In which bottle do you get the best champagne ?
The bottles used in Champagne bear a different name from those used by other vineyards. Bottles that come in 17 different sizes and some of which have a name of biblical origin. A little guide to buying your champagne without making the wrong size.
The eighth : This is the smallest bottle size available. It is hardly found in stores and is reserved for the collection. It is a challenge to find such a bottle of champagne to buy. The eighth was used to taste French wines to the American soldiers. It contains 9.4cl, the equivalent of a small flute.
The quart : Few houses sell quarters for the general public, this bottle is more intended for catering. Thus some railway or airline companies serve their customers. The quart contains 20cl, the equivalent of 2 small flutes.
The pint : Very little used, the pint contains 25cl, or one third of a bottle, which allows you to serve 2 flutes. It is more of a collector's item than a consumer product.
The half-bottle : Also called a little girl, this bottle contains, as its name suggests, half of a traditional bottle, i.e. 37.5cl. It is a bottle that is easily found in stores and which can serve 3 flutes. The medium: This is a recent format, used by only a handful of champagne houses.
The medium contains 60cl and can serve 5 flutes. It can be found in a few rare bottles, mainly for atypical champagnes.
Champagne : Commonly called a bottle, it differs from the bottles used in other vineyards by its shape. Champagne was probably created at the end of the 18th century. The champenoise contains the equivalent of 6 flutes.
The champagne magnum : This bottle takes its name from the Latin word maxima which means large. A word born in England in 1788. It contains the equivalent of 2 bottles (1.5 liters or 12 flutes). It is a container that is very popular for its festive side, but also because it allows better development of the aromas of champagne.
Jeroboam : This bottle bears the name of the founder of the Kingdom of Israel. According to the Bible, Jeroboam was proclaimed king in 933 BC by the ten tribes who rose up against King Rehoboam. One jeroboam contains the equivalent of 4 bottles, or 3 liters or 24 flutes.
Rehoboam : This bottle bears the name of the one who was king of Judah from 930 to 915 before Jesus-Christ. Son of Solomon, he was in conflict with the ten northern tribes because of his tyrannical government. The rehoboam contains the equivalent of 6 bottles of champagne evening 4.5 liters or 36 flutes.
Methuselah: The word Methuselah is synonymous with longevity. In Genesis, we learn that he would have lived 969 years. Son of Noah, Methuselah would have planted the first vines according to biblical texts. The Methuselah contains the equivalent of 8 bottles of champagne evening 6 liters or 48 flutes.
The salmanazar : This name carried by 5 Assyrian kings. Little is known about Salmanazar I and Salmanazar II. The reign of Salmanazar III is best known. It was a reign placed under the sign of war and conquest. The salmanazar contains the equivalent of 12 bottles of champagne evening 9 liters or 72 flutes.
The balthazar : This bottle owes its name according to the versions either to the famous magi king who comes to visit the child Jesus and to pay homage to him, or to Balthazar, prince of Babylon who was assassinated during the capture of Babylon in 539 before Jesus Christ . The balthazar contains the equivalent of 16 evening champagne bottles 12 liters or 96 flutes.
Nebuchadnezzar: Baptized in homage to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who built many monuments, including the famous hanging gardens, one of the seven wonders of the world. Nebuchadnezzar contains the equivalent of 20 bottles of champagne evening 15 liters or 120 flutes.
The champagne magnum
The champagne magnum is the most suitable container for a good aging of the wine and a harmonious development of the aromas.