The Wonderful World of Wine Bottles
Let’s drink from this chalice of joy.
There are fifteen different wine bottles available today on the international market, which are distinguished by their size, the amount they contain and their name. What they all have in common is the material they are made of, glass, which became popular for this purpose from the second half of the 18th century, and which differs in thickness according to the type of wine it contains. For example, a bottle that contains sparkling wine will have a greater thickness than one used for still wine, because of the difference in pressure.
While the most popular wine bottle is the 0.750 litre Bordeaux style, the best is undoubtedly the Magnum as it allows for better ageing of the wine. A Magnum contains double the standard amount (1.5 litres) and has less oxygen in contact with a greater quantity of wine. This is because the bottle’s neck is the same diameter as on a standard bottle.
Less surface area for the wine to come into contact with oxygen and a lower quantity of wine in contact with the glass therefore make the Magnum the ideal bottle for maintaining the contents.
It therefore follows on that bottles that hold more preserve the wine better and provide more stable conditions for the wine to evolve enabling it to reach maturity more slowly, as well as withstand differences in temperature and the negative effects of exposure to light.
Sommeliers and wine connoisseurs are well aware of this, and confirm that the wines contained in larger bottles, which are uncorked at major wine tastings, present the best organoleptic characteristics.
All existing bottle sizes are set out here below, starting from the smallest through to the largest, along with the name and description.
Demi or Half: half bottle, contents 0.375 litres. Fills 3 glasses.
Standard: the classic, most popular size, contents 0.75 litres. Fills 6 glasses.
Magnum: double size bottle, highly popular, contents 1.5 litres. Fills 12 glasses.
Jeroboam: (Double Magnum): named after the king who founded the Kingdom of Israel. Contains 3 litres (4 bottles, 24 glasses). This is the bottle used on the podium to celebrate racing car victories.
Rehoboam: takes its name from the first King of Judah, contains 4.5 litres (6 bottles, 36 glasses).
Methuselah: named after the longest-living man mentioned in Genesis (Old Testament), the biblical patriarch Methuselah (3073-2104 b.C.), contains 6 litres (8 bottles, 48 glasses), weight 10 kg.
Salmanazar: the name of an Assyrian King, Shalmeneser, who was a great builder, contents 9 litres (12 bottles, 72 glasses).
Balthazar: the name of one of the three Wise Men or the last King of Babylon, renowned for his lavish banquets, contains 12 litres (16 bottles, 96 glasses).
Nabuchadnezzar: the name of one of the Kings of Babylon, contains 15 litres (20 bottles, 120 glasses); one of Verdi’s operas, Nabucco, is dedicated to him.
Melchior: the name of one of the three Wise Men, contains 18 litres (24 bottles, 144 glasses).
Solomon: The name of a King of Israel, contains 20 litres (26,66 bottles, 160 glasses).
Sovereign: contains 25 litres (33.33 bottles, 200 glasses).
Primat or Goliath: the name of the giant in the Bible who was killed by David. Contains 27 litres (36 bottles, 216 glasses).
Melchizedek: the name derives from a mysterious biblical figure, a king or high priest, this is the largest bottle in existence, contains 30 litres (40 bottles, 240 glasses).
