Bottle
Size Names
|
Size
in Milliliters
and Liters
|
Number
of Bottles
|
Name
Still Wine
|
Name
Sparkling Wine
|
|
187
ml.
|
1\4
|
Split
|
Split
|
|
375
ml.
|
1\2
|
Half
Bottle
|
Half
Bottle
|
|
500
ml.
|
3\4
|
Half
liter
|
Half
liter
|
|
750
ml.
|
1
|
Bottle
|
Bottle
|
|
1.5
L.
|
2
|
Magnum
|
Magnum
|
|
2.25
L.
|
3
|
Marie-Jane
|
---
|
|
3
L.
|
4
|
Double
Magnum
|
Jeroboam
|
|
4.5
L.
|
6
|
Jeroboam
|
Rehoboam
|
|
6
L.
|
8
|
Imperial
|
Methusalah
|
|
9
L.
|
12
|
---
|
Salmanazar
|
|
12
L.
|
16
|
---
|
Balthazar
|
|
15
L.
|
20
|
---
|
Nebuchadnezzar
|
|
18
L.
|
24
|
---
|
Zara
Thrustra
|
0.187:
Used mostly by airlines and sold by retailers more as stocking
stuffers at Christmas. Although some good quality non-vintage
Champagne is put in this size, the still wines in this size are
usually the moderate quality wines of large domestics wineries.
0.375:
A
size popularized by restaurants to serve one or two people and
also somewhat popular with retail customers as a trial size. Commonly
called a "Split." Although many top quality wines
of all types are put into half bottles, they are rarely cellared
because of their "too fast" aging cycle compared
to standard and larger size. The advent of 'wine by the glass'
has also reduced its popularity. This is best used for sweet dessert
wines where it can serve up to four people.
0.500:
The standard bottle size for Tokaji, the great dessert wine of
Hungary. Recent attempts to popularize it as a size for two people
wishing to exercise moderation have not met with much success
in the United States.
0.750:
The standard bottle. Legend says its size was determined by the
size a bottle conveniently blown by a glassblower's lungful of
Air. It is sometimes called a fifth because it is about on fifth
of a gallon.
1.5:
The
'magnum' is the most popular large format size. For still wines
its popularity is due mainly because of wine's ability to age
longer with a consequently greater development of complexities
than wine in standard bottles. Interestingly, this size is mostly
seen in either the most exclusive, age worthy wines where they
charge more than for two standard bottles, or the least expensive
wines where they charge less than two standard bottles. For sparkling
wines at large gatherings it is impressive yet still easy to handle.
At one time, it was less expensive than buying two .750 bottle,
but larger bottles for cellared has become more popular.
2.25:
No
longer used for still wines and never used for sparkling wines.
3:
For still wines it is called a double magnum. For sparkling wines
it is called a Jeroboam. This is a popular large format for both
still and sparkling wines. Only the best still wines will be put
into double magnums for the purpose of decades of aging. For sparkling
wines, it is a most impressive site at special celebrations, it
is reasonably easy to pour from and is the largest size that is
fermented in its own bottle (see below) and cellared for aging.
4.5:
For
still wines it is also called a Jeroboam. For sparkling wines
it is called a Rehoboam. This is not a particularly popular size
today.
6:
For still wines it is called an Imperial. For sparkling wines
it is called a Methusalah. This is a popular large format size
for both still and sparkling wines. Only the best still wines
will be put into Imperials for the purpose of decades of aging.
For sparkling wines, it is a most impressive site at special celebrations
but it is not easy to pour from and rarely cellared for aging.
9,
12, 15, 18: It
is not uncommon to see names interchanged between wines and champagne.
These bottle sizes are popular for restaurant display. Often the
wine inside is "generic", not for consumption
but for display purposes.
Wineries
today also produce the larger size bottle,
not for sale directly to the public, but for charity auctions.
Collectors pay top dollars for this sizes.
Every
Day Nomenclature In The Shop:
The
names from the table above routinely used to describe each size
are different for each size. Listed below are some general observations
of 'shop talk' nomenclature. Note that although magnum is equally
popular as its abbreviation 'mag', milliliter is usually abbreviated
as 'mill' or left out entirely.
- 0.187
liter:
Mostly called be its name, a 'split.'
- 0.3765
and 0.750 liter:
Called equally by their name or their size in milliliters.
For example, a 0.750 liter will usually be called a :
a. 'bottle'
b. 'seven fifty'
c. 'seven fifty mill'
- 0.500
liter:
Mostly called by its size in milliliters.
a. 'five hundred'
b. 'five hundred mill'
- 1.5
liter:
1. For quality wines, usually called by its size name.
a. 'mag'
b. 'magnum'
2. For lesser quality wines, usually called by its size in
liters.
a. 'one point five'
b. 'one point five liter'
- 3
liter:
Called equally by its name or size liters.
a. 'three liter'
b. 'double mag'
c. 'double magnum'
- Greater
than 3 liter:
Called mostly by its name.
Champagne
Nomenclature and Methods of Production:
For
champagne and Methode Champenoise bottles less than 750 ml and
greater than 3 liter (Jeraboam), the wine is not made in the bottle
you buy. The procedure is called transversage. Following
disgorgement, the wine is put into pressurized tanks, the dossage
added, and the wine bottled in the giant and small formats .
