That's why they cost more

Opening a bottle of sparkling wine is a little party in itself, and a bottle of magnum is pretty great. It will be more than just a party.

They also generally cost a little more, as our price check shows. A quick check of the prices of some of the best sellers, and two of the most popular Champagnes, shows that you pay between 13 and 120 kroner more per liter if you choose a magnum – but on the whole the price difference is limited to a few ten Norwegian kroner.

-Is it worth it?

– I wouldn't say it tastes like that very Much better, you have to have a well-trained palate to taste the difference in a sparkling wine that will be consumed in a short time, Björn Erik Husby, sommelier at Radegast wine bar in Nedre Foss Gård, tells DinSide.

He also points out that while magnum bottles aren't always more expensive, there are also some good deals hidden in the bar racks.

So what are we paying for?

There are several reasons why magnum bottles are so expensive, according to Jan-Yves Lingner, oenologist (viticulturist and winemaker) and wine director at Norwegian company Beverage Partners. The company has, among other things, Delorme wines in its portfolio,

The main reason is that magnum bottles are not sold in equal quantities, Lingner tells DinSide.

Tearing away: – Magical!

In addition, the production method is a little more expensive, and a bottle of magnum costs much more than two regular bottles of wine, which also contributes to the significantly higher price.

– Take our six-liter bottle of Cremant (methusalem, journ.am.), the bottle costs only 100 euros. Empty.

– It looks more exclusive

Frenchman Lingner still believes that Norwegians should buy more wine in magnum bottles.

– It's a bit sad, but people don't buy as many magnums in Norway as in other countries. I don't think people realize how small the price difference is compared to the costs.

– Maybe we're not used to it?

– Even if it's a little expensive, it's often a bargain. It looks much better on the table, and looks more exclusive as the bottle gets larger.

– There's always more partying with Magnum! Hosby says. -It's impressive to be able to serve from a magnum bottle rather than a single bottle. But there's always more partying with Magnum!

-Can you saber magnum?

– The whole thing can be sworded (given some important prerequisites, journ.am.), but it can be difficult to cool enough – and the bottles are very heavy. But if you put the bottle upside down in an ice water bath, it can get cold enough.

We'll probably leave the Magnum Saber to the professionals – but if you're wondering how to sword a regular bottle, you can see it here:

Suitable for storage

Wine experts agree on one thing: which magnum to choose for storage, or whether you should buy old wine.

-Wine stored in magnum develops better. This may be especially important with red wines, Lingner says.

-If you have a slightly expensive red wine, and a couple of bottles that have been around for a couple of decades, the magnum will taste better. This also applies to champagne and other sparkling wines that can be stored.

According to Husby, the storage process will be faster the smaller the bottle. Likewise, it will keep better in a large bottle. A magnum bottle is optimal, according to Lingner.

-Wine breathes, especially red wine, so the ratio between wine and oxygen is perfect in a magnum bottle.

This is also why half bottles tend to have a slightly shorter shelf life.