George Clements and Edward Harrison began selling magnums to friends and family from Harrison’s small south-west London flat in 2013. Word spread and demand for the 150cl bottle grew, leading to the launch of The Magnum Company earlier this year, specialising in carefully sourced, super-sized bottles.

“There is a misconception that a magnum needs to be expensive, elaborate and is inaccessible to the everyday person,” explains Harrison. “However, every vineyard produces magnums, and actually they prefer producing it as it is the optimum size for the wine to mature and age evenly. It is also the original size wine was stored in before small bottles were produced.”

The Magnum Company caters for all price points, starting from £22. Conversation-starting bottles include Champagne Pol Roger, favoured by Winston Churchill, and a Miraval blush rosé from Brad Pitt’s French vineyard, alongside Nyetimber English sparkling wine and a personality-charged Château Lamothe Cissac Bordeaux. Magnums are not limited to champagne and wine; the company also stocks vessels of olive oil, limoncello, port, sherry and slow gin. “Many of our suppliers have never sold their products as magnums, meaning we have limited-edition items available.”

Magnums can be bought online with next day delivery available – ideal for your last minute dinner party.