Balthazar is the Champagne bottle format holding 12 litres, equivalent to 16 standard bottles.
Large Champagne formats use biblical and historical names, and Balthazar is one of the best-known. Its 12-litre capacity makes it equivalent to sixteen ordinary 750-millilitre bottles. Such bottles are mainly used for ceremonial presentations, large celebrations and visual impact rather than everyday service.
The names can be confusing because neighbouring formats have similar-sounding titles. Salmanazar holds 9 litres, while Nebuchadnezzar holds 15 litres. Melchior is larger still, at 18 litres.
Large-format bottles are also discussed in relation to ageing and service. Their lower surface-area-to-volume ratio can affect maturation, but handling them is difficult and specialist equipment may be needed. Balthazar refers to the bottle size, not a Champagne producer or grape variety.