Champagne is the world’s favourite celebratory drink. With an illustrious history, unique flavour and reputation for glamour, the corks pop for birthdays and special events all year round.
Champagne Bottle Sizes and Names
The large format Champagne bottle sizes (with the exception of the Magnum and Primat) are named after biblical kings and figures. Nobody knows quite why, perhaps because of their importance or maybe because of their age bestowing grandness upon the fizzy wine.
Standard bottle (0.75 litres) – The most popular sized bottle offers 4 to 6 glasses of wine
Magnum (1.5 litres) – 2 standard bottles. Latin for ‘great’.
Jeroboam (3 litres) – 4 standard bottles worth. The name comes from the first king of Israel
Rehoboam (4.5 litres) – 6 standard bottles. The name of the son of King Solomon and grandson of King David, the term means ‘he who enlarges the people.’
Methuselah (6 litres) – 8 standard bottles. The oldest man mentioned in the Bible, who was believed to be 969 years old and died around the time of the Great Flood that floated the Ark built by Noah.
Salmanazar (9 litres) – 12 standard bottles. An Assyrian emperor.
Balthazar (12 litres) – 16 standard bottles. One of the Three Wise Men who followed the Star of Bethlehem to the nativity.
Nebuchadnezzar (15 litres) – 20 standard bottles. A Babylonian King. At a whopping 83.5 lbs in weight – you’ll need help to pour the glasses.
Primat (27 litres) – 36 standard bottles.
Melchizedek (30 litres) – 40 standard bottles. The biggest in the world. This bottle weights around 170lbs. Pop that cork and the champagne will definitely flow as it fills around 394 glasses. Made by Champagne Drappier, this is a popular bottle on cruise ships and glitzy parties.
The most unique Champagne bottle size earned the nickname of the Winston Churchill. The special bottle was made by Pol Roger for Winston Churchill and held exactly 20 ounces of Champagne, which was considered the perfect amount by Churchill for the morning!
History of Champagne
Champagne – the French Elixir
Champagne’s UNESCO status
Classic Champagne cocktail recipes
Troyes – a fabulous town to taste Champagne! Historic, gorgeous and the perfect place for a weekend of tasting.
