Sparkling wine comes in more sizes than any other wine. Size isn't just about the party. It changes how the wine ages.
| Name | Volume | Standard bottles | Roughly how many glasses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter (Piccolo) | 20cl | ¼ | 1–2 |
| Half | 37.5cl | ½ | 3 |
| Bottle | 75cl | 1 | 6 |
| Magnum | 1.5 L | 2 | 12 |
| Jeroboam | 3 L | 4 | 24 |
| Rehoboam | 4.5 L | 6 | 36 |
| Methuselah | 6 L | 8 | 48 |
| Salmanazar | 9 L | 12 | 72 |
| Balthazar | 12 L | 16 | 96 |
| Nebuchadnezzar | 15 L | 20 | 120 |
| Solomon | 18 L | 24 | 144 |
| Melchizedek / Midas | 30 L | 40 | about 240 |
Sizes from the Comité Champagne, which also lists a 50cl Pinte, a 26.25 L Souverain and a 27 L Primat. Glasses are counted at 125ml.
Why magnums are special
Every bottle size has the same neck, so the same small amount of air sits under the cork. In a magnum that air is shared by twice as much wine. The Comité Champagne's cellar guide explains that Champagne therefore ages more slowly in a magnum and faster in a half bottle. Slower ageing usually means fresher fruit for longer and more complexity over time. That's why collectors love magnums.
- Half bottles are great for two people, but they age quickest. Drink them young.
- Magnums are the sweet spot for ageing and for a table of 8 to 12.
- Jeroboams and up are showpieces. They're heavy and hard to pour, and they need a cool place to rest before opening. The Comité Champagne notes that a Solomon weighs 43 kg.
Was it fermented in that bottle?
The Comité Champagne's guide says Champagne must be sold in the bottle where its second fermentation happened. Very small and very large formats are harder to make that way, so if it matters to you, ask the producer how a particular size was filled. Our friends at The Finest Bubble regularly open magnums and Jeroboams on camera. Look for them on the Watch page.