WINE GUIDE
Bottle Sizes
Learn about the many different sizes of wine bottles and which would most suit your occasion.
A Bottle for Every Occasion
The table below shows the most commonly used bottle sizes, their names (which tend to be biblically inspired) and whether they are specific to a particular region. As a general rule the larger the bottle size, the slower the ageing process and the more complex the wine. Many of the larger sizes are hard to find and need to be requested and bottled specially by the producer. Smaller bottles are becoming increasingly popular; half bottles are the perfect size for a glass or two with dinner.
Name | Volume | Equivalent Bottles | Number of Glasses |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarter, Piccolo, Snipe, Pony Best known as a single serving of Champagne. | 20/18.75cl | ¼ | 1 |
Chopine
Most commonly found in Bordeaux. | 25cl | ⅓ | 1 ¼ |
Half, Demi or Fillette
The Demi bottle (half in French) is also called Fillete (little girl). | 37.5cl | ½ | 3 |
Jennie
Commonly used for Tokaj, Sauternes (and other sweet wines) and Sherry. Known as Demie or Pinte in Champagne. | 50cl | ¾ | 4 |
Clavelin
Unique to ‘Vin Jaune’. | 62cl | ¾ | 5 |
Bottle
The standard wine bottle size. | 75cl | 1 | 6 |
Magnum
An impressive bottle to serve at a dinner party. | 1.5l | 2 | 12 |
Marie-Jeanne, Tregnum or Tappit Hen
The same height as a standard 75cl bottle but with a greater circumference in the body and a thicker neck. | 2.25l | 3 | 18 |
Double Magnum
A generous bottle to serve at a special occasion. Known as a Jéroboam when used for Champagne and Burgundy. | 3l | 4 | 24 |
Jéroboam
Named after the first king of Israel. | 4.5l | 6 | 36 |
Réhoboam
Named after Rehoboam, son of Solomon and King of Judah. Used for Champagne and Burgundy. | 4.5l | 6 | 36 |
Impériale
Used for Bordeaux wines. | 6l | 8 | 48 |
Methusaleh
Named after Methuselah, the son of Enoch and the grandfather of Noah. Used for Champagne and Burgundy. | 6l | 8 | 48 |
Salmanazar or Mordechai
Named after Shalmanese, the biblical king of Assyria from 727 to 722 BC. | 9l | 12 | 72 |
Balthazar
Named after Balthazar, one of the three wise men. | 12l | 16 | 96 |
Nebuchadnezzar
Named after a king of Babylon. | 15l | 20 | 120 |
Melchior
Named after another of the three wise men. | 18l | 24 | 136 |
Solomon
Named after a biblical, king of Israel, the Son of David | 20l | 26 | 156 |
Sovereign
Reportedly created by Taittinger in 1988 for the launch of the then world’s largest cruise liner Sovereign of the Seas. | 25l | 33 | 196 |
Primat, Goliath or Paramount
Goliath was the giant Philistine warrior young David defeated in the famous biblical story. | 27l | 36 | 216 |
Melchizedek
Named after Melchizedek or Midas – a Biblical King of Salem. | 30l | 40 | 240 |
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We take pride in presenting you with the Firth & Co Wine List for 2026 (Official version coming soon)
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Thank you to Lucy Pittaway for allowing us to use her fantastic artwork.
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