkers – Saké Sommelier, Saké Educator and Shochu Advise. Chloé participates in numerous competitions as a jury, rates sakes and wines for an international magazine and is officially recognized by the Japanese government as a “Japanese Food Supporter”. Chloé regularly gives lectures on sake and Japanese spirits. She joined the team of France Bleu Gironde bloggers in 2020, very happy to share her knowledge and her passion for Japan on the airwaves! Kanpa! (Cheers !).