Half bottles, standard bottles and magnums: check litres, compare prices and choose a format for its intended use.
Read volume before the name
Printed capacity is the first reference. A conventional 37.5 cl half bottle is half of 75 cl; a 1.5 L magnum is twice that volume. Always confirm litres for larger formats. Do not automatically apply Champagne naming conventions to every wine or market. A photograph of the actual label is more helpful than a short sales title when the capacity is unclear.
Compare equivalent volumes
Divide the bottle price by litres. In a fictional example, €18 for 75 cl equals €24/L, while €40 for 1.5 L is about €26.67/L. This compares volume, not quality or a different cuvée’s value. Add delivery and check the bottle count in a case. A larger bottle may legitimately cost more per litre, so calculate rather than assuming a discount.
Choose for the occasion
Decide whether you want to open a smaller amount, share one bottle or give a particular format. Capacity is not a consumption target. Check refrigerator space, weight and serving accessories. Ask the producer about storage for this wine; the size alone guarantees neither a specific ageing period nor a better result. Treat practical fit and personal preference as separate questions from potential maturation.
Check the delivered bottle
The order should specify cuvée, vintage, capacity and quantity. For an older wine request a photograph of the actual bottle rather than a generic range image. Check fill level, closure condition and provenance information. Compare the delivered items with the order and retain the documents if bottle size, vintage or quantity differs from what was described.
Common Champagne formats
These names and volumes concern Champagne. Check printed capacity, especially for large formats of other wines.
| Format | Volume in litres | 75 cl equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Demie | 0.375 | 0.5 |
| Bouteille | 0.75 | 1 |
| Magnum | 1.5 | 2 |
| Jéroboam | 3 | 4 |
| Mathusalem | 6 | 8 |