As old as Methuselah. Who hasn’t heard this saying? However, this phrase probably has less to do with the eponymous designation of the wine bottle as a guarantee for a long shelf life of the wine. According to the Old Testament, the biblical forefather is said to have lived to an incredible 969 years old. At that time, the age of property such as livestock, household goods and the like were also added to a person’s years of life, which would explain the biblical age.
Incidentally, there is disagreement in France in the various renowned wine-growing regions not only about the age of Methuselah but also – and once again – about the use of this term for bottle sizes. While it is called “Impériale” in Bordeaux, the term “Methuselah” is used in Burgundy and Champagne. At least in this case – in contrast to the Jeroboam bottle size – there is agreement on the capacity for once. 6 liters fit into the Methuselah. This corresponds to eight bottles of the standard 0.75 liter size.
The Methuselah bottle size is no longer very common and is therefore a rare sight. Only on request are such prestigious bottles produced by hand as individual orders. You are welcome to contact the best Swiss winemaker of the decade, Diego Mathier, should you wish to purchase one of his exquisite wines in this unusual bottle format.