A Guide to Wine Bottle Sizes

Halves, Bottles, Magnums & Larger Format Bottle Sizes

We have put together a list of the most popular wine bottle sizes, their names and servings. Larger format bottles make fantastic gifts for those looking to impress someone special. They are also the perfect size for celebrations and parties plus they really look good on the table!

As a general rule wine bottled in larger formats mature more slowly than in standard 75cl bottles making them an ideal investment for those looking to cellar wine for future enjoyment. Many of the wine bottle sizes we have listed are rarely found for sale and the very large formats often need to be requested and bottled specially by the wine producer. The smaller bottle formats are becoming increasingly popular with a number of producers creating 50cl variants and half bottles (37.5cl) are the perfect size for a glass or two with dinner.

 

 Bottle Name Volume Equivalent Bottles No. of Standard Serve Glasses
Piccolo - Quarter - Snipe - Pony
Best known as a single serving of Champagne
18.75cl 1/4 1
Chopine
Most commonly found in Bordeaux
25cl 1/3 1 1/4
Half - Demi - Fillette
Half a standard bottle
37.5cl 1/2 3
Jennie
A popular bottle size used for sweet wines such as Tokaj, Sauternes & Sherry. Known as Demie or Pinte in Champagne. Becoming increasing popular for still wines.
50cl 3/4 4
Clavelin
Unique to ‘Vin Jaune’ and, history has it, came about because it was the volume of liquid that was left after the wine had completed its obligatory six years and three months of cask ageing.
62cl 3/4 5
Bottle
The standard wine bottle size
75cl 1 6
Magnum
The most popular and impressive large bottle format and perfect to serve at a dinner party.
150cl 2 12
Double Magnum
Also known as a Jéroboam when used for Champagne and Burgundy
300cl 4 24
Réhoboam
Used for Champagne and Burgundy. Named after Rehoboam, son of Solomon and King of Judah.
450cl 6 36
Impériale
Used for Bordeaux wines.
600cl 8 48
Methusaleh
Named after Methuselah, the son of Enoch and the grandfather of Noah. Used in Champagne & Burgundy.
600cl 8 48
Salmanazar
Named after Shalmanese, the biblical king of Assyria from 727 to 722 BC. Another Champagne bottle size.
900cl 12 72
Balthazar
Named after Balthazar, one of the three wise men. A rare Champagne bottle size.
1200cl 16 96
Nebuchadnezzar
Named after a king of Babylon.
1500cl 20 120
Melchior
Named after another of the three wise men.
1800cl 24 136
Solomon
Named after a biblical, king of Israel, the Son of David. A very rare Champagne bottle size
2000cl 26.6 156
Sovereign
Reportedly created by Taittinger in 1988 for the launch of the then world's largest cruise liner Sovereign of the Seas
2550cl 33 196