As a wine investor or enthusiast, you (hopefully) may have noticed that wines come in many different bottle sizes. While the standard 750 ml bottle is the most common, there are several other sizes that you may encounter. ..

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Here are the most common sizes (from smallest to largest) and some information about each one:

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1. Split (187.5 ml): This is the smallest wine bottle size and is equivalent to a quarter of a standard bottle. Splits are often used for single servings or to sample a wine before committing to a full bottle.
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2. Half-bottle (375 ml): Half-bottles are half the size of a standard bottle and are a great option if you want to open a bottle of wine but don't want to finish the whole thing in one sitting.
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3. Standard (750 ml): This is the most common size of wine bottle and is the size that most wines are bottled in. It's also the size that most people are familiar with and is often used for gifts.
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4. Magnum (1.5 L): A magnum is twice the size of a standard bottle and is often used for special occasions or aging wines. Many wine enthusiasts believe that wine ages more gracefully in larger bottles because there is less air in proportion to the wine, which slows the aging process.
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5. Jeroboam (3 L): Jeroboams are four times the size of a standard bottle and are usually used for special occasions or cellaring wines. Some wineries also use Jeroboams for their premium cuvées.
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6. Methuselah (6 L): A Methuselah is eight times the size of a standard bottle and is named after the biblical figure who lived to be 969 years old. Methuselahs are often used for special occasions and large format wine bottles are particularly popular for sparkling wines.
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7. Salmanazar (9 L): A Salmanazar is twelve times the size of a standard bottle and is often used for large parties or events. It's also a popular size for Champagne.
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8. Balthazar (12 L): A Balthazar is sixteen times the size of a standard bottle and is named after one of the three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Balthazars are often used for special occasions or aging wines.
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9. Nebuchadnezzar (15 L): A Nebuchadnezzar is twenty times the size of a standard bottle and is named after the Babylonian king who built the Hanging Gardens. Nebuchadnezzars are often used for large parties or events and are also popular for sparkling wines.

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While larger bottle sizes are often used for special occasions, many wine enthusiasts believe that wines aged in larger format bottles taste better and have better aging potential. Whether you're looking to sample a new wine or to add a large format bottle to your collection, there's a size that's right for you.

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