Bottling Wine
At some point the wine will be placed in bottles. Producers often use different shaped bottles to denote different types of wine. Colored bottles help to reduce damage by light. (Light assists in oxidation and breakdown of the wine into chemicals, such as mercaptan, which are undesirable.)
Bottle sizes can also vary:
Applying generally to wines other than Champagne
Split .....................................................
187.5 ml
Half bottle .............................................
375 ml (aka Fillette)
Bottle ...................................................
750 ml
Magnum ...............................................
1.5 liter (2 bottles)
Marie-Jeanne ........................................
2.25 liters (3 bottles) (Red Bordeaux)
Double Magnum ....................................
3 liters (4 bottles)
Jeroboam ..............................................
4.5 liters (6 bottles)
Imperial ................................................
6 liters (8 bottles)
Applying to Champagne bottles
Split ......................................................
200 ml
Half bottle ............................................. 375 ml
Pint ......................................................
400 ml
Bottle .................................................... 800 ml
Magnum ................................................ 1.5 liter (2
bottles)
Jeroboam ............................................... 3 liters (4
bottles) (& Burgundy)
Rehoboam .............................................
4.5 liters (6 bottles) (& Burgundy)
Methuselah .............................................
6 liters (8 bottles) (& Burgundy)
Salmanazar .............................................
9 liters (12 bottles)
Balthazar ................................................
12 liters (16 bottles)
Nebuchadnezzar ......................................
15 liters (20 bottles)
And also:
Just prior to filling the bottle, the producer may insert nitrogen, which will sit above the liquid preventing contamination by oxygen. A capsule will be placed over the top of the bottle. Originally made from lead foil, fears of lead poisoning (and U.S. law) have brought about the use of other metals, plastic, or even nothing at all.