Magnums of Wine

A magnum-sized bottle holds 1.5 litres, equivalent to two standard 750ml wine bottles.

These large bottles are an excellent choice for parties and celebrations. A magnum of wine can help ensure you have enough wine for your guests and make an exciting visual centrepiece.

Winemakers may choose to bottle their wine in magnums for other reasons, too. Wine ages more slowly and arguably better in a magnum than in a standard-sized wine bottle. This is because the amount of oxygen that enters the wine through the cork is proportionally less in a magnum compared to a standard bottle. This can result in a slower, more even maturation process, allowing the wine to develop complex flavours and aromas.

Learn more about wine bottle sizes.

Magnums are used extensively by wine producers across the world - however, some regions use them more extensively. The wines most commonly bottled in magnums include:

• Champagne – Magnum bottles are often used for Champagne and other types of sparkling wine. The increased volume is believed to be beneficial for sparkling wines as it slows down the ageing process and helps the development of new, complex flavours. Champagnes are known for their fine bubbles, high acidity and complex notes of citrus, green apple, brioche and almond.
• Bordeaux – In France, many prestigious Bordeaux estates release magnums, particularly for their premium fine wines. The Bordeaux style is typically structured and tannic, often with dark fruit flavours and notes of tobacco and cedar. Slow ageing in magnum bottles can benefit the development of these complex wines.
• Burgundy – Both white and red Burgundies (from the Burgundy region in France) can be found in magnums. Known for being ‘terroir expressive’, these wines can offer a wide profile of flavours, from red and black cherry in Pinot Noir to lemon, apple and sometimes buttery or nutty notes in Chardonnay-based whites.

For collectors, magnums look good on display, and some have possible investment value.

Store magnum bottles horizontally in a cool, dark place. A stable temperature of 10-15°C helps to keep the cork moist and prevents it from drying out and letting air in. Let magnums of aged red wine stand upright for a few days before serving so that any sediment falls naturally to the base.

After opening your magnum, it’s best to enjoy the wine within 1-2 days to drink it at its best. However, resealing the bottle with a wine stopper and refrigerating it (space permitting) can extend its life by a few more days. Larger bottles, such as magnums, may retain the wine’s quality slightly longer because of a lower surface-to-air ratio.

The day of your delivery will depend on which option you’ve chosen at checkout.  

• For a standard delivery, we will deliver your order in three to five working days. Delivery to the Scottish Highlands, some other areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and offshore islands can take an extra few days.
• Usual delivery times are between 07.00 and 21.00.
• You can select Next-day or Named-day delivery at checkout – but do bear in mind we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

For the best experience we recommend you subscribe to our Unlimited service. A one-off payment of £29.99 entitles you to free delivery for a year – including free Next-day delivery. There’s no minimum order – you’ll get free delivery even on a single bottle. And you can get delivery to multiple addresses, so it’s perfect for gifting!

We want you to be entirely happy with your chosen wine, so we offer an unbeatable money-back guarantee on every single bottle – even wines you buy on sale.

No quibbles. No questions. Just your 100% satisfaction.

If you aren't happy for any reason, get in touch and we’ll arrange to collect your bottle within 48 hours.