Size Matters

 By Dan Perkins

So, you go into a restaurant and notice a few bottles of wine on display but realize they must be for show because you've never been able to find bottles that size in your local wine shop. But the bottles you see, which are the size of small surface to air missiles, are actual wine bottles.

Over the years, starting from a tradition in France, wine makers have been putting their precious juice in multiple size bottles for various reasons. For instance, wine will tend to age better in larger bottles. While the optimal size of bottle is debated, it is impractical, if not unattainable when you consider the need for temperature control and expense of a bottle that holds a case of wine or more. But lately, restaurants are trending to offer half bottles on the wine list giving patrons an opportunity to sample multiple wines with different courses during dinner.

Although you most likely understand the "standard" bottle is a 750ml glass container for wine, you may be surprised to know there are 12 different sizes of bottles and each have their own names to identify them... most of which tend to come from the Bible and no one seems to really know the origin or selection of the names.

First you have: Bottle (I know fancy huh?), as described above.
Next: Half Bottle, 375ml.
Smallest yet: Split or Pony sometimes referred to as Picolo size can vary.
Going larger: Magnum: 1.5 liters = two bottles  
Double Magnum/Jeroboam: 3 liters = 4 bottles
Jeroboam/Rheoboam: 4.5 to 5 liters = 6 to 6.5 bottles
Imperial/Methuselah: 6 liters = 8 bottles
Salmanazar: 9 liters = 12 bottles or a case of wine
Balthazar: 12 liters = 16 bottles
Nebuchadnezzar: 15 liters = 20 bottles
Melchior/Solomon: 18 liters = 24 bottles or 2 cases of wine
Goliath/Primat: 27 liters = 36 bottles or 3 cases of wine!

Now you may be wondering why are there two names for some of the sizes? Other than the small bottle format, the difference refers to whether the wine is still or sparkling wine. The first name applies to the Bordeaux region of still wine while the second applies to Champagne where the bubbly derives.

If you're wondering if I've ever had a wine from a larger bottle the answer is yes... I've had my fair share of wines in Magnum and Double Magnum bottles... but one day we sampled some wine taken from a Nebuchadnezzar. Here's the story!

A man in Napa Valley had a significant wine collection which included a Nebuchadnezzar of vintage Cabernet but was unable to cellar it due to its size so he kept it out for display... that was until a bored grandchild decided to see what happens if you push on the cork! Because this wasn't noticed for some time the owner decided the amount of oxidation exposure to the wine did not warrant re-corking and took it to the winery for them to pour in exchange for anything they would offer (He got a new case of wine). Excited to have such an opportunity, the tasting room staff proudly displayed the bottle and offered their guests a rare sample of a great wine from a bottle few ever get a chance to crack open... er, shall I say "push" open.

Magnums are easily found and many larger format bottles can be purchased directly from the wineries themselves. However, these can be very expensive as most require special handling and usually come with hand painted or lazer etched lables... but the bottles, as the wine itself, can be beautiful piece of art!

Cheers!

Comments

[Jon O]

Thanks for taking the time to explain. I have seen the larger bottles before and wondered if they were an advertising gimmick or if they were real. But I understand the idea of storing larger amounts of wine. It seems to me that due to the larger qty of wine stored in the larger bottles, there is more wine to work in harmony during aging. Thus more flavors of the individual grapes should come forward? Just my thought.