- Bottle sizes play an important role in the investment landscape.
- How many ml are in a bottle of wine influences maturation and value.
- Prestigious regions favour different bottle sizes for ageing.
- Careful consideration of varying bottle types is critical for a wine investment strategy.
Standard, Magnum, Jeroboam, and Melchizedek: Understanding wine bottle sizes is key for wine investors. Wine bottle size impacts how wine matures, its value, and its portfolio performance. This guide covers the names, background, and advantages of each size, helping wine investors navigate which formats are optimal for their strategy and have the potential for long-term returns.
Wine bottle sizes
There is more to the wide array of wine bottle sizes than their intriguing names. The size of a bottle, whether a Piccolo or a Melchizedek, is crucial in wine maturing and value. From an investment and collecting point of view, knowledge about how many mls in a bottle of wine informs decisions on choice, storage, and how long to hold an asset.
This guide demystifies the names, uses, history, and importance of different wine bottle sizes, explaining the advantages of each for both established and newcomer investors.
Wine bottle sizes names
Split/Piccolo (187 ml / 18.7 cl)
The Split, or Piccolo (meaning “tiny” in Italian), contains a single serving of wine. It is most usually used for sparkling wines like Champagne or Prosecco.
Advantages
- perfect for individual glasses
- when from a prestigious house, adds charm to a wine collection
Half-Bottle (375 ml / 37.5 cl)
A half-bottle holds 2.5 glasses of wine. It is commonly used for still styles destined for early enjoyment and dessert wines such as Sauternes.
Advantages
- offer a unique tasting experience
- affordable route to rare wines
Half Litre/Jennie (500 ml / 50 cl)
The Jennie is not as common as the previous two sizes. How many ml in a bottle of wine of this size? The answer is 500ml or three glasses. It is usually found in parts of Germany and regions like the Loire Valley, typically for sweet wines.
Advantages
- ideal for smaller servings (sweet or dry)
- adds variety to collections
Standard Bottle (750 ml / 75 cl)
This is the size investors and collectors are most familiar with. This global benchmark has endured since the 19th century and was standardised in the 1970s. It contains five glasses, making it a practical and versatile option for daily use and cellaring.
Advantages
- suitable for everyday enjoyment
- ideal for fine dining
- ideal for investment-grade wines
Litre Bottle (1 litre / 100 cl)
This bottle size holds 1.33 standard bottles. It is a common sight in European table wines. The Litre Bottle is less prevalent in collections of fine wines.
Advantages
- offers practicality for casual drinking
- ideal for large gatherings
Magnum (1.5 litres / 150 cl)
How many mils in a bottle of wine named a Magnum? This holds 1.5 litres and has a firm place in the world of collecting and investing because of its maturation-enhancing attributes. It is especially prevalent among premium wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. The name derives from the Latin for ‘large’ and has been used since the end of the 1700s.
Advantages
- volume allows wine to mature gradually, enhancing complexity
- prized for both prestige and superior maturation capacity
Larger and less common bottle sizes
We now enter the world of the large wine bottle format. The names become even more exotic, historical, and often biblical. The significance for collectors and investors is even more notable.
Jeroboam/Double Magnum (3 litres / 300 cl, 4.5 litres/ 450 cl, 5 litres/ 500cl )
The Jeroboam, or Double Magnum, contains four times the quantity of wine as the standard bottle. The first documented use of this name dates to the early decades of the 18th century in Bordeaux. It was named after a biblical king to signify its superior size. How many ml is in a bottle of wine with these names depends on the region. In Champagne and Burgundy, both names can refer to a 3-litre capacity, while in Bordeaux, this quantity solely means Double Magnum. In the same region, a Jeroboam indicates 5 litres.
Advantages
- ideal for high-quality wines and long-term ageing
- offers rarity and collectability
Rehoboam (4.5 litres / 450 cl)
This big bottle of wine is known as the Rehoboam, the name of the biblical king who was the son of wise man Solomon. This size is common in fine wine regions, Champagne and Burgundy.
Advantages
- allows wines to mature slowly and steadily, deepening complexity
- especially prized for Grand Cru reds
Methuselah/Imperial (6 litres / 600 cl)
Often referred to as an “Imperial” in Bordeaux, the Methuselah is named for the longest-lived figure in the Old Testament (969 years). While nearly a millennium in the cellar might be a challenge for even the finest of wines, the name does nod to the longevity offered by large-format wines. This 6-litre size is highly valued in Champagne, Bordeaux, and Burgundy for the maturation it facilitates.
Advantages
- for wines destined for long-term ageing
- valued for rarity and maturation potential
Salmanazar (9 litres / 900 cl)
Also falling into the category of “big bottles of wine”, the Salmanazar has the capacity for 12 standard bottles. Most often associated with Bordeaux and Champagne, this size is named for a dynasty of Assyrian kings who had vast kingdoms in the BC era.
Advantages
- scale supports deep, complex ageing
- adds prestige to any collection
Balthazar (12 litres / 1,200 cl)
Balthazar bottles hold 16 standard bottles. They are used for the finest-quality wines, destined for gradual, complex evolution. This large format aids in the slowing of unwanted oxidation, allowing elegant ageing. Balthazar was one of the biblical wise men and an ancient king.
Advantages
- very large bottle of wine ideal for slow, finessed evolution
- valued for combination of rarity and prestige
Nebuchadnezzar (15 litres / 1,500 cl)
A Nebuchadnezzars is the equivalent to 20 standard bottles. These rare formats are delegated to the most prestigious wines, especially those from Bordeaux or Burgundy. This format takes its name from another biblical source: Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s greatest king, who transformed his kingdom into a magnificent land.
Advantages
- size facilitates slow, finessed evolution
- rare and prestigious bottle format
Rare and colossal formats
This section is dedicated to massive bottles of wine. These formats are reserved for top vintages and appellations. They are among the most prized sizes for investment and collecting. They are usually named after biblical kings and figures to symbolise generosity, grandeur, and abundance.
Melchior (18 litres / 1,800 cl)
This huge bottle of wine contains 18 litres. Named Melchior after one of the three wise men, this format is exceptionally rare, reserved for top vintages from premium regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne.
Advantages
- size allows deep, gradual evolution
- valued for both rarity and quality.
Solomon (20 litres / 2,000 cl)
Solomon was the biblical king admired for his wisdom, wealth, and eloquence. Solomons are reserved for ceremonial releases and special editions, usually in blue-chip regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy. Their historical significance, along with their rarity make them highly valuable.
Advantages
- Rare and prized
- Historical value
- Capacity supports finessed evolution
Sovereign (22.5 litres / 2,250 cl)
This massive bottle of wine brings us from ancient to modern times. It was introduced by Taittinger Champagne house in 1988, when it was used to christen the world’s largest cruise ship, the Sovereign of the Seas. This format is associated with luxury and the most celebrated wines and vintages.
Advantages
- Extremely rare and prestigious
- Most prized wine regions, appellations, and vintages
- Size allows complex evolution
Primat/Goliath (27 litres / 2,700 cl)
This is nearly classed as the largest wine bottle. Colossal, with a capacity of 27 litres or 36 bottles, Primat is synonymous with exclusivity. Also called Primato or Goliath after the giant biblical warrior, it is reserved for the finest Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. Its volume capacity amplifies ageing potential and value. The name Primat is derived from the Latin for “first class”. In the wine world, it was used for the first time in 1999.
Advantages
- Most prestigious wines
- Rare and highly valuable
- Excellent ageing capacity
Melchizedek/ Midas (30 litres / 3,000 cl)
The biggest wine bottle format in the collecting and investment space is the Melchizedek, with a capacity for 40 bottles. Nicknamed the “king of all bottles”, this exceptionally rare format is used for Grand Vins and special releases, showcasing the pinnacle of prestige, rarity, and ageing capacity. It is named after a biblical king and priest famed for his wisdom and foresight. The moniker “Midas” refers to the Greek mythological king known for turning everything he touched into gold. The name reflects the ultimate luxury of this size.
Advantages
- Highly rare and prized
- Exclusive, rare releases
- Excellent ageing ability
- High value
The large wine bottle: Regions and history
Wine bottle sizes have taken centuries to evolve. In early viniculture, before glassmaking developed, wines were stored in clay vessels. To provide gravitas, many large bottle sizes of wine were named after well-known biblical or historical figures.
The choice of size of a bottle of wine varies regionally. Champagne favours Magnums and the Jeroboams size for ageing, Bordeaux prefers large wine bottle sizes for reds, and Burgundy prefers them for Grand Crus. In other premium regions such as Tuscany, the Rhône, and Rioja, similar practices mirror local winemaking traditions and styles.
Wine bottle sizes: Impact on wine ageing and value
How many milliliters in a wine bottle influences oxidation and the pace and depth of maturation. The greater the height of a bottle of wine and the wine bottle diameter, the slower the ageing process is, resulting in complexity over decades. Investors and collectors prize a very large wine bottle like Magnums, Jeroboams, and Methuselahs for longevity, stability, rarity, and, often, higher market value than the standard size of a wine bottle.
Size of wine bottle: Collecting and investing
Market value
Larger bottles command premium prices owing to their rarity, ageing capacity, and prestige. Magnums, Jeroboams, and Methuselahs from Bordeaux and Champagne are highly valued, elevating both portfolios and collections.
Investment potential
Slow-maturing wines in large formats often appreciate over the years. Limited editions or special releases increase value, making them excellent choices for long-term investment horizons.
Display prestige
The largest bottle sizes enhance cellars with their value and prestige. Large wine bottles speak of wine expertise and add aesthetic and financial value to collections.
Final thoughts: wine bottle sizes and names
From the tiny Piccolo to the massive Melchizedek, wine bottle sizes impart history and symbolism, and influence the wine itself. An understanding of how many mls in a bottle of wine can help collectors and investors appreciate the position of different sizes.
Next time you review your wine investment strategy, think about wine bottles sizes. They’re more than vessels with colourful names; they have the potential to transform your portfolio.
FAQs
- Why do collectors admire big-format bottles of wine so much?
Large formats like Magnums and Jeroboams aren’t just visually impressive – they age more gracefully thanks to slower oxidation. This means finer texture, deeper complexity, and often a higher market value over time. - Is there a real benefit to buying unusual sizes like Salmanazar or Melchizedek?
Yes. Beyond the spectacle, these huge bottles are produced in tiny quantities. Their rarity, combined with exceptional ageing potential, makes them sought-after assets in wine investment portfolios. - How many ml are actually in a bottle of wine – and why does it matter?
Bottle size can range from 187 ml Piccolos to 30-litre Melchizedeks. The volume affects how wine develops, how rare the format is, and ultimately how desirable it becomes on the secondary market – key factors for collectors and investors alike.
WineCap’s independent market analysis showcases the value of portfolio diversification and the stability offered by investing in wine. Speak to one of our wine investment experts and start building your portfolio. Schedule your free consultation today
