Gift Guides

Quick answer: A champagne magnum is a 1.5-litre bottle that holds the same as two standard 750 ml bottles and pours about 12 glasses. Bigger formats follow: the Jeroboam or double magnum (3 L, 4 bottles), Rehoboam (4.5 L), Methuselah (6 L), Salmanazar (9 L), Balthazar (12 L), Nebuchadnezzar (15 L), and the giant Melchizedek (30 L, 40 bottles). Champagne ages more slowly and gracefully in a magnum, which is why it makes such a standout gift.

There's a particular sound a room makes when someone walks in carrying a champagne magnum. It's half gasp, half laugh, and it usually ends with someone asking, "Wait, how much is in that thing?"

If you're thinking about giving one, you're on to something. A magnum, or any large-format champagne bottle, is more than extra wine. It ages better, pours finer bubbles and turns a toast into a moment people remember. It's also one of the few gifts that gets better the longer it's kept.

What is a champagne magnum?

A champagne magnum is a bottle that holds 1.5 litres of champagne. That's 150 cl, 1,500 ml or about 50.7 US fluid ounces. The word comes from the Latin magnus, meaning "great", and it's the first and most popular of the large-format bottles. In the wine trade, "large format" means anything bigger than the standard 750 ml bottle.

A magnum champagne bottle is big enough to feel like an occasion, yet you can still carry it in one hand, chill it in a decent ice bucket and pour it without help. That balance is why it's the size most people picture when they say "a big bottle of champagne".

Is a magnum champagne?

It's one of the most searched questions about magnums. A magnum is a bottle size, not a type of wine. You'll find magnums of Bordeaux, Napa Cabernet and Pinot Noir too (we stock several, further down). But no region has made the format its own like Champagne. Most great houses bottle their flagship cuvées in magnum, and many cellar masters say it's their favourite size to drink. So while not every magnum is champagne, the champagne magnum is the one everybody pictures.

How many bottles are in a magnum of champagne?

There are two standard bottles of champagne in a magnum. A standard bottle holds 750 ml and a magnum holds 1.5 litres, exactly double. For a party, one magnum replaces two regular bottles, with a lot more theatre.

How many glasses are in a bottle of magnum champagne?

A magnum pours around 12 glasses at a standard 125 ml (about 4 oz) pour. The real number depends on your glassware and how generous the pourer is.

Rule of thumb: one magnum comfortably serves six people for an evening at two glasses each, or 12 to 15 people for a single toast.

Magnum vs standard champagne bottle

For a quiet dinner for two, a standard bottle is perfect. When there's a crowd, a milestone or a gift involved, the magnum wins almost every time.

Champagne bottle sizes: the complete large-format chart

Past the magnum, champagne bottle names turn biblical and the bottles get seriously big. Here's every format you're likely to meet, from a single-serve split to a bottle that takes two people to pour.

Bottle heights are approximate and drawn to one scale. The magnum and Jeroboam (double magnum), highlighted in gold, are the gifting sweet spot.

Where do the champagne bottle names come from?

Nobody knows exactly who first named large champagne bottles after kings, but the habit has stuck for well over a century. Most are figures from the Old Testament, which makes a nice story to tell when you hand over the gift.

• Jeroboam (3 L): The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel.
• Rehoboam (4.5 L): Solomon's son, and king of Judah.
• Methuselah (6 L): Said to have lived 969 years. Fitting for a bottle built to age.
• Salmanazar (9 L): An Assyrian king, Shalmaneser.
• Balthazar (12 L): One of the three wise men.
• Nebuchadnezzar (15 L): The king of Babylon behind the Hanging Gardens.
• Solomon (18 L): King David's son, famed for wisdom and wealth.
• Melchizedek (30 L): A priest-king of Salem, and the oldest name on the list.

Which large formats can you actually buy?

Magnums are easy to find from almost every house. Jeroboams are widely made by the major brands. From the Rehoboam upward, the champagne is usually fermented in standard bottles or magnums and transferred under pressure into the giant bottle, because enormous bottles are too heavy to riddle and disgorge. Those formats are made in tiny numbers, often to order. For most gifts, the magnum and double magnum hit the sweet spot: impressive, available and still liftable.

Why champagne tastes better in a magnum

Ask a sommelier which size they'd choose for a special vintage and the answer is almost always the magnum. There's real science behind it.

Less oxygen per glass

Oxygen is what slowly ages a wine and eventually tires it. Spread the same small pocket of air over twice the champagne and the wine evolves more gradually, keeping its tension and freshness.

Slower, more even ageing

A bigger volume of liquid warms and cools more slowly, so it's better protected from the small temperature swings that stress wine in storage. The champagne matures steadily on its lees, building complexity without losing its spark.

Finer bubbles and more freshness

Taste the same champagne at the same age from a standard bottle and a magnum, and the magnum usually shows finer, creamier bubbles, brighter acidity, and deeper brioche, toasted-almond and honey notes with a smoother finish.

Producers save their best for it

Large formats are fiddly and often handled by hand at every stage, so many houses reserve their finest blends, prestige cuvées and vintage releases for them.

Size helps, but it isn't magic. A young non-vintage magnum opened on release tastes much like the standard bottle. The magnum's advantage shows most after 5, 10 or even 20+ years of good storage, which is what makes a vintage magnum such a thoughtful gift.

Why a champagne magnum makes the perfect gift

Most gifts get opened and put away. A champagne magnum gets shared, and that's the point. It says "celebrate with the people you love" without you having to say it.

• It's instantly special. Nobody mistakes a magnum for an everyday bottle.
• It's made with extra care. Large formats are often riddled and disgorged by hand.
• It can be kept for years. A vintage magnum can wait for an anniversary or a child's 18th, improving the whole time.
• It's a centrepiece. A large champagne bottle becomes part of the table, the photos and the story of the day.
• It's practical for hosts. One bottle serves a dozen guests, with fewer corks and fewer trips to the fridge.

Which size for which occasion?

Make the gift unforgettable

The bottle is the star, but presentation finishes the job: a wooden case or premium gift box, a personalised bottle or handwritten tag with the date, a pair of crystal flutes, a champagne saber for a dramatic opening, or a "do not open until" note for a vintage magnum meant for the cellar.

Our champagne magnums, ready to gift

Here are the 1.5-litre bottles our customers reach for most, from a crowd-pleasing prosecco to a prestige vintage. Every one ships ready to give.

Brut · Bestseller

Veuve Clicquot Magnum Brut Champagne

The famous Yellow Label. Pinot Noir-led, rich and toasty, and instantly recognisable.

$229

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Brut · Sommelier's pick

Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Magnum

Fresh, precise and elegant. A favourite of wine lovers who know their champagne.

$199

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Brut · Party classic

Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Magnum

The world's best-known champagne, bright and fruity. A magnum of Moët is a party icon.

$179

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Vintage · Prestige

Dom Perignon Magnum Brut Champagne - 1.5L

Made only in great years and built to age. The magnum for once-in-a-lifetime moments.

$1049

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Rosé · Sweeter style

Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial Rosé Luminous Magnum

A fruit-forward, gently sweet rosé in a bottle that glows. Made for parties and nightlife.

$149

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Rosé · Gift basket

Moët & Chandon Magnum Rosé Celebration Gift Basket

A rosé magnum dressed up and ready to hand over. Ideal for anniversaries and birthdays.

$199

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See all 22 magnums

How many magnums do you need?

Move the slider to your guest count and pick the kind of event. The estimate uses a standard 125 ml glass and 12 glasses per magnum.

How to choose the right champagne magnum

Choosing a big bottle of champagne comes down to three questions: who's drinking it, when will it be opened, and what do they like?

1. Match the size to the crowd. Allow two glasses per guest for a party and one for a toast. For 4 to 6 people, choose a magnum. For 10 to 12, a Jeroboam or two magnums. For 20 or more, a Methuselah makes the moment.
2. Pick the style.
   • Brut non-vintage: the house signature, balanced and ready to drink.
   • Extra Brut or Brut Nature: very dry and precise.
   • Blanc de Blancs: 100% Chardonnay. Citrusy, mineral, elegant.
   • Blanc de Noirs: Pinot Noir and Meunier. Rounder and richer, great with food.
   • Rosé: the romantic pick for anniversaries and weddings.
   • Vintage or prestige cuvée: made only in great years, and the style that benefits most from a magnum.
3. Think about timing. Opening it this month? Go for a non-vintage brut or rosé. Opening it in ten years? Choose a vintage magnum and let the format do its work.
4. Know the recipient. Big-brand lovers light up at a famous label. Wine enthusiasts often get more excited by a grower champagne from a small family estate.
5. Order early. Large formats are made in small runs and often sell out before Christmas and New Year.

Champagne houses known for great magnums

How much does a champagne magnum cost?

As a rough guide, a magnum costs the price of two standard bottles plus 10 to 20%. The extra covers the thicker glass, bigger cork, specialist handling and smaller production runs.

Is a champagne magnum worth it?

Per glass, a magnum is rarely the cheapest way to buy champagne. What you're paying for is better ageing, finer bubbles and a gift that people photograph and remember. For a celebration, a crowd or a bottle meant for the cellar, it's worth every dollar.

How to serve a champagne magnum

A magnum rewards a little planning. It holds twice the wine, so it takes longer to chill and needs a steadier hand to pour.

Serve non-vintage champagne at 8–10°C (46–50°F). Older vintage magnums show their complexity best slightly warmer, at 10–12°C (50–54°F). Use a large bucket so the bottle sits submerged up to the neck.

How to open and pour a magnum

1. Dry the bottle completely so it can't slip.
2. Remove the foil and untwist the cage (six half-turns) while keeping a thumb firmly on the cork.
3. Hold the bottle at 45°, pointed away from people. Grip the cork and turn the bottle, not the cork.
4. Ease it out slowly for a soft sigh rather than a loud pop. The sigh keeps more bubbles in the wine.
5. To pour, put your thumb in the punt (the dimple in the base) and spread your fingers under the bottle, steadying the neck with your other hand.
6. Pour in two stages: a splash first, then top up once the foam settles. Return the bottle to the ice between rounds.

Can you saber a champagne magnum?

Yes, and it's spectacular. Chill the bottle thoroughly, remove the foil and cage, find the vertical seam and slide a champagne saber firmly along it toward the lip. Always point it away from people, pets and windows. A magnum is heavier and less forgiving than a standard bottle, so practise on a 750 ml first.

What to eat with a magnum of champagne

• Brut and Blanc de Blancs: Oysters, sushi, smoked salmon, tempura, salted crisps, pakoras and samosas.
• Blanc de Noirs: Roast chicken, mushroom dishes, aged cheeses and buttery seafood.
• Rosé: Salmon, duck, tandoori dishes, charcuterie and berry desserts.
• Vintage and prestige: Truffle dishes, lobster, aged Comté or Parmesan.

How to store a champagne magnum

A magnum ages beautifully, but only if it's stored properly.

• Cool and steady: ideally 10–13°C (50–55°F), without big swings.
• Dark: light damages champagne, so keep it away from windows and bright bulbs.
• Still: away from vibration such as washing machines or a fridge motor.
• On its side for long-term storage so the cork stays moist. Upright is fine for a few weeks.
• Humid enough, around 70%, to stop the cork drying out.

Non-vintage magnums are best within 3 to 5 years of purchase. Vintage and prestige magnums can reward 10, 20 or even 30 years in a proper cellar.

Common mistakes to avoid with large-format champagne

• Under-chilling it. A warm magnum gushes foam and tastes flat.
• Underestimating the weight. Pouring one-handed from a full magnum invites spills.
• Buying too little. One magnum is about 12 glasses. If guests will want seconds, plan for it.
• Opening a great vintage too soon. If it's built to age, let it.
• Storing it upright on a sunny shelf. The quickest way to ruin a special bottle.

Fun facts about champagne magnums

• A Salmanazar is a whole case: Its 9 litres equal exactly 12 standard bottles, in one piece of glass.
• Giant bottles are filled from smaller ones: From about 4.5 litres up, champagne is usually made in smaller bottles and transferred under pressure.
• Magnums cost a little more per glass: Thicker glass, smaller runs and hand handling all add up.
• The sommelier's sweet spot: Big enough to age beautifully, small enough to chill and pour without help.
• Not just for big days: Some champagne lovers keep a "Magnum Friday" ritual. A big bottle turns any evening into an occasion.
• Fewer bottles, smoother party: One magnum instead of two bottles means fewer corks, fewer interruptions and a steadier temperature all night.

Champagne magnum FAQs