.........I recently went to a dinner party at a
friends home where there was to be a total of 12
guests enjoying the fruits of her labor. Knowing full
well that she had every food base covered down to
the last detail, I still asked politely if there was
anything I could bring. I listened as she gave me her
standard response, "just bring a bottle of wine."
Which is exactly what I
did.
But it wasn't just any bottle of wine. Knowing that
this affair would be a lengthy indulgence of food,
frolic, and plenty of laughter, I wanted to bring a
bottle that I knew everyone would enjoy. I also
wanted to make sure that it would leave a lasting
impression. I didn't need to forage my cellar for a rare
Burgundy, a 1982 Chateau Petrus, or the latest cult
Cabernet from California to win over this crowd. I did
what I could to impress yet adhere to my host's
request of bringing a bottle of wine.
When I walked into the room with my bottle, eyes lit
up, tongues began to wag and simultaneous applause
and laughter filled the room. I held in my hands, more
appropriately I should say I held in my arms, a
Methusalah, some may call it an Imperiale, 8 bottles
of wine all enclosed in one single bottle. It is what is
referred to as a large format bottle of wine.
With a confused look and a wide eyed smile, my
gracious host asked, "what is this." I said I did what I
was told. I brought a bottle of wine. Although
everyone else invited was given the exact same task
as myself, I looked at the dilemma of the request
from the inside out. If I was to bring a great bottle of
wine of standard size, with a guest list of 12 people,
each person would be treated to about a half a glass.
If the wine lived up to its reputation, it would merely
serve as a teaser for my wine loving friends. I could
have brought 2 bottles to further satisfy the group
but that was not my assignment. Thus, I solved my
problem by bringing what I was requested, only on a
larger scale.
I relate this story to you in regards to my topic this
month, the various sizes of bottles that wine is
presented. From the smallest to the largest format,
their names, their history. Today, the delicate
artistry used to craft wine labels is also being
reflected in the various forms and shapes that
standard size wine bottles themselves are now being
displayed. When they expand to double and triple
their normal size, a beautiful magic unfolds right
before your eyes. The pageantry of opening a large
format bottle of wine is as exciting as drinking the
creativeness stored inside.
Over the years, vessels made for storing wine came
in a ocean of various shapes and sizes. From animal
skin bags, terra cotta amphorae, wooden barrels, to
present day glass containers, it took quite a long
time to regulate the amount of liquid held in any
particular bottle. With strict local rules and
regulations combined with global standardization,
bottling practices around the world are pretty much
the same from place to place. Wine in its present
form looks the same no matter where you live or
travel on this planet.
Modern technology allows glass makers the freedom
to create unique shapes when it comes to the bottles
we see on store shelves. It is at times frustrating to
try and store these newfangled vessels in our wine
racks because some of these new shapes just don't
fit in our regular shelving units. But one thing remains
constant, the amount held
inside.
Most people are familiar with the traditional 750ml
bottle that contain just over 25 ounces of wine,
enough to pour 5 to 6 glasses. Some people find the
convenience of buying half bottles that hold 375ml if
they do not care to drink a full bottle of wine. It
contains 2 ½ to 3 glasses of wine, enough that you
do not have to recork and salvage whatever liquid
you were not able to consume. Restaurants wine lists
have also bought into the program of half bottles
with their patrons more cautious of drinking and
driving. Until the recent change in Michigan law
where your left over wine could not be taken home
with you, this program fit the bill for many who did
not want to commit to a full bottle of wine with their
meal.
But lets now thing big. How big? Well, the wine world
is your oyster these days. Just how big depends on
your wallet size and how many people you want to
share the prize with. Most wines can easily be found
in the magnum format, containing 1.5 liters, the
equivalent of 2 standard bottles able to serve about
12 glasses of wine. For anything larger, we need to
think royally and for good reason.
Bottles that hold wine of biblical proportions are aptly
titled because they are named after biblical kings.
Here is rundown on their names, sizes, how much
they hold based on standard bottle amount and how
many servings they
contain.
- SPLIT 187.5ml 1 ½
glasses
- HALF BOTTLE 375ml 2 ½
glasses
- STANDARD BOTTLE 750ml 5
glasses
- LITER (European & Canadien) 1.0L 7
glasses
- MAGNUM 1.5L 2 bottles 10 glasses
- JEROBOAM 3.0L 4 bottles 20
glasses
- REHOBOAM 4.5L 6 bottles 30
glasses
- METHUSELAH 6.0L 8 bottles 40
glasses
- SALMANAZAR 9.0L 12 bottles 60
glasses
- BALTHAZAR 12.0L 16 bottles 80 glasses
But the biggest masterpiece of a bottle was created
by glass makers and certified by the Guinness Book of
World Records at a ceremony held at Beringer
Vineyards in Napa Valley. Named Maximus, the bottle
stood 4 feet 5 inches tall, was 4 feet 5 inches round
at its base and weighed in at 340 pounds. It was
filled with 130 liters of 2001 Beringers Private Reserve
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, equivalent to 173
regular sized bottles able to serve 1,200 glasses of
wine.
It was created to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of
Morton's Steakhouse but was sold at auction on
November 22, 2004 to a New Jersey Wine Shop for a
whopping $56,000. Who wouldn't want to be invited
to the party when that behemoth is uncorked? There
even was a special corkscrew made to be able to pop
the top if and when the event ever comes to
pass.
One of the main factors to consider about fine wine
stored in large format bottles is that the aging
process of the wine is substantially slower. For
instance, a 3.0L bottle of Chateau Margaux will take
quite a bit longer to fully mature than a standard
750ml bottle. Thus, they are able to be cellared for a
longer period of time without fear of them getting too
old before their gracefulness begins to deteriorate.
Think of them as an investment in your wine drinking
future.
No matter what the size, collector's search high and
low for their favorite brands in these various formats.
They are a very sensible way to treat a larger than
normal number of guests and quite a hit at any dinner
party. Like a 20 pound lobster, a stretch limo, a 100
story skyscraper, or a nugget of gold, these Texas
sized gems are always looked up to with respect not
only for their sheer size but also for the sense of
pageantry they garner when presented for all to
enjoy.
We here at Champane's Wine Cellars have a number
of large format bottles of wine for sale. Wines of
significant quality definitely command a higher price
tag but there are a number of very affordable bottles
that fit into the value category. I'm sure that if you
were to bring one of these bottles to your next
gathering, the party would be in your
hands.
