We’ve all been at a beach club in Ibiza or Mykonos when a neighbouring table orders a supersized bottle of booze, complete with sparklers and a sense of occasion that makes yours pale into insignificance. Shameless showboatery? Probably. But there's a method to the madness as well.
Magnums – that is, bottles double the size of the standard – don’t just bring the party; they offer a raft of surprising benefits for the wine itself, while being more economical (yes, really).
“A magnum is a large-format wine bottle that holds 1.5 litres – the equivalent of two standard 750ml bottles,” breaks down Guy Sangster from Château d’Esclans, a Provence-based producer of much-loved Whispering Angel. “In the world of fine wine, magnums are considered the ideal format for both presentation and preservation: the increased volume means the wine ages more gracefully, developing nuance and complexity over time, particularly for premium rosés.
Sangster continues: “Better still, magnums offer value for money in several ways. From a cost perspective, they are often priced more competitively per litre than two standard bottles of the same wine, making them a smart choice for those looking to serve premium wine to a group. But the value goes beyond price alone.”
In conclusion? “There’s been a growing appreciation for large-format rosé amongst both hosts and discerning collectors”, says the expert. “Not only do they perform beautifully in cellar conditions, but they’ve become highly sought-after as a statement centrepiece with a sense of occasion at a gathering or party.”
Below, we’ve found the best magnums to share with friends this summer, whether you’re at a beach club yourseld or simply at your next barbecue.
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Les Clans 2021 Château d’Esclans Magnum
From the same Provençal estate behind Whispering Angel – the rosé of choice around the world – comes Les Clans, its grapes aged in oak barrels before they undergo a simple process to Burgundy whereby the lees are stirred twice weekly for 10 months.
Complex and refined, expect aromas of strawberry and raspberry with flavours of nectarine, peach and redcurrant. Frankly, it’d be rude not to supersize it.
Buy now £149.99, The Bottle Club
Bouvet Ladubay ‘Saphir’ Saumur Brut 2020/21 Magnum
A winning blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, this supersized bottle from the Loire is made using the same traditional method as Champagne, serving up similar complexity at a fraction of the cost.
It’s aged for 18 months for rich biscuit notes and flavours of honeyed peach and hazelnut. Rich, toasty and a superb way of whetting your whistle before lunch.
Buy now £32.00, Majestic
Beronia Rioja Reserva Magnum
Is there anything better than a magnum of red being served up in the centre of the table at Sunday lunch? We don’t think so.
Matured in French and American oak barrels, a 1.5-litre bottle of Beronia Rioja Reserva is just the thing to pair with your roast lamb or beef with intense flavours of black fruit, liquorice, chocolate and clove. Lipsmackingly good.
Buy now £34.99, Selfridges
Graham Beck Brut Magnum
If this South African fizz is good enough for former POTUS Barack Obama – it was served at his inauguration, no less – then it’s certainly good enough for us.
Now available as a magnum, you can expect light yeasty aromas, citrus and stone fruit on the nose and zesty yet creamy complexity on the palate. It’s fresh, delicate and truly presidential.
Buy now £32.00, Majestic
Babylonstoren Mourvédre Rosé 2024 Magnum
This South African rosé was the toast of Chelsea Flower Show this year and it’s easy to see why.
Elegant, medium-bodied and fruity, it’s spilling over with aromas of strawberry and rose together with flavours of watermelon and crushed pomegranate.
It’s perfect as an aperitif or paired with a starter such as creamy goat’s cheese, and even better in magnum format.
Buy now £39.00, The Newt
The Black Pig The Prize McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023 Magnum
The Prize is the crowning glory in the award-winning Black Pig range.
It’s a classic Aussie shiraz with signature flavours of deep black fruit and savoury spice that compliments food such as grilled meats or hearty casseroles perfectly (although we rather enjoyed it with a fiery curry).
The magnum size simply means dinner party conversation can continue to flow long after dinner is done.
Buy now £44.99, Virgin Wines
Lady A Rosé Magnum
The signature rosé at Soho House, the revered members’ club, Lady A is hot on the heels of Whispering Angel as the pink to sink this summer. It’s made in Provence, like the latter, while the bottle is famously emblazoned with a butterfly logo designed by legendary artist Damien Hirst.
Blending Grenache and Cinsault grapes, the wine is aged for five months to serve up seriously delicate flavours.
Buy now £34.00, Ocado
Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino 2022 Magnum
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Crack out this bad boy out at your next BBQ and your friends owe you big time. Made using grapes from high-altitude vineyards belonging to the Catena Zapata estate, Argentino is a delicious Malbec from Mendoza bursting with aromas of dark fruit, chocolate and tobacco with flavours of cassis, blackberry and spices.
Perfect for steak and sausages, or simply by itself.
Buy now £152.80, Vinvm
Roebuck Rosé de Noirs 2019 Magnum
Characterised by notes of wild strawberry, toasted walnuts and red berry, this rose-hued sparkling rosé from Roebuck – the English wine producer served everywhere from The Savoy to Mandarin Oriental – is summer in a bottle.
It’s made from a combination of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes grown in a Sussex vineyard before being aged in old Burgundian barrels with a splash of Pinot Précoce towards the end for added pinkness.
Buy now £100.00, Roebuck
Balfour Winery Nannette’s Rosé 2024 Magnum
You’d think this rosé was from Provençe from its salmon-hued colour, but it’s actually made at Balfour Winery in Kent.
Combining traditional Champagne varieties of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, it’s brimming with summery berries and zesty freshness, its soft and delicate style making it seriously easy-drinking for long summer days.
Buy now £50.00, Balfour Winery
Château Des Sarrins Rosé Grand Cuvee Magnum
Secreted away between the Alps and the Mediterranean, Château Des Sarrins is a hidden gem of a winery that produces some seriously cracking bottles. Its pale-pink and complex rosé is a spectacular case in point – particularly in magnum format – with white fruit and sweet almonds on the nose and blossom and peach on the palate. It’s the opposite of easy-drinking, but all the better for it.
Buy now £49.00, Wanderlust Wine
