It’s not just the big moments that call for big bottles of wine.

You’ve seen them in the bottle service booths of flashy nightclubs and proudly displayed on the top shelf of bars, but have you ever opened a magnum of wine yourself? Probably not, right? It’s easy to think of magnums as a little over the top, but in reality there’s so much more to a superized wine besides being Instagram bait.

Coming in at 1.5 litres, a magnum has the same contents as two standard bottles of wine. It’s that amount that makes magnums the perfect option for your next dinner party or celebration. Opening a bottle of wine and sharing it around with friends is always a special moment – and doing it with a magnum takes that feeling to the next level.

Besides being moment makers, there’s plenty of practical upsides to uncorking a magnum the next time you’re choosing a wine. Below we’ve outlined five reasons you’ll want to consider a magnum and some of our favourites. Because sometimes bigger IS better.

1. They make a statement

Let’s start with the most obvious reason – a magnum is a statement piece. They’re big, they’re bold, and they’re beautiful to look at. The commanding size of the bottle is a fantastic way to symbolise occasion and celebration. And they’re a showpiece that can add some theatre to your next event. (Get ready for everybody to excitedly crowd around as you open one of those bad boys). They also make great centrepieces, just plonk down an extra large serving bowl, packed with ice, and a pale pink magnum of Prestige D'adimant Rosé or Bone Dry Rosé to instantly lift your table setting and have a drink ready to serve.

2. They’re practical for entertaining

A magnum sounds big at first, but at 1.5 litres it’s the equivalent of just two standard wine bottles. If your dinner party has over eight guests then you’ll need plenty of wine – and this is where the magnum makes practical sense. A standard glass is 100mL, which means you’ll get around 15 glasses from your magnum. That’s plenty for your whole table to have two glasses each and means everybody gets to try the same wine from one bottle. Howard Park’s Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 is a fantastic dinner party wine and the magnum size means everyone gets a glass.

3. They make great gifts

Wine is a wonderful gift because you get to open it twice: once when you unwrap it, and a second time when you open the bottle to drink. It’s also a really personal gift when you take the time and effort to choose something that you know they’ll like. They’ll definitely remember something as impressive as a magnum sized bottle. And with plenty of different varietals available in magnums you can find the right gift for everyone. Red drinkers will love Torbreck Steading Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre, while rosé fans will happily open Miraval Cotes de Provence Rosé, and then there’s Champagne like Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne NV which always hits the right note.

Magnums of Torbreck reds – perfect for gifts

4. You’ll notice a difference in flavour

When it comes to ageing wine, the slightest factors can have a big effect on the outcome. Since a magnum has twice the internal volume but the same size opening as a regular bottle, it can alter the development of a wine’s flavour. It’s particularly noticeable in Champagne where wine is fermented a second time in the bottle to create its famous sparkle. Even with non-vintage Champagnes like Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve you might notice a slight difference between the flavour that comes out of a magnum when compared to a standard bottle.

5. They last longer

It might sound counter-intuitive, but opening a magnum for one glass of wine on a weeknight is actually a good idea. Once again, it all comes down to the shape of the bottle. Because there’s more wine there’s less oxygen getting into the bottle once it’s been opened. Just be sure to close the bottle properly with the cork or a bottle stopper and keep it in the fridge. Then you can enjoy it for up to a week and with hearty red wines like Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz you can even see how the flavour develops and changes.