Solomon (18 L)

What is Solomon (18 L)? Solomon (18 L) is a rare oversized Champagne bottle holding 18 litres of wine, the equivalent of 24 standard 750 ml bottles. Also spelled Salomon in the French and biblical tradition, it takes its name from the biblical King Solomon, son of David, whose figure symbolises wisdom and justice. The format belongs to the family of "bouteilles hors normes" — large-format bottles used almost exclusively for Champagne and other sparkling wines. It is one of the more theatrical sizes in the cellar, reserved for grand occasions and serious collectors.

Place in the Large-Format Family

Champagne tradition has long borrowed names from biblical kings and patriarchs for its oversized bottles, and Solomon sits firmly in that lineage. In the conventions used by Champagne houses and Champagne-specific glossaries, the 18-litre Solomon is positioned among the upper tiers of the large-format scale, near sizes such as Sovereign (26.25 L) and Primat (27 L). The exact ordering and naming of these giants varies between sources — some reference tables also use the name Melchior for an 18-litre bottle, and Wikipedia's wine-bottle table records Solomon at 20 litres rather than 18. These inconsistencies reflect the fact that very large bottle names are not standardised across the wine world.

Because the name is not legally origin-protected, it can in principle be applied to sparkling wines and wines beyond Champagne, although in practice the format remains tied to the Champagne region and to a handful of houses willing to invest in producing such monumental bottles.

Producers and Use

The Drappier Champagne house is the producer most closely associated with bottling at the Solomon size, with cuvées such as the Drappier Carte d'Or Salomon issued in this format. Producing and handling an 18-litre bottle is a logistical feat: the glass alone is heavy, the wine must mature reliably at this scale, and pouring requires either a dedicated cradle or several confident pairs of hands.

For these reasons a Solomon is rarely a routine purchase. It tends to appear at landmark celebrations, restaurant showpieces, charity auctions and collector events, where the visual impact of the bottle is as much a part of the moment as the wine inside. A single Solomon serves a sizeable gathering — roughly 120 standard flutes — making it a centrepiece rather than a casual pour.