Salmanazar

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large wine bottle typically holding twelve standard bottles' worth of liquid, commonly used for champagne or sparkling wine; a term also referring to the volume or size of this particular container
2. A sizable glass vessel designed to contain the equivalent of a dozen regular wine bottles, often associated with celebratory uses; the designation also indicates the capacity rather than the contents themselves
3. An oversized bottle format predominantly used for champagne, containing twelve times the amount of a usual bottle, regarded both as a container and a standard measure of volume in winemaking contexts

Etymology: The salmanazar is named after Shalmaneser, an Assyrian king, though the spelling "Salmanazar" is a later alteration of his name. The bottle size belongs to the same family of grand formats named after rulers and figures, and its name reflects that tradition of celebrating a large vessel with a monumental name. The connection to the king is one of association rather than any literal link to the container. Shalmaneser was a powerful and famous ruler of ancient Assyria, and his name, borrowed for a very large bottle, suggests the imposing scale the format was meant to convey. A bottle of this size holds twelve times the volume of a standard bottle, which is why winemakers and sellers treat it as a measure in its own right.

Synonyms: large wine bottle, double magnum