Big, bigger, grandest: champagne bottle sizes explained

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Big, bigger, grandest: champagne bottle sizes explained

Champagne comes not only in different styles, but also in all sorts of sizes – from small and cute to impressively large. Each size has its own charm and function. But what exactly do those names mean?

The most famous champagne sizes

Name

Contents

Number of glasses (±)

Piccolo

0.187 liters

1 glass

Demi

0.375 liter

3 glasses

Standard

0.75 liter

6 glasses

Magnum

1.5 liters

12 glasses

Jeroboam

3 liter

24 glasses

Rehoboam

4.5 liters

36 glasses

Methuselah

6 liter

48 glasses

Shalmanazar

9 liter

72 glasses

Balthazar

12 liter

96 glasses

Nebuchadnezzar

15 liter

120 glasses

What is the difference?

  • Small bottles such as the piccolo or demi are ideal for one-on-one moments or gifts.
  • Magnums are a favourite with connoisseurs – the wine matures more slowly and evenly in them, which often adds extra finesse.
  • Larger sizes like Jeroboam and beyond are primarily used for parties, events, or simply to impress. They are both rarer and more spectacular.

Fun fact

The names of the large bottles come from the Bible—think of kings like Jeroboam and Nebuchadnezzar. Or how champagne has always had a certain regal quality.