Magnums – Why Bigger Can Be Better

There is something about opening a magnum that immediately changes the mood. At 1.5 litres — exactly two standard bottles — it is large enough to feel like an occasion, without being impractical to open, pour or share.

But there is more to a magnum than theatre. For many wines, it is also an excellent format for ageing.

The reason comes down to the relationship between wine and oxygen. A magnum contains twice as much wine as a standard 750ml bottle, but the amount of oxygen trapped between the wine and the closure is not doubled. The wine therefore develops more slowly, often retaining freshness and primary fruit for longer while still gaining the complexity that comes with bottle age.

This is particularly valuable for wines intended for the cellar. Champagne and other traditional-method sparkling wines can develop beautifully in magnum, while age-worthy reds and whites often evolve more gradually and harmoniously than the same wine in a standard bottle.

There is also the simple pleasure of serving one. A magnum comfortably covers a table of friends without having to open bottle after bottle, and pouring everyone from the same bottle makes it particularly good for a long lunch or dinner. For celebrations, few formats strike the balance quite so well.

Larger bottles go well beyond the magnum — double magnums, Jeroboams and even larger formats have their place — but 1.5 litres remains something of a sweet spot. It gives you many of the advantages of a large-format bottle while remaining relatively easy to store, chill, open and pour.

And while magnums are made for sharing, there is no requirement to wait for a particularly grand occasion. Sometimes having the magnum is reason enough to gather a few people around the table.