LARGE FORMAT BOTTLE WINES
A SIZE FOR ANY OCCASION
WHICH WINE WILL YOU TAKE TO THE NEXT MAGNUM PARTY?
Nell Sweeney, Proprietress, Vine Cliff Winery
Highly Collectable
THE ATTRIBUTES OF LARGE FORMAT BOTTLES
The practice of producing wine in bigger bottles originated with the Champagne Cellars of France where the wine is given a secondary fermentation within the bottle and aged with the spent fermentation yeasts to create the delicate bubbles and the subtle flavors of fine sparkling wine. Over the years, the bottles have been given names: the low necked bottles of Champagne and Burgundy were attached to nine biblical kings (Salmanzar, Methuselah, Nebuchadnezzar, etc.) while the high shouldered bottles of Bordeaux were named after artillery shells (Magnum, Double Magnum and Imperial).
ADDED DEVELOPMENT OF AROMA, FLAVOR & TEXTURE
SLOWER RATE AGEING
Big bottles offer wonderful protection for the wine. The thick glass needed to keep the larger volume will keep out more of the ultraviolet light that can damage the wine. As well, the volume of liquid will slow down any change of temperature that often acts adversely to smaller and standard sized bottles. The larger bottles are sealed by hand with custom made cork and are usually finished with wax which protects the bottle from leakage oxidation.
MAGNUMS AND MORE
SIZES AVAILABLE AT VINE CLIFF
Please call Vine Cliff at 707-944-1364 or email info@vinecliff.com to discover other large format bottles in great vintages that may not be on our cart.