souverain

French · bottle format

The souverain is a Champagne bottle of 26.25 L, equal to thirty-five standard bottles.1

In the range

On the Comité Champagne list of formats it comes between the salomon (18 L) and the primat (27 L).1 Formats over 150 cl are exempt from the same-bottle rule, so they may be filled by transvasage, an isobaric transfer of the wine from one container to another.2,3

All formats side by side: bottle sizes. On size and ageing: bottle size and ageing.

The Comité Champagne list runs from the quart (20 cl) to the melchizédec (30 L, about 240 glasses).1

See also

Bottle sizesServingsame-bottle ruleGlossarysalomonGlossaryprimatGlossaryTransvasageGlossary

Sources

  1. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Factsheet: Champagne bottle sizes (EN) (2024-05)
  2. Cahier des charges de l'AOP « Champagne » - modifications approved by the INAO national committee on 11 September 2024 (national opposition procedure text) (2024-09-11)
  3. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.1 Definitions common to all sparkling wines (II.4.1.1-II.4.1.10)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19