Large Formats

Beyond the magnum (1.5 liters), each large bottle has a name tied to a specific size. The Comité Champagne lists ten of them. Among them, the Jeroboam holds 3 liters, the Methuselah 6, the Salmanazar 9, the Balthazar 12 and the Nebuchadnezzar 15: the equivalent of twenty standard 750 ml bottles.

Champagne or Bordeaux: Same Name, Different Bottle

These names follow Champagne usage, and not every region uses them the same way. In Bordeaux, the 3-liter bottle is called a double magnum and the 6-liter bottle an Imperial. A Bordeaux Jeroboam is larger than its Champagne namesake.

So on a product page, look at the size in liters or centiliters rather than the name alone. If the two don’t match, ask the producer. Our guide to large-format wine and Champagne bottles lists the equivalents for Champagne and Bordeaux.

Champagne Over 1.5 Liters: Made in Its Bottle or Transferred

Champagne gets its bubbles in the bottle. The appellation, whose current rules date from July 2025, requires it to be sold in the bottle where that second fermentation took place, except for sizes under 750 ml or over 1.5 liters. From the Jeroboam up, the wine may be transferred once its fermentation is done.

The process is tightly regulated. It takes place within the appellation area, by counter-pressure in an isobaric system, with filling at 41°F (5°C) or below. Each transfer is recorded in a register and declared to the appellation’s governing body within 48 hours.

A Methuselah or a Nebuchadnezzar may therefore have fermented in its own bottle, or been filled afterward. Both practices are allowed. If the difference matters to you, ask the producer before you order.

Rosé, Red or Champagne: Entertaining with a Very Large Bottle

Let the occasion pick the color. A Provence rosé in a Jeroboam suits an outdoor summer lunch. A large-format red stays at the center of a seated table through a long meal. Champagne belongs at a standing reception, for the toasts or the cake.

Plan the logistics too. The bigger the bottle, the longer it takes to chill, and a regular ice bucket won’t do. Set up a large tub of ice and water and put the bottle in well before guests arrive. Until then, keep it away from light.

Very large formats may be prepared to order by the producer. If you have a set date, order early and check availability on the product page.

Solomon, Rehoboam, Midas: Your Questions About Very Large Bottles

What is an 18-liter bottle called?

An 18-liter bottle is called a Solomon (Salomon in French), according to the Comité Champagne’s bottle size chart. It holds the equivalent of 24 standard 750 ml bottles and comes right after the 15-liter Nebuchadnezzar.

What is the difference between a Jeroboam and a Rehoboam?

A Jeroboam holds 3 liters and a Rehoboam 4.5 liters, under the names used in Champagne. The first equals four standard bottles, the second six. The Rehoboam sits between the Jeroboam and the 6-liter Methuselah.

What is the largest Champagne bottle?

The largest Champagne bottle listed by the Comité Champagne is the Melchizedek, also called Midas: 30 liters, the equivalent of 40 standard bottles. The Comité puts it at about 240 glasses. Just below come the Primat (27 liters) and the Sovereign (26.25 liters).

Where can you buy large-format wine direct from the winemaker?

You can buy large-format wine direct from the winemaker on Avenue des Vins. Your order ships straight from the producer, with no middleman.

See also: Special wedding selection - Sparkling for the party - Gift boxes