The Salmanazar is a wine bottle size that corresponds to a 9-litre bottle. In this article, we discover this wine bottle well known to enthusiasts.
Where the name Salmanazar comes from
This wine bottle’s name comes from the king of the same name who ruled over Assyria, a region in northern Mesopotamia, from 725 to 722 BC. The names of wine bottles come from the names of the five Assyrian kings; the Salmanazar is no exception. This format is found in every wine region. You’ll come across it more easily in Champagne.
Capacity of the Salmanazar
A Salmanazar holds 9 litres of wine, the equivalent of 12 traditional 75 cl bottles. This bottle could also be the equivalent of 3 Jéroboams or 6 Magnums. With such a bottle, you should be able to serve about 72 glasses of wine. The benefit of such a wine bottle format is that it lets you serve a large table at special events. That said, storing it in your wine cellar and moving it isn’t the easiest.
How to open a Salmanazar?
Such a bottle is often sealed with wax. So you first have to pierce the wax with your corkscrew. Then you can open your bottle. Potentially, you might need a two-prong cork puller for an aged bottle.
