These larger-than-life pours are made for sharing, celebrating and gifting in seriously impressive style.

There’s some truth to the saying “bigger is better” when it comes to the impressive, larger-than-life glorious magnum. You’ve probably spotted one in the wild – paraded through a nightclub, sparklers blazing, balanced precariously on a tray by a comparatively tiny waitress. It’s the “we’ve made it” bottle arc on every TV show, and immortalised in scripts, raps and pop-culture moments alike. But beyond the bright lights of showbiz, there’s far more to the supersized wine than being a Hollywood prop. These 1.5-litre beauties aren’t just for theatrics, they’re also easy sharers and great quality for the price.

Holding the equivalent of two standard bottles of wine, cracking open a magnum instantly transforms a regular dinner into a celebration. And with 15 glasses to pour, everyone gets to share in the same vintage. Beyond the wow factor, there’s plenty of good sense in going big. Magnums age more gracefully thanks to their lower air-to-wine ratio, giving a more refined flavour. They also make knockout gifts: do I hear jingle bells?

If you’re a newbie to the bigger format and looking to make a grand gesture this holiday period, we’ve lined up five of our fave magnums to stock the fridge. From sparkles to shiraz and all things in-between, here’s how to supersize your wine this holiday season.

1. Lanson Black Création Champagne Brut

Do you like your Champagne dry, wallet-friendly and giant? Then Lanson’s Black Création Champagne Brut Magnum is the bottle for you. If you’re already acquainted with Lanson and their downright delicious line-up, you already know what’s up. If not, allow us to make the introduction. Pouring a pale straw in the glass, Lanson is a remarkably fresh wine with lots of white flowers, lemon and brine on the nose, while on the palate it’s sharp and clean with a satisfying lemon curd, and balanced acidic length. Those saline, quartz-like notes run straight through to the finish, and with no malolactic fermentation in play, the flavours stay razor-sharp, bright and beautifully pure. This is the perfect bottle to ring in family Christmas. Fun to pop, great to share and a real crowd pleaser. It also goes really well with the obligatory Christmas prawns and seafood sauce.

$164.99 each

2. Gérard Bertrand Cote des Roses Rosé

Sometimes we want our wine without gritty bits at the bottom. Sometimes, we just want a pink drop that’s easy to drink and objectively delicious. And trust us, pull out a bottle of rosé and everyone feels the same, especially when you roll into Friendsmas with this divine bottle of plonk under your arm. Think dry, light summer fruits on the nose with ripe cassis and redcurrant leading the charge. On the palate, it’s fresh and full of energy, perfectly balanced with juicy fruit and bright mouthwatering acidity. And if your Friendsmas traditions look anything like ours – e.g. starting with an indulgent dash to the fish markets – this pink beauty is your ultimate match. It plays perfectly with all things under the sea, from crustaceans to bivalves and every delicious mollusc in between.

Member Offer

$45 per bottle Non-Member: $49.99 each

3. Freixenet Prosecco

There’s another very good reason to load up our trolleys with magnums this season. Honestly, how could we forget? Summer is Spritz season. It’s that time of year when our collective memory rekindles its love affair with the queen of summer drinks – the Aperol Spritz. And what’s the star ingredient of the humble Aperol Spritz? That’s right, prosecco. Good quality prosecco at that. So, if you’re hosting a sun-soaked soirée and channelling a little Euro summer energy, the Freixenet Prosecco magnum is looking like a mighty fine and well-priced choice for those gloriously fizzy Spritzes you’ll be building. Freixenet can hold its own as a solo act, too – dry, light, fresh and fruity, with just the right touch of apple and citrus. You can’t miss that party-ready bottle, either.

4. Billecart-Salmon Sous Bois

Got something to celebrate? Maybe you or a mate just graduated, bought your first place (seriously, how did you pull that off?), or cracked the code to life, the universe and everything. Then a magnum of Billiecart-Salmon Sous Bois is THE bottle. This is not an everyday kind of magnum, unless you’re Beyoncé perhaps. It’s a tad more on the premium side, so it should be popped or gifted with some serious consideration. A special cuvee blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, fully vinified in oak sous bois (under wood), the nose is complex and inviting, with salted almonds, apricots, figs, raspberries, white chocolate and a touch of tangy green apple. Fine bubbles lead to a palate that’s dry and rich, with vibrant acidity and sleek drinkability. In other words? This is an absolute knockout and perfect for gifting, celebrating or treating yourself (it’s Christmas after all).

5. Torbreck Struie Shiraz

A big bottle of shiraz is the ultimate Grandad gift – we don’t make the rules, we just follow them. He’ll love it, not only because shiraz is his year-round drink of choice (and yes, he swears it goes with oysters), but also because Torbreck comes with some serious clout. This one’s a standout drop: full-bodied, dry and crafted from old-vine shiraz grapes, bringing together the best of the Barossa and Eden Valleys. It’s a powerful yet beautifully balanced blend that is elegant but still has plenty of oomph. Lifted floral aromas meet darker, moodier notes of tar and chocolate on the nose. On the palate, rich stewed dark fruits and firm, structured tannins come together for a bold, yet silky-smooth finish. This bold and juicy shiraz is a knockout alongside anything smoky or flame-licked, from chargrilled steaks and lamb chops to barbecued veg and sticky glazed ribs.

$134.99 each