How is a magnum bottle of wine different and is the wine inside better than wine in a smaller bottle?
If you bring a magnum bottle of wine to a dinner or to a party, it’s not just to show off the big bottle nor is it simply more useful because of the bigger size to serve more people.
Chemically, the use of a magnum in wine storage iss better. In fact, the larger size of the bottle contrasts wine oxidation, because it allows for the best comparison between the volume of the wine and surface of the wine exposed to oxidation.
The capacity of a magnum size bottle is, usually, 1.5 litres. It’s twice the size of a normal bottle of wine, that is usually 0.75 litres.
Therefore, the size of the bottle is very important. The magnum size, being twice a normal bottle, has a small amount of oxygen in contact with a greater amount of wine. So what? The wine stored in a magnum bottle reaches maturity way slowly, being exposed to a less oxygen. So, all process of maturity is more protected and stable. It resists in a better way to the temperature changes, but above all, it glorifies better the characteristics of the wine. The true wine lovers prefer the magnum size, cause in it, they can find a better freshness, greater finesse, and greater complexity of aromas. Try Chianti Classico or Franciacorta in magnum size and see how you can taste the difference with a normal bottle.
All this is useless if the wine is not well kept. Let’s not forget the rules for a good storage of bottles. The bottle needs to be in a horizontal position, in a dark and quiet room with one stable temperature between 12 ° and 17 ° and moderate humidity between 60 and 90%.
There are people that buy a magnum size bottle for special occasions. Some people buy the bottle just from particular vintages. For example, thinking about the year of a child’s birth or their wedding. To create a connection with the bottle. So, every time the see the bottle or the opened they think to that moment. That’s why, if you give a bottle as a present, it’s a super good idea. This way you can give a gift with a deeper meaning. You can associate a memory to it.
Besides, drinking wine with friends and with people you love is an experience for all the senses, the pleasure of the palate combined with the aesthetic pleasure of an unusual bottle.
