Cellar Stories

Any wine enthusiast, whether you're a collector of rare vintages or simply an aficionado of premium wine, will likely boast a selection of disparate glasses to sip from. Wine accessories do not begin and end with a rack, after all, and choosing the optimum vessel is believed to add to the experience of sampling a great magnum. Is this the case, or is the choice of wine glass irrelevant? In truth, your choice of glass may influence your enjoyment, but it largely depends on what you value most from a bottle or magnum of wine. It is no secret that...

We often say a magnum is more than just a big bottle of wine — and that’s especially true when it’s a gift. Luxurious, generous, and just a little unexpected, a magnum makes an impression. But what kind? There’s a fine line between thoughtful and over-the-top. So if you’re planning to gift a magnum, here are a few things worth considering — to ensure the bottle lands with the sentiment you intended. Know Their Taste, Not Just Yours It might sound obvious, but the most important part of gifting a magnum is choosing something they’ll actually enjoy. That might mean...

There are few wine rituals more debated — or more elegant — than decanting. Pouring wine from bottle to glass is one thing, but pouring it first into a sculptural vessel, letting it breathe, watching it swirl — that’s something else entirely. It feels thoughtful. It looks impressive. But is it necessary? At The Magnum Company, we’re fans of anything that makes wine more enjoyable. But we’re also pragmatic. So here’s our honest take on the decanter: when it helps, when it doesn’t, and why it might just deserve a spot at your table. Let’s start with what decanting actually...

The world of competitive winemaking is widely considered one of mutual respect, defined by calm – dare we say quaint – rivalry. Naturally, however, wherever a contest is involved, it's somewhat inevitable that a measure of controversy will follow. A fine example is the story of the Judgment of Paris, which inspired the film Bottle Shock. To set the scene, cast your mind back to 1976. Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gastaud-Gallagher, two of the three founders of the first private academy in France dedicated to studying wine, L'Academie du Vin, created a blind taste test known as the Paris Wine...