Guide to Magnum Wine: Wine Bottle Sizes, 8 Best Magnums (2024)

Imagine kicking off your party with a large format, magnum wine bottle of Cristal Champagne instead of the usual 750ml. It would easily be the star of the night! 

When it comes to a bottle of wine, the bigger it is, the better the overall experience.

What’s special about a magnum bottle, and why should you buy one? 

What are the different large format bottles available? 

In this article, let’s go through what a magnum bottle is, why it’s a great choice, different wine bottle sizes, and some must-have magnum wines. We’ll also tell you why you should invest in magnum wine and the smartest way to do it (through Vinovest).

What is a Magnum Wine Bottle? 

Magnum (Latin for ‘large’) is a 1.5-liter wine bottle — double the size of a standard bottle. A magnum and any bottle size larger than it is called a large format wine bottle. Magnum is the next largest bottle size after the standard 750ml bottle. 

How did these different bottle sizes come to be?

After the cork was discovered in the mid-1700s, winemakers began to experiment with different wine bottle sizes. Magnum was one of the first bottle sizes to be made when the idea of large bottles was conceived. 

Not all wines and vintages are produced in magnum size. A large format bottle is usually reserved only for exceptional wines and vintages. 

Magnum wine bottles are pretty rare as the cost and effort to produce them are high. 

Usually, if you want to buy a magnum (or any other large format) from retailers, a special request must be made as many of them don’t keep them in stock due to storage and display challenges.

Now let’s see why you should pick up a magnum bottle of wine.

8 Reasons to Buy a Magnum Wine Bottle 

There are many reasons why you should add a magnum bottle to your collection:

1. Perfect for Celebrations
2. Lets Wine Age Well and It Tastes Better
3. Great for Champagne Lovers
4. Fantastic Quality and Exclusivity
5. More Durable
6. Makes Attractive Gifting Options
7. Eco-Friendly Choice
8. Higher Priced, But More Value for Money

1. Perfect for Celebrations

A large format bottle of wine will make your party one to remember, more so if the magnum is a Brut Champagne cuvee or some other sparkling wine. 

If you have a party of 5-10 people, there’s more to go around, and everyone will get to drink the same wine. 

2. Lets Wine Age Well and It Tastes Better

Large format bottles have slower oxidation, and wine is preserved for longer, making a magnum bottle ideal for aging. 

How? 

All wines, when bottled, have a little oxygen at the top, which helps in aging and developing the wine over time.

Now, the cork size of a magnum is the same as that of a regular bottle. But it has double the volume of wine exposed to nearly the same amount of oxygen. The lesser the oxygen per ml of wine, the slower the oxidation — giving the wine in a magnum bottle more longevity. 

Many producers release their magnum wines later than their 750ml bottles due to the slower aging process. This way, consumers can get their hands on older, non vintage wines in better condition with more complex aromas and flavors.

They’ll also stay fresher for longer, and when you decide to pop open the cork, you’ll be in for a treat!

3. Great for Champagne Lovers

Bottle a Champagne or any other bubbly in a larger bottle, and you’ve got yourself a showstopper! 

The slow aging process in magnum bottles works well for wines that usually don’t age well, like a Rose, white wine or Champagne. The capacity of the magnum bottle allows the Champagne to sustain the tension among sugar, fruit, fizz, and acidity. 

4. Fantastic Quality and Exclusivity

If a winemaker releases a magnum bottle, it’s because they genuinely believe the wine is exceptional in quality. 

For example, the Salon Champagne house bottled the 2008 cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut exclusively in magnum bottles due to its phenomenal quality and aging potential. 

5. More Durable

Magnum wine bottles are sturdier than their 750ml counterparts. Big bottles have thicker, heavier glass which absorbs vibration and insulates the wine against temperature changes and harsh light. The result is a fresher, rounder wine.   

6. Makes Attractive Gifting Options

A majestic magnum bottle of wine is the type of gift that’ll get the party going. Not to mention, you’re going to be the center of attraction, arriving with a larger bottle in tow!

7. Eco-Friendly Choice

A magnum bottle requires less glass and packaging material per milliliter of wine than a standard bottle. 

This reduces their overall carbon footprint and makes them a more sustainable packaging option.

8. Higher Priced, But More Value for Money

Most magnum bottles are higher priced than standard ones. 

The exception is magnums of young Bordeaux vintages that can be cheaper than smaller bottles, thanks to the higher demand for the 750ml bottles. 

Here’s an insider tip:Tasting rooms are a great place to find magnum wine for a discounted rate as some wineries release “library” wines or back vintages without any price increases.

Also, you can buy non vintage sparklers or Champagne bottles in magnum size, cellar it for a few years, and get the exceptional quality of vintage wine for half its price.

So what are the pros and cons of investing in magnum bottles?

Investing in Magnum Bottles

Magnum wine ages better than wine in a standard bottle, making it great for long-term wine cellar storage. 

Some wineries produce larger wine bottles to increase the prestige associated with their wine. They know some collectors will dole out any amount to procure one for themselves. 

For instance, in 2018, the prestige Champagne cuvée Piper-Heidsieck Rare Le Secret High Jewellery Edition was released in 10 magnum bottles. The wine was kept in a cellar for 20 years before release. Each magnum was priced at $100,000-$150,000 per bottle.

But, investing in magnum wine also poses challenges for a wine enthusiast. 

Why?

• The demand for bigger bottles is lower. They’re made in smaller numbers, and so they’re hard to find. 
• Magnum bottle sizes will very likely demand a higher price.
• If you buy one through an auction house, you’ll have to pay a hefty commission and wait for a lengthy procedure to establish authenticity. So your large format bottle will take far longer to buy than smaller bottles. 

Magnum wine bottles are also in high demand at auctions:

• At a 2020 Zachys auction in London, 1.5L bottles of 1979 Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru and 1990 Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Musigny Grand Cru sold for $65,580 each.
• At a 2020 Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong, a magnum 1982 Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru sold for $120,853. 

Ultimately, investing in a magnum wine bottle will depend on the producer and vintage and how easily you can find it.

8 Magnum Wines To Buy in 2024 (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

These are some of the most prestigious magnum wines to buy:

1. 2014 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA
2. 1973 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Red Bordeaux, Pauillac, France
3. 2006 Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, USA
4. 2015 Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, France
5. 2014 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, USA
6. 2014 Opus One, Napa Valley, USA
7. 2014 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair La Romanee Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France
8. 2009 Dom Perignon Luminous Collection Brut Millesime, Champagne, France

1. 2014 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($7,800)

Here’s a seductive wine with a bouquet of creme de cassis, blackberry, cherry, and floral notes. This full-bodied wine has polished tannins and a long finish. The blend consists of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

2. 1973 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Red Bordeaux, Pauillac, France ($1,308)

This wine has a delicious nose of roses and blackberry notes. On the palate are notes of raspberry and cassis with balanced acidity and excellent length. This red blend consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot.

3. 2006 Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, USA ($1,998)

This ruby-hued wine has a vibrant nose of blueberry, blackberry, and cassis notes. The wine also has an aroma of black pepper, tobacco, and spice accompanied by a fantastic length. 

4. 2015 Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, France ($1,689)

Here’s a red wine with hints of red fruit, black cherry, cassis, and clove on the nose. The palate has a flavor of cocoa beans, fruit, and floral notes. The wine has fine tannins and firm acidity that rounds it off elegantly.

5. 2014 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, USA ($3,998)

This varietal wine has a delicious aroma of fruit, black currant, dried blackberry, chestnuts, and baking spices. On the palate is the flavor of black cherry jam, along with hints of vanilla and wild plums accompanied by an elegant finish.

6. 2014 Opus One, Napa Valley, USA ($1,593)

This red wine from the To Kalon vineyard has an abundant fragrance of blackberry, black currant, fresh herbs, and floral notes. On the palate, hints of mocha, velvety tannins, and a complex structure round off this decadent wine. 

7. 2013 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair La Romanee Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($14,786)

Here’s a Pinot Noir wine with a bouquet of raspberry, earthy tones, bay leaf, spice, and floral notes. This well-structured wine has good minerality and fresh acidity.

8. 2009 Dom Perignon Luminous Collection Brut Millesime, Champagne, France  ($699)

This Champagne has an aroma of apple, mango, wild cherry, cassis, and chalk notes. It’s full-bodied with a fine texture, wonderful depth, and a saline finish.

Now, if you want to explore other, bigger wine bottle sizes for investing, here they are:

Decoding Other Wine Bottle Sizes

The standard 750ml wine bottle that you love is a little over 300 years old. Back then, in English-speaking societies, one-fifth of a gallon (now 750ml) was called the “fifth” bottle. 

It was considered the standard wine bottle size and was believed to be the correct ratio for one person to enjoy during a meal. Another argument is that 750ml was the largest bottle size early glassblowers could make with one full breath. 

Do you know how many glasses a standard wine bottle pours? 

A standard bottle can pour approximately five glasses of wine — each wine glass contains five ounces or 147ml.

Having a dinner party? 

Your standard bottle will only be sufficient for four guests with two and a half pours of wine per person. If you have a larger group, having more 750ml bottles of wine is one option, but you can never be sure they taste the same! Instead, if you uncork a magnum bottle, 10 guests can enjoy at least one glass of wine — all tasting exactly the same.

Most large format wine bottle sizes are named after biblical kings, but no one knows why! Here are the different wine bottle sizes used frequently and a few tidbits about each:

Buy High-Quality Magnum Wine Bottles and Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is a wine investment platform that allows you to source, manage, and grow a portfolio of investment-grade wines with a couple of clicks. 

How it works

All it takes is a few easy steps to get going:

1. Register on the Vinovest site.
2. Answer a few questions about your investment choices and appetite for risk.
3. Add $1,000 (at the least) to your account.
4. Allow Vinovest to curate your portfolio of wines as you sip on a glass of Malbec or beer!

What are the benefits?

Vinovest offers these fantastic benefits:

1. Excellent Prices

Vinovest offers superb prices as they directly source all wines from the industry’s top winemakers and wine merchants. 

2. Easy Buying and Selling

Vinovest’s AI-based platform allows you to buy and sell your magnum wine, Champagne bottles, Chianti wine and other fine wines from anywhere in the world easily.

3. Low charges

Vinovest charges lower fees than most other wine investment firms. You just pay a 2.5% (or 1.9% if your portfolio exceeds $50,000.)This percentage includes buying and selling wines, storage, insurance, wine fraud detection, and portfolio management. 

4. Authenticity

Vinovest tracks the provenance of your Bordeaux, Burgundy, Napa Valley, Champagne or any other wine to ensure its authenticity. So if you want to procure your favorite Sangiovese fine wine from Tuscany, Italy, or anywhere for that matter, you’ll never have to worry about receiving counterfeit wines.

5. Curated Portfolio

Vinovest’s team of professional sommeliers and data scientists will do all the complex research and calculations for you. So, you can build a winning wine portfolio in no time. 

6. Excellent Storage 

Vinovest will carefully store all your wine bottles in bonded warehouses in global wine industry hotspots under excellent conditions.

7. International Network

Vinovest allows you access to upcoming vineyards, limited vintage releases, and private wine company sales. You can also participate in wine tasting events with acclaimed winemakers.

8. Easy Delivery

Whether you want to send a bottle of Chardonnay to a friend, drink it yourself, or sell it, Vinovest will deliver your bottle of wine anywhere you want. 

Let the good times roll!

Magnum Wine: A “Bigger”, More Worthy Investment

These exclusive, celebratory bottles of wine will always get a crowd going. They’re also age-worthy and guarantee very high quality. 

Sourcing and storing a bigger bottle like a magnum or a Methuselah on your own can be challenging. 

But rest assured, once you sign up with Vinovest, investing in wine becomes a breeze (large-format bottles or not!)