Wine was, remains and will remain a favorite drink for people of all ages. Although we think more about the taste and flavor of the wine, the size of the bottle remains essential to savour the precious nectar to the maximum.
The bottle plays a fundamental role in the aging of the wine. Formerly of spherical format, wine bottles have adopted since the 18th century a cylindrical format, which facilitates storage and storage (due to better contact between wine and cork).
There are different bottle sizes. In general, the larger the size of the bottle, the longer its shelf life will be. As a result, a half-bottle wine will reach its peak much faster than this same magnum wine.
This difference is due to oxidation and redox phenomena acting differently compared to volumes. Each region corresponds to a bottle size. The Bordeaux type bottle (straight bottle with high shoulder) is the most used. Burgundy and Rhone Valley wines use a heavier and more massive bottle. Conversely, Alsace wines are packaged in flute-shaped bottles.
Large bottles have a thicker glass than standard size bottles. This helps to better protect the wine from heat, light, oscillations during transport and temperature variations, also helping to a slow and constant aging. This gives the aromas a depth and complexity that are absent from small bottle wines. This is due to the smaller surface/air ratio between the wine and the cork bottom, also known as the folds.
Large bottles also have drawbacks. For example, pouring a glass from such a heavy bottle is quite challenging. In addition, the caps of these bottles are custom made and it is likely that the proportion is imperfect. In such cases, the wine may not age properly. Finally, these bottles are difficult to store and maintain at an appropriate temperature.
Bigger, is it really better? Yes indeed. Although the price can be expensive, it is worth it for the rarity, longevity and quality of a wine. And then, serving a large size bottle on a special occasion will surely catch everyone’s attention.
