Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Methuselah, Salmanazar, Balthazar, Nebuchadnezzar, Melchior, Solomon, and Melchizedek—these are the names of biblical kings that adorn the labels of large—truly grand!—wine bottles. Unlike the standard 0.7-liter bottle or the more common, yet still rare, magnum, these majestic vessels are seldom released for sale. They symbolize longevity and preservation, grand celebrations featuring exquisite wines, and a high status of wealth. Indeed, they represent a royal gift, justifying the use of these illustrious biblical names.
These bottles range in volume from 3 liters (or 4.5, depending on the wine region) to an impressive 21 liters. In Bordeaux, a jeroboam holds 4.5 liters, equivalent to 6 standard wine bottles, while in Champagne and Burgundy, its capacity is 3 liters, or 4 standard bottles. Adding to the complexity, the so-called Imperial bottle, containing 6 liters or 8 standard bottles, is also included among the names inspired by biblical kings.
Jeroboam in the hands of Sir Walter Scott
Unlike much of European wine history, the tale of how large wine bottles received their names has largely faded into obscurity. Most researchers agree that we may never know the exact origins of these biblical kings in the wine world. What is known, however, is that the jeroboam was the first bottle to be named in this unusual nomenclature. Wine writer Rupert Millar once remarked to The Drinks Business that after the jeroboam had become an established term, there was an “inflation” of other names, likely delivered with a touch of humor.
The influential Oxford English Dictionary, in its entries dedicated to letters I-K, written at the turn of the 20th to 21st century, defines jeroboam as a “large bowl or goblet,” dating its first recorded use to 1806, when Sir Walter Scott wrote about crafting “jeroboam brandy, one morning frozen with frost.” This dictionary suggests—though experts widely dismiss this idea as overly strained—that the jeroboam earned its name because King Jeroboam in the Bible was a powerful figure who led Israel into sin. Moreover, instances of the word jeroboam have been found in the 18th century, predating Sir Walter Scott’s writings.
Associations with a rich historical legacy
Regardless of how these vibrant names for wine bottles originated, they evoke rich associations for connoisseurs and lovers of ancient history. The names of kings conjure images of power and abundance, as well as the ancient Levant and Mediterranean, with its blazing sun, olive groves, grapevines, and wine poured from grand jugs. These bottles, with names tied to a long historical legacy, are also ideal for aging, as they mature “more peacefully” and slowly due to a favorable ratio of total wine volume to the surface area exposed to air in the bottle.
In our country, there are wineries that offer wine in such grand formats. One notable example is the Temet Ergo red from the 2016 vintage, a complex wine brimming with intense fruity energy, finesse, and elegance, featuring notes of dried fruit, coffee, chocolate, and toast, which is also available in a 5-liter format.
