Name (also Jeoroboam or Jeroboam) for an oversized bottle of champagne with a volume of three litres or the contents of four standard 0.75 litre bottles. However, the name is not origin-protected, but can be used freely for sparkling wines or wines. Jeroboam was the very first biblical name for oversized bottles, first used in 1725 by winegrowers in Bordeaux (i.e. not in Champagne), which was then imitated for other sizes. In Bordeaux, however, this bottle size for still wines is known as a double magnum. In Bordeaux, Jeroboam is also used for still wines for other volumes: until 1977 for bottles with a volume of four and a half (six bottles) and from 1978 with a volume of five litres.
Naming
The name is derived from the biblical figure of Jeroboam I (926-907 BC). He was appointed by King Solomon (972-932 BC) to supervise the labourers of the House of Joseph who were working on the expansion of Jerusalem. He was banished by Solomon for instigating a rebellion (the picture on the right shows the proverbial judgement of Solomon on the occasion of a dispute between two women over a child). After the death of Solomon, he returned from exile in 932 BC. Ten tribes (except Benjamin and Judah) now broke away from the royal house and elected Jeroboam as the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel (the southern kingdom was Judah). Solomon's successor was his son Rehoboam as king of the southern kingdom of Judah (after whom a 4.5-litre or 6-bottle oversize bottle is named).
Formula 1 race
A Jeroboam champagne bottle is presented to the winner of a Formula 1 race, who then opens it and, after shaking, sprays the champagne into the crowd and the runners-up. However, other formats were also used in the past. This is sponsored by various champagne producers.
Bottle sizes: © Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer
Map: from Oldtidens Israel: FinnWikiNo, Richardprins - map, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Judgement of Solomon: by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Public domain, Link
Formula 1 Carbon: Motorsport
