The classic bottle format
It all starts with the standard bottle format, unassumingly called The Bottle. Although the market offers smaller formats such as the Quart or the Demie, the standard bottle is the first bottle format designed to serve more than two people, which is why we start with this format as an entry point.
The best-selling bottle format contains 750 ml, a practical size that can serve five generous flutes of champagne to accompany a meal, or around seven smaller flutes to serve as an aperitif or as part of a series of tastings with several cuvées to discover.
The magnum
A festive menu or special occasions that bring your loved ones together, such as Christmas, birthdays, etc., are ideal occasions to increase the size of your bottle and consider the magnum format. Magnums contain 1500 ml of champagne and offer considerable advantages. Firstly, a magnum can serve 12 to 15 flutes, reducing the time spent running to open bottles if you just want to enjoy the moment with your guests.
What's more, magnums offer greater aging potential and a gain in wine quality, making them the preferred format for connoisseurs who appreciate mature champagne and old vintages. With a lower ratio of liquid to oxygen, oxygen has less impact on the development of wine inside a magnum than in a conventional bottle. This considerably slows down the oxidation process, making these bottles ideal for long bottle ageing by promoting slow, steady development.
Compared to other formats, magnums tend to appear fresher, more nuanced and more vibrant several years after bottling. As such, magnums remain the optimal choice for all collectors and wine lovers who wish to preserve their bottles of champagne for years to come.
Jeroboams: for large families or small groups of connoisseurs
Representing the equivalent of 4 standard bottles, the Jeroboam's 3000 ml capacity is sufficient for a large tour of guests. This bottle fills up to 30 champagne flutes and is a fantastic format for any type of birthday or family celebration.
Whether you choose a fruity or refreshing champagne to satisfy different taste preferences at an aperitif, or a more complex champagne to accompany every course of a gourmet menu, from starter to dessert, or a special vintage to match your event, our boutique offers many options to suit every need and occasion.
The Methuselah: the sensational format for the holidays
If you're planning a big party with lots of guests and want to make the event even more special, a Methuselah containing 6000 ml of champagne - the equivalent of 8 classic bottles - is the best way to make everyone feel like a VIP.
Serving up to 60 merry flutes, this format is suitable for all festive occasions such as weddings, baby showers, corporate events or other memorable moments like a ship's christening ceremony.
Don't forget that larger bottles, like the Methuselah, can quickly become heavy for serving. The particularly thick glass makes the large bottle sturdy and manageable during production, but you'll need a helping hand to pour 60 flutes without losing a drop.
Other impressive large formats
Of course, there are other large formats after the Methuselah: the Salmanazar, the Balthazar or the Nebuchadnezzar, and they continue to grow up to the size of the Melchisedech, which is equivalent to 40 standard bottles. These oversized formats are made to impress, and are so large and heavy that they require several people to open, handle and serve the champagne properly.
Typically, these large formats are a blend of several bottles of champagne aged in magnum or jeroboam, which are first transferred to a large container before being poured into the final large bottle. Special machines are needed to protect the wines from oxidation and preserve their bubbles.
If you'd like to find out more about these giant formats and get advice on the right size for special occasions, read our article Champagne bottle sizes for New Year's Eve.
