The packaging of wine for shipping and transport is mostly done in wooden crates, more rarely in strong cardboard boxes. The usual international quantity for crates is 12 bottles of 0.75 litres. This quantity was chosen because it can be carried comfortably by one person. The wine bottles are packed horizontally in the crate (as opposed to in cartons). If production quantities are given in "crates", this refers almost exclusively to crates with 12 bottles. Wines intended for longer bottle ageing are packed in sturdy crates usually made of spruce wood. However, there are also special crates for one, two, three or six bottles with corresponding fixation (see picture in the middle).
In the specialised trade, wines that are offered in unopened cases are considered particularly valuable; they are labelled OHK = Original Wooden Case (OWC = Original Wooden Case, French CBO = Caisse en Bois Original). A case containing six bottles of two different varieties or four bottles of three different varieties is called a "split case", a case containing twelve different varieties is called a "mixed case". Packages in boxes of six bottles are also common, and these are usually contained or transported upright (Don't fall, Top! Not to be dropped).
A "crate" was also an old unit measure for different goods that is no longer in use today. For example, a crate of mineral water = 100 bottles, a crate of opium = 70 to 75 kilograms, a crate of tin = 225 bars and also a crate of French red wine = 48 bottles. See also under bottles and wine vessels.
