Wine · Explainer
How do you put together a wine package as a gift yourself?
Choose three to six bottles that complement each other: a sparkling one, a white, a red and possibly a sweet one. Keep them in the same price class, so there is no outlier among them. The standard bottle is 0.75 litre; a magnum of 1.5 litres makes a bottle the centrepiece. Add a card with country, grape and drinking advice.
In brief
The key figures
| Number of bottles | Three to six is usual for a gift pack |
|---|---|
| Standard bottle | 0.75 litre, one of the legally fixed sizes |
| Small bottle | 0.375 litres, half of a standard bottle |
| Magnum | 1.5 litres, equal to two standard bottles |
| Structure | Sparkling, white, red and possibly sweet |
| Label | Alcohol by volume and allergens must be stated on the bottle |
| Sugar designation | Mandatory for sparkling wine, voluntary for still wine |
| Age | A parcel containing alcohol does not go to anyone under 18 |
How many bottles does a good wine package consist of?
Three to six bottles work best: enough to show a difference, few enough to keep the box portable.
With three bottles you choose a white, a red and a sparkling. With six there is room for a second country, a rosé or a dessert wine.
Shipping boxes with compartments are common for three, six and twelve bottles. Choose the box size before you choose the bottles, then you will not have to cross anything out afterwards.
Which wines do you combine in a package?
Put wines side by side that differ in colour, country and style: a sparkling, a fresh white, a sturdy red and a sweet one.
A package of four wines from four countries says more than four bottles from the same region. The person who receives the gift can then truly compare.
Do keep the bottles in the same price range. If there is a clear outlier among them, it draws the attention and the other bottles are left standing.
Which bottle sizes can you choose from?
The 0.75 liter bottle is one of the nominal quantities that European regulations set for prepackaged wine, alongside 0.375 liter, 0.5 liter and 1.5 liter, among others.
A magnum of 1.5 litres holds two standard bottles and works well as the centrepiece of a package for a large party.
Half bottles of 0.375 litres are handy if the package is for one or two people, or if you want to get more different wines in the same box.
What do you write on the card with the package?
Note down per bottle the country, the grape, the style and a drinking suggestion, so that the recipient knows which bottle suits which moment.
Add the order in which you would drink the bottles. From light to heavy is a useful starting point, with the sweet bottle last.
A short word about why you chose this particular bottle makes the package personal. Do not invent a tasting note: write down what you have tasted yourself.
What should you look out for when shipping or giving away?
Pack the bottles upright in a box with dividers, keep the temperature low and do not give alcohol to anyone under 18.
Wine suffers from heat in a delivery van or a parcel locker. Preferably do not ship in hot weather, or choose a delivery moment at which the box does not sit in the sun.
For shipping abroad, each country has its own rules on excise duty, import and age verification. Check this before you tape up the box.
From the shop in Bathmen
Which wines are available for a package?
The shop in Bathmen stocks 351 wines from 159 different brands from 14 countries. Prices range from € 10.49 to € 25.00. The alcohol percentage ranges from 1.3% to 20%.
- Aaldering Chardonnay WO Stellenbosch 0.75 14% · 75 cl · South Africa
- Aaldering Sauvignon Blanc WO Stellenbosch 0.75 14% · 75 cl · South Africa
- AIX Rosé 13% · 75 cl · France
- Angelo Negro Cescu Dolcetto d'Alba 13.5% · 75 cl · Italy
- Angelo Negro Dina Barbera d'Alba 14% · 75 cl · Italy
- Angelo Negro Langhe Onorata 12.5% · 75 cl · Italy
- Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Contacto Vinho Verde 13% · 75 cl · Portugal
- Antinori La Maestrelle rood 13% · 70 cl · Italy
- Apostelhoeve Cuvée XII 12.5% · 75 cl · Netherlands
- Apostelhoeve Riesling 12.5% · 75 cl · Netherlands
Related questions
How is rosé made?How is wine made?How much alcohol is in a bottle of wine?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- How many bottles fit in a standard wine box?
- Shipping boxes with compartments are common for three, six or twelve bottles. For a gift, a box of three or six is the handiest.
- Which wine do you serve alongside if someone does not drink alcohol?
- Alcohol-free wine and alcohol-free sparkling wine exist in dry and sweet styles, so the range stays complete.
- Can you combine wine and beer in a package?
- Yes. Then choose bottles that go together in style, such as a fresh white wine next to a light blond beer.
- How long does a gift pack keep?
- Most bottles in a package are meant to be drunk within a few years. Until then, keep them dark and cool.
- Can a wine pack go to a seventeen-year-old?
- No. Alcohol does not go to anyone under 18. Choose a pack with alcohol-free bottles instead.
Further
Read more
All about wine at 't Bockjefilter wine by country, taste and priceAll brands at a glanceWhat is the difference between champagne, cava and prosecco?What does dry wine mean?What is the difference between Old World and New World wine?What do AOC, DOC and DOCG mean on a wine label?All questions about wine
The reasoning
Sources
- Richtlijn 2007/45/EG over nominale hoeveelheden voor voorverpakte producten, EUR-Lex, European Union (accessed 2026-09-07)
- Verordening (EU) nr. 1169/2011 over voedselinformatie aan consumenten, EUR-Lex, European Union (accessed 2026-09-07)
- Gedelegeerde verordening (EU) 2019/33, bijlage III, EUR-Lex, European Union (accessed 7 September 2026)
- Regels voor een wijnetiket, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (accessed 2026-09-07)
- Alcoholwet, Overheid.nl, wetten.nl (accessed 2026-09-07)
This page was written and checked by ’t Bockje Bathmen, wine & spirits shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Last updated on 12 September 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.