Whats a half bottle of Champagne called?

A classification and complete guide for all the different champagne bottle sizes and names, along with the details for all the large format champagne bottles used for french champagne, California sparkling wine and other expensive champagnes.

Starting from mini champagne bottles up to the biggest format we know. Yet, lots of champagne lovers don’t know the meanings of all these bottle names.

A knowledge of it can go a long way towards developing Champagne vertu, aside from winning bar bets!

Herewith the names and their meanings, the Champagne bottle volumes, and also the related amount of Champagne glasses pourable from each.

Classification of Champagne Bottle Sizes

So, how many glasses in a bottle of champagne? The answer to this question you will find in the table below.

Piccolo (1 tulip glass, 187.5 mL)

Name of this mini champagne bottle has an Italian origin and means “small”.

Being 187,5 milliliters, Piccolo bottle is equal to one tulip champagne glass.

Demi (2 tulip glasses, 375 mL)

Demi is a 375 mL of champagne bottle (“half” at French). Its another name is Fillete which means “little girl”.

Demi bottle of champagne is an equivalent of 3 flute champagne glasses, or 2 tulip champagne glasses or half of standard bottle.

Bottle (4 tulip glasses, 750 mL)

Nothing new here. A standard bottle of champagne contains 6 flute glasses, or 4 tulip glasses.

Magnum (2 BTL, 1.5 L)

Latin for “great”. Magnum bottle is capable of containing double the amount of champagne (12 glasses) that is usually found in a standard bottle.

Champagne producers describe Magnum as an ideal bottle for aging champagne.

Jeroboam (4 BTL, 3 L)

The tiniest from the more whimsically called Champagne bottle sizes, Jeroboam bottle contains 3 liters, or 24 champagne glasses.

The label originates from the 1st king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who ruled for 22 years during the late 10th century BC.

The name means “he increases the people”.

Rehoboam (6 BTL, 4.5 L)

Rehoboam is a 4.5-liter (36 flute glasses) champagne bottle, called for the son of King Solomon and grand son of King David, who ruled the Kingdom of Judah in the 10th century BC.

Accordingly to the bottle’s dimension, his name indicates “he who enlarges the people”.

Methuselah (8 BTL, 6 L)

The champagne bottle called in Methuselah’s honor contains 6 liters or 64 flute glasses of Champagne.

According to the Hebrew Bible, Methuselah is supposed to be the oldest person to ever live.

Methuselah was an antediluvian patriarch mentioned in the Old Testament as having lived 969 years and whose name is symbolic of great age.

Salmanazar (12 BTL, 9 L)

A variation of the name of 5 Assyrian kings who ruled in between the Thirteenth and Eighth centuries BC.

Salmanazar champagne bottle holds 9 liters, equivalent to 12 bottles or 72 champagne glasses.

Balthazar (16 BTL, 12 L)

A Balthazar bottle contains 12 liters of champagne or 16 standard bottles (it’s 96 glasses of champagne).

As to history, Balthazar is a king of Arabia who presented gifts to Jesus after his birth.

Nebuchadnezzar (20 BTL, 15 L)

The name of the greatest, most powerful of all Babylonian kings, who ruled from the late 7th to the middle 6th century BC.

Nebuchadnezzar champagne bottle holds 15 liters, or 120 flute glasses.

Solomon (24 BTL, 18 L)

Solomon champagne bottle contains 18 liters or 144 glasses of champagne. The Solomon has turned out the most debatable to determine correctly.

Both the CIVC along with the UMC (Union of Champagne houses) declare it at 18 liters / 24 bottles.

Other resources, not cited here, have the Solomon variously at 20 litres /26.6 bottles, or 21 liters / 28 bottles, but I am inclined to choose the CIVC and the UMC opinion.

Solomon bottle named for a king of Israel and the son of David. As an vessel, Solomon bottle is very rare and can be found in french champagne brands only.

Sovereign (34 BTL, 25 L)

The Sovereign champagne bottle shows up in the OCW as 34 bottles “in theory”, but direct communication with Taittinger, probably the solely maker to work with this specific size, indicates it at 35 bottles.

Primat (36 BTL, 27 L)

The Primat bottle has a capacity of 27 liters (equivalent to 36 bottles, 216 champagne glasses), weight 65 kilos (143 pounds), height 100cm (40 inches), diameter 26cm (10 inches).

Melchizedek (40 BTL, 30 L)

Lastly, the greatest of all, the Melchizedek champagne bottle.

Some say this unique bottle really exists, while others claim it’s pure myth.

However, a Melchidezek bottle keeps an impressive 30 liters of champagne, which is 40 standard 750 ml bottles or 240 classic flute glasses.

Conclusion

Huge bottles of Champagne add a exclusive sense of celebration to life’s great parties.

Keep in mind that some connoisseurs think that the sparkling wine won’t be as good from bigger bottles, losing most of its bubbles during the fermentation.

Furthermore large champagne bottles can be hard to transport, with the average full Nebuchadnezzar weighing at a massive 83.5 pounds.

Champagne bottles, specifically huge ones, have to be popped with care, since an unguarded cork can shoot out with great pressure, leading to damages to property or even people.

Also read:

• Styles & Varieties of Champagne Glasses
• Ultimate Guide to Champagne Stemware

• Classification of Champagne Bottle Sizes
  • Piccolo (1 tulip glass, 187.5 mL)
  • Demi (2 tulip glasses, 375 mL)
  • Bottle (4 tulip glasses, 750 mL)
  • Magnum (2 BTL, 1.5 L)
  • Jeroboam (4 BTL, 3 L)
  • Rehoboam (6 BTL, 4.5 L)
  • Methuselah (8 BTL, 6 L)
  • Salmanazar (12 BTL, 9 L)
  • Balthazar (16 BTL, 12 L)
  • Nebuchadnezzar (20 BTL, 15 L)
  • Solomon (24 BTL, 18 L)
  • Sovereign (34 BTL, 25 L)
  • Primat (36 BTL, 27 L)
  • Melchizedek (40 BTL, 30 L)
• Conclusion