What you need to know about champagne and how to choose a good one. Is there a difference between champagne and sparkling wine

Many people do not think about appetizers and correct use champagne, but in vain. The culture of drinking has not been canceled; a sparkling drink requires compliance with certain standards. How and with what to drink champagne, we will consider today.

How to open and pour champagne correctly

1. Champagne is consumed chilled. Therefore, before the feast, send the bottle with the contents to the refrigerator and reach the temperature of 10-12 degrees. Do not freeze the drink or refrigerate it beyond the specified mark. Otherwise, champagne will lose its sparkling, aftertaste and aroma.
2. It is believed that a bottle of champagne is immersed in a container with crushed ice... However, experienced sommeliers refute this aspect. The correct option is to pour cold water into a bucket, then add ice cubes to make them float. After that, the container is installed on the footboard, a bottle is placed in the bucket. The installation rolls up to the table and remains there throughout the entire event.
3. To open champagne, take a bottle in your hands, do not shake it. Install the container with the contents, observing an angle of 45 degrees. Now grab the cork, scroll the bottle in your hands (and not vice versa, as is commonly believed). Thus, the plug will come out of the neck easily, without a "shot".
4. Prepare tall, long-stemmed, smooth, clear glass for champagne (widening from stem to middle, then tapering). Wine glasses do not need to be pre-cooled. While pouring, tilt the glass slightly, then pour the drink along the wall in 2 approaches. Let the foam settle. The wine glass is filled with ¾.

How to drink champagne

1. No ice is added to the glass with the drink, cooling is carried out in advance on the lower shelf of the refrigerator or in a bucket with cold water and ice. When the champagne reaches the desired temperature, you can start drinking it.

How to eat champagne

The correct selection of snacks will help you to comply with all the subtleties of using sparkling wine. Consider the recommendations below when you are in a restaurant or when planning a grand celebration.

Many people believe that champagne can be drunk with a bite with any dish, but this statement is erroneous. Desserts, cold and warm appetizers, main courses are most suitable for sparkling wine. Alcohol is not combined with the former, however, as with some hot and cold ones.

1. Cold snacks. If you want to show your guests that you have a sense of etiquette, serve champagne with cold appetizers first. On festive table such dishes have a special place. Of the most common snacks, homemade or purchased pickles are distinguished, smoked sausages, cheeses, meat, canned seafood, sandwiches with herbs and cheese (no additional additives, pepper), salads.
2. A fish. Sparkling wine is not drunk in combination with salted fish as such a duet would be disgusting. However, no one forbids you to treat guests with hot or cold smoked fish with a moderate salting. The main thing is to accompany the dish with sauce and cheese plate. Supplements are only suitable if the fish is cooked without hot spices and is served with a small amount fresh vegetables.
3. Sausage. Champagne is not drunk with sausages of any origin. These include boiled pork, loin, smoked breast, ham, etc. However, if you use the listed products as filling for sandwiches, combine them with quail / chicken eggs and cheese. Feel free to serve treats with semi-dry and dry sparkling wine.
4. Cheese. If you are planning to spend an evening with your loved one or throw a wide feast for a decent number of guests, do not overlook the cheese platter. The choice of variety depends on the personal preferences of the owner and friends. Cheese with spices, spicy, salted and lightly salted, hard, soft - all options are suitable. Feel free to combine sweet / semi-sweet, dry / semi-dry sparkling wine.
5. Salads. Cold appetizers include salads, which are in perfect harmony with champagne. Cook them from fresh vegetables with olive oil, shrimp and other seafood, cheese hard grade... These combinations are ideal for semi-dry and dry sparkling wines. Salads should not be seasoned with mayonnaise or sauce based on it, hot spices, garlic, sour cream. Snacks should also not be cooked with stewed vegetables.
6. Meat. When it comes to warm snacks, you should also pay attention to the correct selection of champagne. Sparkling wine is not served with meat. However, it can be used in combination with chicken and turkey, boiled or steamed fish. Garnish with fresh herbs, eggs and grated cheese, then serve to guests. The main thing is not to season dishes with hot spices and sauces. In the case of chicken, the poultry should not be fried. Stewing and boiling are acceptable, the dish is seasoned with ghee.
7. Seafood. A cocktail based on all kinds of octopus, squid, mussels, oysters, lobster, crab, shrimp is considered the most popular when choosing dishes for serving champagne. Moreover, the appetizer can be presented in all its variety (fried, stewed, boiled, steamed). Bake seafood in the oven, then stuff them, combine with dry and semi-dry, sweet and semi-sweet sparkling wine.

Champagne is consumed chilled (temperature 10-12 degrees). Particular attention is paid to the choice of glasses; a glass must be made of transparent smooth glass and have a long stem. Sparkling wine is drunk slowly in small sips. If you took the glass in your hand, put it on the table only after it is empty. Choose the right appetizer for an effective presentation, without breaking the permissible combinations.

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With what and how they drink champagne: rules and ideas

Few holidays, solemn events, romantic dates do without champagne. And many people think that they know almost everything about this drink. Sparkling wine brings joy, dizzy and intoxicates the senses. You can feel the true taste of this noble drink only knowing what you can drink champagne with, what snacks will help to reveal the whole bouquet. But choosing the right snack is not enough. Drinking sparkling wines is a real ritual with clear rules. Therefore, let's try to figure out all the nuances related to champagne.

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Getting to know the types of champagne

Professionals have long shared everything sparkling wines on different kinds and types.

It takes into account the year of production and the grape varieties used, the features of the technology used and the presence of sugar in the drink.

But in the context of the choice of champagne snacks, it is the last indicator that is important, since the taste of the drink depends on it.

• Doux is the sweetest dessert wine with sugar content above 50 g / l;
• Demi-sec (Rich) - the variety belongs to the dessert type, but there is already less sugar in it, in the range of g / l;
• Sec (Dry) - the most popular type of women's champagne, contains sugar / l, refers to a semi-sweet or semi-dry type of wine;
• Extra sec (Extra-dry) - is considered an intermediate grade with sugar content from 12 to 20 g / l. Practically not produced, as it is not very popular;
• Brut (brut) - an elite popular variety in which the amount of sugar is clearly limited to 15 g / l;
• Non-dosage (brut nature) - the most expensive champagne made absolutely without added sugar from the best grapes... The presence of residual sugar after fermentation does not exceed 6 g / l.

Moreover, only wines produced in the Champagne province of France can bear the proud name "champagne". All other drinks, despite their elitism and high cost, are simply called sparkling wines.

However, we habitually call any wines with bubbles "champagne" and will not deviate from the generally accepted patterns.

It remains to figure out how to properly serve and drink champagne.

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And there is a reason

Indeed, in many ways the rules for using shamanic depend on the occasion.

If the reason to open a bottle of champagne was the congratulation of the groom and the bride in the registry office, nominees and winners of contests, or sparkling wine is bottled in honor of the opening of new projects, that is, when a lot of people gather, then it will be just a symbolic sip of the drink.

Most often, those are simply absent, or a minimalist buffet table is provided.

But when preparing a holiday in a restaurant or at home, the choice of snacks should be taken more seriously. And sometimes you have to think over champagne snacks, and sometimes a drink for a certain dish.

There are also individual situations when you have to think over spontaneous decisions. A friend dropped in at the light, taking a bottle of brut with her, a meeting with friends or a bachelorette party - and each situation will have its own rules and features for choosing snacks.

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Let's try to figure out what to drink champagne with with a girl on a date, and with what at an official banquet. And let's start our excursion into the world of champagne with the main rules of etiquette.

Choosing glasses

It is foolish to think that for such a noble drink as champagne, it doesn't matter which glass you drink it from.

No wonder its creator has spent more than one year experimenting with dishes in search of ideal glasses, in which all the charm of the drink will fully unfold.

And such glasses have been created. They should have an elongated narrow bowl on a high, thin stem.

In exceptional cases, when champagne is effectively poured at banquets into glasses installed in a multi-tiered slide, it is allowed to use a bowl slightly extended upwards.

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The same glasses are served for tasting sweet sparkling wines.

But ideas with the use of glasses, cups, mugs, and even more so disposable tableware for champagne are a failure. Even if you're having a romantic date outdoors, make sure you have the right shamanic glasses. Otherwise, the whole mystery, the beauty of the ritual will be hopelessly spoiled.

Crystal glasses are considered ideal. If you choose ordinary glass, then it should be absolutely transparent.

Only a slight rim along the edge or an unobtrusive twisted thread of the pattern is allowed.

How to properly serve champagne

Champagne must be cooled before serving. And this is done for two reasons. First of all, chilled sparkling wine reveals its bouquet better. But this stage is also important to reduce the pressure in the bottle, which will help to avoid unnecessary effects with the cork flying out and splashing the drink.

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Only you need to cool the champagne correctly. The ideal temperature is 9 degrees. And you can achieve these figures by placing the bottle in a bar for cooling or in a refrigerator. For three hours of exposure in the cold, the drink will acquire the desired temperature.

If it is not possible to chill the bottle in the cold, place it in ice. Moreover, in a bucket of ice, champagne can spend the entire festive evening.

Do not use ice to chill a drink poured into glasses.

If champagne is served in a special bucket or in a cooler, it is placed next to the table on a special table. It is allowed to install a cooler or a bucket directly on the table, if their size allows.

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On small tables, champagne is placed next to a flower vase, without moving it close.

Visually divide the long table into 4 parts and place the bottles just behind the 1st and in front of the 3rd demarcation lines.

More than 3 types of sparkling wines are not served at the same time. And for each drink you need to put your own glasses. And if you have already decided to surprise your guests with a rich selection of sparkling wines, choose brands of champagne produced in one country.

Connoisseurs of champagne will not understand your efforts if Russian or Italian wines are flaunted on the tables next to Hungarian, French champagne.

How to drink champagne

Sparkling wines are served both as an aperitif and for main courses and desserts.

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And regardless of the reason, time, company, you need to drink champagne correctly.

Take the glass directly by the leg. Do not wrap your hand around the bowl.

Do not drink wine immediately after it is poured into the glass. Give him time to play, look around so that she can reveal her secrets. And only after feeling its aroma, start tasting. Do not drink, but taste it, sip, in order to feel the beauty of taste in everyone.

Don't forget about etiquette

At home holidays or at parties with friends in a narrow circle, few people will pay attention even to gross non-observance of the rules of etiquette. But at luxurious banquets, such blunders are simply unacceptable. Here, every step, every movement has a certain meaning.

You can take a glass of champagne from the waiter's tray without a snack, or choose something light, such as fruit. Do not take a full glass before the present lady, and even more so do not serve the glass to her yourself. This is her priority right.

They hold a glass of champagne exclusively in the left hand by the leg. Drink in small sips. It is not customary to drink such drinks in one gulp. If you no longer wish to drink sparkling wine, place the glass on the table.

This is a signal for the waiters that the guest has finished tasting, and the service staff will immediately remove the glass from the table. Even if you accidentally put a glass of champagne on the table, do not take it anymore.

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When guests are invited to the table, champagne must be put on the buffet table, even if they did not have time to sip it. Per banquet table it is not customary to sit down with alcohol in hand.

There is no need to show your incredible ability to open champagne in a spectacular manner in these situations.

The same applies to dinners in a restaurant, when they decided to drink champagne with a lady of the heart.

And even if service is not provided at the festive ceremony, there is no need to create explosive and foamy effects. Only men open champagne, trying to do it without firing corks and the appearance of foam.

The discovery of champagne is a whole art, which also has its own rules and subtleties. We offer you to get acquainted with them in more detail in the article "How to open champagne correctly and effectively".

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What is better to drink champagne of different brands

Champagne and chocolate are considered a traditional festive duet. It is these sets that men buy to employees on March 8, sons-in-law for their second mothers and even young men in love with their ladies.

But it is chocolate that is the worst champagne snack option. Its pronounced, bright taste completely overwhelms the refined, delicate bouquet of wine. However, there are exceptions to every rule.

Therefore, we propose to consider in more detail what you can eat champagne, depending on its sweetness, brand.

What to drink sweet champagne with

Dessert sparkling wines are quite sweet in themselves and require an appropriate appetizer. Therefore, feel free to serve sweets, desserts, fruits and berries with such drinks.

It can be ice cream, only without fillers, birthday cake or cheesecake, crème brulee or fruit jelly, pudding. It is this wine that suits chocolate, not black with cocoa, but white, porous without additives.

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If you choose among savory products, it is better to stop at good cheese, light salads.

With what they drink semi-sweet white champagne

Foie gras is ideal for the semi-sweet sparkling wine loved by many ladies - the main French delicacy... The rich texture of a fat goose liver is ideally combined with a slight sourness of champagne.

And, of course, strawberries with cream are a safe bet. This combination is not only loved by celebrities.

One more interesting option Are cakes with berries. This appetizer is equated to aristocratic and is ideal even for banquets and receptions.

With what they drink pink champagne sweet and semi-sweet

Rosé wines, including sparkling wines, have a special sourness that perfectly emphasizes the taste. meat dishes... Therefore, if you do not really like dry varieties of champagne, choose to meat appetizers namely pink champagne.

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It is served with lean chicken, turkey, duck. And even the specific taste of lamb, beef is not able to worsen the charm of rosé wines.

What to serve with semi-dry champagne

There are a lot of options for semi-dry champagne snacks. The simplest and most affordable are nuts. You can serve crackers, olives, or almonds.

Cheese, as well as seafood and caviar will look more sophisticated.

But you can get by with just boiled white meat.

In Italy, it is customary to drink this wine while eating pizza, regardless of the ingredients.

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Among the sweet snacks, you can stop at fruit salads or pies. Choose pineapples, peaches, pears. Chilled melon balls look very beautiful and sophisticated, which are ideal for semi-dry sparkling wines.

What do they drink brut champagne with?

Expensive sparkling wine goes well with caviar.

Therefore, feel free to make sandwiches with caviar for brut, and if you wish, offer this symbol of luxury right in a vase to eat with spoons. Only the caviar should not be too salty.

But the selection of snacks is much wider. Fried fish and even duck, lobster and other seafood - these dishes can safely serve as a snack for a brut.

And also sushi. Even the peculiar taste of ginger and wasabi sauce is not able to drown out the sourness of this champagne, but only emphasize it even more.

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However, it is best to avoid dishes that use lemon or vinegar in their preparation. Such ingredients in combination with brut do not give a very pleasant aftertaste.

How to drink champagne with certain foods

Quite often a situation arises that the menu is drawn up, the dishes are prepared, and only after that the question of the choice of alcohol is raised.

Or some rare, exquisite product becomes the reason for the feast. Let's try to figure out what kind of champagne will help emphasize the merits of a particular food.

Cheese and Champagne

The cheese platter is the perfect snack for any sparkling wine. And for expensive drinks, they choose elite varieties of cheese.

Spicy and flavorful cheeses such as Cheddar, Edam, Gogonzola, as well as cheeses with nuts and spices are served with sweet and semi-sweet wines.

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More delicate goat cheese, Brie, Goudou, Camembert and other delicacies are best washed down with dry champagne.

You can diversify the cheese plate with olives, fruits, nuts. Such products will be able to set off the taste of both cheese and champagne.

Seafood and fish

If you decide to treat your guests with juicy oysters, scallops or mussels, serve dry champagne. It will emphasize the exquisite taste of such snacks. The fish also goes well with such sparkling wines.

And, of course, caviar is an ideal snack for both brut and non-dosage. It is served on sandwiches, delicate canapes.

Poultry and meat

Champagne can only be served with lean meats. Sparkling drinks do not go well with heavy meals.

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Duck, lamb and veal served with rosé champagne. You can also wash these dishes with brut.

Chicken and turkey pair better with dry and semi-dry drinks. They are served boiled or baked whole in the oven.

desserts

Sweet fruits harmoniously complement the taste of semi-sweet and sweet wines. Traditionally, grapes, peaches, mangoes, and strawberries are chosen.

But it is better not to serve cherries and currants with champagne. Bright taste such berries are incompatible with the delicate aroma of champagne.

Any desserts, including fruit desserts, as well sweet pastries served with sweet and semi-sweet wines.

Dry and semi-dry champagne goes best with nutty desserts.

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Pizza, sushi

Don't be surprised. But sushi and pizza are perfectly combined with champagne, only with dry.

Therefore, if you decide to have a party and treat your friends exclusively to Italian lightweight pizza, or if you are planning a sushi patti, feel free to choose sparkling wine. dry wine or brut.

What they don't drink champagne with

The main rule when choosing a champagne snack is the simplicity of the dishes.

Complex treats with a lot of ingredients are not suitable for this purpose.

Serving champagne with first courses is considered bad form.

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The same applies to dishes with mayonnaise, garlic, onions.

Fatty meat, sausages, salted fish are not the best way to eat sparkling wine. Of sweets, it is better to refuse halva, oriental sweets, chocolate.

Champagne and other spirits

Quite often, champagne is drunk at the very beginning of the holiday. And in the future they switch to other alcoholic beverages. And this is no exception to the rule. Therefore, many are interested in what you can drink after champagne, is it possible to drink wine, cognac, cocktails after champagne.

It should be understood that champagne is a strictly individual drink. And this is due to the presence of carbon dioxide bubbles in it. They accelerate the absorption of alcohol.

Even cocktails with champagne are quite rare and are made only by experienced somilliers.

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But this rule is almost never observed. The golden rule of increasing degrees will help to avoid negative consequences.

For example, after the brut, you can move on to wine, liqueur, tequila, vodka, cognac. But after drinking semisweet champagne, it is better not to try weaker dry wines.

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How and with what to drink champagne

Champagne is a light sparkling wine, without which no solemn event is complete. They drink it at birthdays and anniversaries, they put it at the head of the table on New Year... Many are familiar with the taste of this drink, but few know how to drink champagne correctly.

It is believed that this wine reveals its taste best if it is drunk before meals as an aperitif. However, it can also be served with meals - champagne is suitable for second hot dishes and snacks, goes well with desserts and fresh fruits.

Serving champagne is a kind of ritual. A closed bottle is served in a small silver ice bucket, from which chilled wine is poured into a special glass with a long stem. Champagne Flute glasses are flute-shaped and retain the bubbles and aroma of the wine. Sometimes for sweet wines they use Coupe Champagne glasses - a wider glass.

If you cook alcoholic recipes at home, it is best to use regular red wine glasses. Thanks to the special shape of the glass, the taste and aroma of the drink does not evaporate, but lasts for a long time.

The optimal wine temperature is considered to be 7-8 degrees, but it can vary depending on what the champagne is drunk with. It is recommended to serve slightly chilled wine with seafood appetizers, colder wine with desserts. To cool the champagne to the desired temperature, leave a bucket of water and ice cubes on the table.

What is better to drink champagne with: champagne snacks

Champagne is a noble drink that goes well with various snacks. Dry wine goes well with cheese snacks, sandwiches with red and black caviar, seafood, salads, dishes and snacks from white meat, birds and game. On the table with champagne you can put a vase with fresh fruits and berries, fit and ready-made desserts- fruit biscuits, puffs. What is the best way to drink champagne, you decide for yourself in accordance with your taste preferences.

However, chocolate and chocolate candies... Not suitable as a snack and salad with a lot of onions or garlic. It is considered bad taste to have a muzlet tube in a glass with a drink - if you cannot tolerate too carbonated drinks, then it is better to order ordinary dry wine.

What can you drink after champagne so as not to spoil your well-being

The tradition of celebrating the New Year with a glass of champagne is well known all over the world. But it should be remembered that the holiday does not end there, but only begins and at the table you will have to drink alcoholic beverages more than once. What can you drink after champagne so as not to spoil your well-being and mood is one of the most pressing questions on holidays.

It is not advisable to drink grain drinks after grape wines. It is best to continue drinking the wine until the festive meal is over. After champagne, you can drink any white or red wine. You should not drink sweet after dry wine - it is better to do the opposite. It is not advisable to wash down the champagne with vodka - a sharp intoxication will not increase the mood for the holiday.

Can I drink open champagne

It is believed that good champagne can be drunk within hours after opening the bottle. After that, the number of bubbles will decrease and it will turn into ordinary wine. It will lose a little in taste and aroma, but is perfect for making sauces and marinades for meat and fish dishes... Can I drink open champagne if it is left after the holiday? Of course, you can drink wine, and without any harm to your health. The only drawback of such champagne is that it will lose its main zest, for which it is appreciated.

Can pregnant women drink champagne

The health of the unborn baby is the main value for every woman. That is why during pregnancy you should be very careful about your diet and exclude all alcoholic beverages. Despite this, on the eve of holidays such as the New Year, many are wondering whether it is possible for pregnant women to drink champagne. This issue is especially troubling for those expectant mothers who learned about pregnancy after the holiday. If you drank a glass of sparkling wine, you are unlikely to inflict irreparable harm health of the child. However, if you have a choice, and you already know about the onset of pregnancy, then it is best to refuse champagne and replace it with fruit or berry juice.

Champagne (fr. Champagne) - sparkling wine produced from one or more grape varieties by double fermentation in the bottle. The invention of champagne is credited to the French abbey monk Pierre Perignon from the Champagne region.

France legally secured in 1909 the right to call sparkling wines champagne, Latin symbols, and the method of its production. In order for a wine to have the name "champagne" it must meet certain requirements and standards. The first is made in the Champagne province, the second is made only from the grape varieties Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the third is a special technology used in the production.

Similar drinks produced in other countries can only have a name - “wines produced according to the champagne method”. Producers who call sparkling wine champagne in Cyrillic do not violate French copyright.

For the production of champagne, the grapes are harvested unripe. Moreover, it contains more acid than sugar. Next, the harvested grapes are squeezed out, and the resulting juice is poured into wooden barrels or steel cubes for the fermentation process. To remove the excess acidity of the "base wine", it is blended with wines from other vineyards and aged for different numbers of years. The resulting wine mixture is bottled and sugar and yeast are added to them. The bottles are corked and placed in the cellar in a horizontal position.

With this method of production, all the emitted carbon dioxide dissolves in the wine during the fermentation process, and the pressure on the walls of the bottle reaches 6 bar. Traditionally, 750 ml (standard) and 1500 ml (magnum) bottles are used for champagne. To separate the cloudy sediment, after 12 months, they begin to turn the wine at a small angle every day, until the time when the bottle is neck down and all the sediment is collected there. Then the bottles are uncorked, the sediment is drained, sugar dissolved in wine is added and the bottle is re-sealed. Then the champagne is aged for another three months and goes on sale. More expensive sorts of champagne can be aged on lees for 3 to 8 years.

To date, about 19 thousand manufacturers are registered in the Champagne province.

Champagne is divided into several types depending on aging, color and sugar content.

By shutter speed champagne happens:

• Non-Vintage - un aged wine created by blending wines of different aging;
• Vintage is a wine of one year, aged in a bottle for a long time.

By color champagne is divided into white, red and pink.

• sweet (more than 50 g / l),
• semi-sweet (33-50 g / l),
• semi-dry (17-35 g / l),
• extra dry (12-20 g / l),
• dry (0-15 g / l),
• brut (0-6 g / l).

According to the rules of etiquette, champagne should be served in a tall narrow glass, filled to 2/3 and chilled to a temperature of 6-8 ° C. Bubbles in good champagne, appear on the walls of the glass and the process of their formation can last up to 20 hours. When opening a bottle of champagne, you need to ensure that the air outlet forms a soft cotton, and the wine remains in the bottle. This should be done calmly without any rush.

As an appetizer, champagne is served with fresh fruit, desserts and canapes with caviar.

Useful properties of champagne

I attribute a lot to champagne useful properties... So its use relieves stress and calms the nerves.

The polyphenol in champagne improves cerebral blood flow, lowers blood pressure and improves digestion.

In some maternity hospitals in France, a small amount of champagne is given to women in labor to facilitate childbirth and raise strength. In the first days after childbirth, it is recommended to drink it to strengthen the body, improve appetite and sleep.

The antibacterial properties of champagne have a beneficial effect on the skin of the face, if you wipe the skin with this drink, then it becomes elastic and fresh.

Today we will talk about a low-alcohol drink that is inevitably associated with the New Year, weddings, corporate parties and romantic evenings. Remember, to the chimes, you raised your glass with this particular drink, and its sparkling bubbles so amusingly rose up ... It's about champagne, as you might have guessed.

And, although the question of "the benefits of champagne" is a very controversial statement, since it is unlikely that any alcoholic drink can both theoretically and practically benefit the human body, we will nevertheless consider those moments at which moderate consumption of champagne has a beneficial effect on the human body ... Let's talk about the dangers of this low-alcohol drink. How it is made, and how to drink champagne correctly ...

So, as we already mentioned, champagne is usually classified as a low-alcohol beverage that belongs to the category of sparkling wines.

How champagne is made

The culture of drinking champagne

The benefits of champagne

Paradoxically, in the case of moderate consumption of this low-alcohol drink, it still has a beneficial effect on our body. One of the main arguments in favor of champagne is the argument that its benefits are similar to those of moderate consumption of red wine for our body. Also, scientists have come to the conclusion that champagne contains antioxidants who are great free radical fighters. And, all this has a beneficial effect on the human cardiovascular system, lowers high blood pressure.

Concerning polyphenols, which have also been found in champagne, they tend to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow to the heart and brain. In addition, after drinking champagne, the respiratory system is stimulated, and the drink itself has a positive effect on the processes of digestion, bile secretion, but only on the condition that the person does not suffer from chronic diseases of the above systems, and the amount of champagne drunk in one evening is no more than two glasses ... Well, if you decide to pamper yourself and your skin with a champagne bath, you will be pleasantly surprised - your skin will become firm and fresh. But, do not forget that from the benefits to the harms of this drink is one step that is very easy to overcome if you start to abuse champagne.

The harm of champagne

Unfortunately, it is the delusion that since champagne is a low-alcohol drink, a simple "soda", then it can be consumed in unlimited quantities, becomes the first step towards harm from this drink. This is not at all true. Just thanks to the bubbles of carbon dioxide in champagne, alcohol is absorbed into our blood faster than it happens with other alcoholic beverages, and, accordingly, intoxication occurs faster. In the case when you drink champagne on an empty stomach, you expose your digestive tract to irritation and contribute to an increase in acidity.

In addition, champagne is by no means a low-calorie drink, as many believe, in its composition you can find not only energetically saturated alcohol, but also a large number of calories, especially if you drink semisweet and sweet champagne. And, if one glass of this drink has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, then the same glass of champagne ruins our liver. Just imagine

the resources of the human liver are designed for uninterrupted operation for five hundred years !!!, and a person who drinks alcohol is able to destroy it in twenty years ...

If you abuse this drink too much for or without reason, you may encounter such unpleasant phenomena as deterioration of vision, memory, since a constant concentration of alcohol in your blood will inevitably provoke irreversible organic damage to your organs and systems.

Like any wine, champagne promotes the processes of decay of food in your intestines, and this becomes the cause of intoxication of the whole body. There can be no question of drinking champagne for pregnant women and adolescents under eighteen years of age. It would seem only thirty ml - and, this is already a lethal dose of this drink for a child's body, in addition, the use of champagne by an immature child's body can lead to damage to the respiratory center in a child.

Like any alcoholic drink, champagne contains ethanol, which has a destructive effect on blood cells - erythrocytes. As you remember, it is the erythrocytes that are responsible for oxygenation of our entire body, systems and internal organs. The death of erythrocytes becomes an impetus to oxygen starvation of the whole organism, and this negatively affects our health.

In order to cheer yourself up, one glass of this drink is enough, and then only on holidays! Otherwise, you run the risk of becoming an alcoholic person, since champagne is the same alcohol. Therefore, remember that the benefits and harms of champagne for your body depend on how high-quality drink you consume, in what quantities and with what frequency.

Olga Shevtsova, World Without Harm

Can pregnant women drink champagne? Dosage and effects on pregnancy

Every woman, being in an interesting position, at least once asked herself the question of whether it is possible for pregnant women to drink champagne. After all, for all nine months there is always a solemn moment that I want to celebrate. Many people believe that small amounts of champagne and other low alcohol drinks do not harm the body. Is this really true?

Intrauterine alcoholism syndrome

Is it possible red wine, champagne?

Not so long ago, it was believed that red wine can be drunk by pregnant women. In this case, the dosage should not exceed 50 grams per day. So many began to wonder whether it is possible for pregnant women to have champagne. But it has already been established that champagne, red wine, beer and other similar drinks are categorically not recommended for women in position. Many do not even know how champagne is actually made.

It belongs to the type of sparkling drinks. These are most often young wines made in the fermentation process. Bubbles are a gas produced by bacteria. This is how expensive champagne is made. The cheap one uses substitutes and chemicals. Therefore, it is obvious that there is no benefit in champagne, especially for an unborn child.

There are situations when a woman in the early stages does not yet know about pregnancy. And if she allows herself to drink a large amount of alcohol, then the consequences can be very sad. Alcohol is toxic and can cause miscarriage or bleeding. At the first suspicion of pregnancy, you should give up alcohol and consult a doctor. So is it possible for pregnant women to have a glass of champagne? The answer to the question is obvious.

Moreover, even a minimal amount of champagne can cause headaches, disorders of the digestive system, as well as pain in the throat. Cold champagne can even cause sore throats.

Norm

Trimesters

In the first trimester of pregnancy, almost all possible pathologies and genetic diseases can be identified. By the way, during this period it is especially dangerous to experiment with alcoholic beverages. All vital organs and the nervous system are formed in the fetus. Is it possible for pregnant women to drink a glass of champagne in the first trimester? The gynecologist will definitely answer this question "no".

In the second trimester, sparkling wine can provoke a miscarriage. In the last trimester, a glass of champagne can lead to premature birth. Pressure rises, complications arise. In this case, it is much more difficult for a woman to give birth on her own.

Life is full of holidays and special events. Of course, watching everyone around them celebrate and drink, a woman in a position also wants to drink something. Therefore, she asks the question: is it possible for pregnant women to champagne? Do not be upset and risk the health of the unborn child. Moreover, with the onset of pregnancy, a woman must get used to the restrictions. After childbirth, the period begins breastfeeding... So for a long time it will be necessary to adhere to a diet, give up all bad habits. The main task of a woman is to take care of her unborn child.

A good alternative for a celebration

Conception under the influence of alcohol

By the way, doctors say that alcoholic intoxication affects the development of the fetus from the moment of conception. But if a woman is in such a state, then it is not so scary. But if a man, then the danger increases significantly. Before you ask yourself whether a pregnant woman can drink champagne, you need to think about its relevance until the moment of conception.

Everything matters in this process. It all depends on the man and the woman. They are fully responsible for their actions, and then for the life of their child.

Oh, this is champagne! A drink of royalty and aristocrats. Subtle and sparkling, slightly intoxicating the mind and awakening emotional senses. It is about him that will be discussed in this article!
Choosing champagne as a gift, at first glance, may seem like a simple matter, because champagne is sold in any store and is presented in a wide range. But this is only at first glance. If you delve into the topic of production, study the technology and varietal component, then questions may arise about its choice. Thanks to a competent approach to choosing a gift, the result will not be long in coming. 13 tips from the sommelier will come in handy!

At the beginning of the article, I would like to say a few words about the fact that real great champagne is produced only on the unique chalk and limestone soils of the Champagne region. There are no similar soils anywhere in the world! It is this drink that can bear the proud name champagne, and everything else is inherently sparkling wine.

The classics of the genre are the key to success, or, in short, about

the main

The main rule when buying champagne is knowledge of the method of its production. A self-respecting manufacturer never violates centuries-old traditions and classic technologies for the production of sparkling wine. Only the method of secondary fermentation in a bottle, with the elements of manual labor of masters, called remuage and disgorgement, can serve as a 100% quality guarantee.

Real champagne is made only in the Champagne region. It was so many centuries ago, it is so and it will always be so. The famous champagne is very expensive! Look for the name on the label « a sparkling wine » and remember that the price of a good sparkling wine starts at 600 rubles.

Champagne should have a minimum residual sugar content and be brut, or at least dry. Blanc de Blanc is cool and means the white-on-white method, and Blanc de Noir talks about the method of making white champagne from red grapes with white flesh. Interesting, isn't it?

Note to the layman: No country in the world considers it permissible to write the word "champagne" on the label of its sparkling wine. The only exception is Russia.

Bubbles do not guarantee quality.

What should not be gifted?

Choosing champagne as a gift, do not stop your gaze on the product located on the shelves at the so-called "eye level". Usually there is an economy segment product that is not suitable as a gift. Neither the shape of the bottle, nor the cork, nor the notorious bubbles in the drink serve as a guarantee of quality in this situation.

The donee will be able to buy it on his own, if he wishes. The category of such "sparkling wines" includes factories RISP, MKShV(Moscow city) DZIV(Derbent), some factories in St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Territory and others. The price of such drinks belongs to the budget category and does not exceed 200 rubles.

These sparkling wines undoubtedly can and should be consumed in a friendly company, during a wedding feast or a merry party. However, for a gift, they are too "weak" in their inner content, since they are not executed according to classical technology(method of secondary fermentation in a bottle), and the so-called acratophoric method (method of fermentation in a vat). It is unlikely that a bottle of such a drink will be able to please the hero of the occasion. But joy is the main goal of any gift.

Champagne or sparkling wine? Main similarities

and differences

Wines are divided into still and sparkling. This law cannot be argued with either. Champagne is nothing more than sparkling wine. It is important to consider production technologies here. In addition to classic sparkling wines, you can find carbonated wine drinks on store shelves. A striking example of such a drink is the favorite of many. "Bosco" at a price of 250 to 300 rubles (country of origin - Lithuania, Russia, Italy).

Another example is the wonderful Lambrusco, which belongs to the category of pearl wines (the country of origin is Italy), the price varies from 250 to 800 rubles, depending on the manufacturer. Delicious and sweet, low-degree Lambrusco is liked by many young girls and women. But don't go for a low price - good Lambrusco can't be cheap!

Remember that neither Bosco nor Lambrusco are samples of sparkling wines and are produced using a completely different technology!

Read the label and counter label carefully. Many manufacturers in the race for sales are cunning and write the following: Labrusco, Lambrusco. This is a so-called marketing ploy, it is not prosecuted. The main thing is to remember that this product has nothing to do with real Italian.

You can buy such wines in almost any store. It is likely that such a present is suitable for a visit or for a modest romantic date. It is better to refrain from serving such drinks to the hero of the day or a high-ranking official, so as not to get into a delicate situation.

Russia and its age-old traditions

Let's be patriots of our Fatherland and start our rating of sparkling wines from a Russian producer. Ever since pre-revolutionary times, Russian winemakers have tried to produce decent sparkling wines. Historical evidence of this is Prince Golitsyn, who is considered the founder and progenitor of the glorious Russian winemaking.

As a gift for a reasonable price, you can buy sparkling wine from a popular manufacturer "Abrau Dyurso". You should pay attention to its exposure. It is she who determines the final price of the goods. Opt for vintage options in gift boxes. Price for 0.75 liters of goods - from 1,800 rubles. Do you think it's expensive? Really worth it!

Plant New World produces classic, aged, produced in compliance with all the rules sparkling wines. The assortment line is widely represented in the Crimean winemakers' brand stores. Aging of wines - from 9 months to 3 years, which significantly affects the price. Champagne can vary in sugar content, white, pink and red. Only seasoned versions of the gift will be suitable as a gift. For such a gift you will have to pay from 1,000 to 2,500 rubles.

With the right approach, any customer will be able to buy an excellent and high-quality "champagne" from TD "Fanagoria". For example, at a price of 500 rubles.

How much sugar should you put in?

The correct sparkling wine, or, as we used to call it, champagne should be either brut or dry. Only the most fermented sugar allows you to enjoy the true flavor of the contents. The presence of sugar suggests that it may smooth out the imperfections, such "champagne" does not leave a harmonious aftertaste.

Brut or dry is an ideal aperitif, but sweet or semi-sweet are only for dessert.

When choosing a gift, you should still take into account the preferences of the hero of the occasion. If a person does not like acidity, then it is better to present him with sweeter versions of sparkling wines. The best present will be the well-known Italian sparkling wines produced in the small province of Asti, which is geographically located in the world famous Piedmont region. These sparkling wines are made from the famous Muscat grapes. Thanks to him, they are so tasty and rich. Look for the letters DOCG on the front and back labels. Their presence suggests that you are holding true, sweet, nutmeg gold from Piedmont.

The bestseller in this category is undoubtedly Italian sparkling wine. "Mondoro Asti". Many people recognize him by the original bottle, which has a screw, spiral shape. Retail price for 0.75 liters - from 1,250 rubles. But don't confuse Asti with Mondoro Brut, as that's a completely different story.

Undoubtedly, for a lover of sweets, they will be a good gift « Asti Martini " and « Asti Cinzano». These drinks occupy the second and third places in the market for sales of sparkling sweet and semi-sweet wines, and are not much inferior in quality to their more expensive brother "Mondoro". Their price on the shelf is approximately 850-900 rubles. There are often promotional discounts for such products. Sparkling wine is sold in shops within walking distance and is a product of mass demand.

France - Pretentious and expensive

Do you want to follow French fashion and be in trend, as modern youth say? Do you want to deliberately emphasize the importance of your gift and have a tidy sum of money? Then feel free to go to a wine boutique or look at the top shelves of reputable stores. Such sparkling wines are not sold in ordinary shops located in the courtyard and belonging to the economy class (for example, the Magnit chain of stores).

We are talking about France and about its incomparable with any other champagne. The Champagne region is the best in the world and offers the buyer a choice of several categories of champagne. AOC category indicates that the wine is especially controlled by origin (literal translation: appellation original control). The other two categories are of higher quality, they are called Grand Cru and Premier Cru, respectively read as great and first.

An unmistakable gift option can be "Widow Clicquot" and "Washes and Shandon ". These trading houses are in the top five of the world's TOP brands. The price for 1 bottle of such champagne varies from 5,500 rubles and depends on the trade margin and the design option (for example, an iron tube is more expensive).

A great gift for a gourmet gourmet will be a vintage champagne, which is made from the best grape harvest, harvested by hand in one calendar year. The luxurious quality dictates the high price of such a drink. It can reach more than 10 thousand rubles. and even 20 thousand rubles. for 0.75 liters.

Famous Dom Perignon the 2006 harvest is estimated at 18,000 rubles per bottle.

There are also quite rare exclusive names of sparkling wines. Stunning "Crystal" Is a collector's dream. The minimum price of such liquid gold starts from 22,000 rubles.

Italy - sparkling traditions

Sunny Italy is one of the leaders in the supply of sparkling wines to the world market and France's competitor. The aforementioned region of Asti grants the world sparkling wines with a high natural sugar... To choose the category of dry and brut, the well-known is universally suitable Prosecco made from the grape variety of the same name. It has two quality categories - Doc and DOCG... Both categories indicate that the wine is especially controlled by origin, and the letter G indicates a higher quality assurance.

In addition to Prosecco, Italy is famous for other sparkling wines made from various varieties of red and white grapes. They are not particularly popular among consumers and they will most likely be purchased only by special order in an online store or in a specialized wine boutique... It contains decent quality, it is made in the Piedmont region from a rather rare white grape variety Nebbiolo. The price for 0.75 liters cannot be called budget - from 5,300 rubles.

Spain - quality in a glass

Every self-respecting country, one way or another, produces sparkling wines. Spain is known for its red tannin wines from the Rioja region. Not many customers know that one of the best examples of sparkling wines is Spanish Kava. It comes in white or pink and combines best traditions champagne. The cava is made using the traditional classical method and guarantees excellent quality at a reasonable price (compared to the Champagne region). Shelf price - from 700 rubles and more.

Sparkling wines of the New World

The countries of the New World include Chile, Australia, South Africa, Argentina. If we talk about Chile, then this country offers to Russian market both white and rosé and red types of sparkling wines. Sweeter options can be found among others.

For a lovely lady's gift, you can choose "Fresita, gift box" sparkling pink, sweet, costing from 1,300 rubles for 0.75 liters.

For a drier option, opt for Conchay Toro, « Sunrise» Sparkling Brut. Its price is quite budgetary and amounts to 600-650 rubles, and you don't have to worry about the quality. Both options are presented in a gift box, which is very important for a gift.

Give high-quality alcohol, and let the donee be delighted!

Champagne is one of the symbols of the New Year's celebration. For many years, almost in every family, to shoot a cork to the chimes, opening a bottle of champagne, is a traditional action. Together with the president's congratulations, relatives and friends exchange wishes and make cherished wishes, emptying the bubbling glass. However, at this moment, not everyone thinks about what exactly is in his glass. Also, not everyone knows how to drink champagne and how much. On the eve of the holiday, we will help you sort out all these issues, tell you about what champagne is, what you should pay attention to when choosing it and what you should be afraid of.

The history of champagne.

The development of wine culture in the Champagne province dates back to the 4th century. At that time in Champagne they made mainly red wines, pleasant to the taste, slightly carbonated, with an inviting fruity aroma. But this wine had an unpleasant feature - it could start to ferment again, which was impossible to control and the wine exploded the barrels. Secondary fermentation of wine was provoked by various reasons, for example, sudden cold weather, which are not characteristic of the area. Due to a sharp drop in temperature, the process of the first fermentation was interrupted, the sugar that had not been fermented to the end, after a while resumed the process again.

In the 17th century, a monk named Dom Perignon was the first to figure out how to curb rebellious wine. Blending and bottling wine - these are his ideas, all this helped to improve the winemaking of that time. A little later, his followers somewhat changed the shape of the bottles and figured out how to more reliably strengthen the cork.

Real champagne is definitely a blend of three varieties: Chardonnay (white), Pinot Meunier (red) and Pinot Noir (red). Each of these grape varieties brings its own special notes: taste, elegance, strength. The grapes are harvested, the juice is squeezed out, the wort is obtained, and it is fermented. The wort is kept in metal vats or in oak barrels for several months or even years. For the production of prestigious brands of champagne, only old ones are used. oak barrels, fermentation in them is even and easier to control.

The next step is blending. It is up to the master winemaker to blend the so-called "light" wines (those obtained from different types wort) so as to obtain a unique taste that belongs to exactly the desired brand of champagne. Sometimes, to obtain the desired taste, about fifty "light" wines are mixed. The taste of some brands of champagne has remained unchanged over the years, which certainly pleases loyal customers.

The time for secondary fermentation comes. Blended wine must be poured into bottles, the strength of which has been specially increased. Sugar and yeast are added to the wine, which causes secondary fermentation. The bottle, which is tightly closed, holds back the carbon dioxide formed during the fermentation process. It is he who, dissolving in wine, forms bubbles.

Next, the champagne should be aged and cleaned. Champagne is aged for several years (from 2 to 6 years); aging of more prestigious brands can be up to 10 years. Throughout the entire time, the bottles with champagne are placed horizontally, as a result of such aging, the champagne acquires a harmonious taste and a sign of quality wine - very thin gas bubbles.

Yeast, having done its job, forms a sediment, and one day the moment comes when it must be disposed of. This process is very responsible and time consuming. Remuage (transferring the sediment to the cork) is carried out in different ways: prestigious companies do it manually, while other companies use special devices, the actions of which are monitored by a computer, which makes it possible to perfectly accurately perform the required actions with the bottle (lower and rotate) to collect the sediment. In order to finally separate the champagne from the sediment, which has completely settled on the cork, vertically arranged bottles are sent for disgorgement (freezing the cork in a solution of salt and water). Finally, the bottle is opened, the frozen cork, rapidly leaving the bottle, relieves the champagne of sediment. During this process, a certain amount of liquid is lost, this shortage is compensated for with a mixture of wine, sugar syrup and brandy. At this stage, the added sugar determines what kind of champagne will turn out: dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet or brut. That's it, the bottles are again sealed with a cork, which will be held by a metallized cap and a wire bridle. Now you know how champagne is made!

Interested in the benefits of champagne? Well, in vain! Champagne is a low alcohol drink. Agree, it is rather strange to look for benefits in any alcohol-containing drink. Of course, there are some points in the positive influence of which you can believe, but do not flatter yourself, this kind of benefit is relative.
It is believed that the benefits of champagne are equivalent to those of drinking red wines. Scientists confirm that wines contain antioxidants that fight free radicals. They help lower blood pressure and also reduce the risk of heart disease. The polyphenols contained in wine dilate blood vessels, which improves blood flow to the brain and heart. But remember that champagne is not red wine. The content of the above substances in sparkling wine is an order of magnitude lower than in red wine, therefore, there is less benefit.

Drinking champagne stimulates the respiratory system, has a positive effect on digestion and bile secretion, provided that the person is healthy and the amount of champagne drunk does not exceed one, maximum two glasses per festive evening. Well, if you can afford to wash yourself with champagne or take baths with its content, then your skin will be provided with elasticity and freshness for a long time.

The benefits and harms of champagne have not yet been studied well enough, therefore, the ratio of sparkling wines to low-alcohol drinks is not an indicator that drinking champagne has less harm to the human body than other alcoholic beverages. Some even consider champagne to be a simple soda, and it is the bubbles of carbon dioxide that promote the rapid absorption of alcohol, which leads to rapid intoxication.

The harm of champagne can manifest itself if you drink it on an empty stomach - this is expressed by severe irritation of the digestive tract, as well as an increase in acidity.

Those who classify champagne as a low-calorie drink are wrong. Champagne contains energetically saturated alcohol, but more calories are naturally found in semi-sweet champagne.

It is important to note that if a glass of champagne has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels, then even a small dose of this drink can cause, albeit insignificant, liver damage. According to the design of nature, the human liver could work for five hundred years, and people who regularly consume alcohol, "imprison" it for twenty years.

Champagne lovers run the risk of memory and vision impairment, the concentration of alcohol in the blood provokes irreversible organic damage.
Any wine, including champagne, causes increased decay of food in the intestines - this negatively affects the body and all its systems.

It is especially important for women to know about the harm of champagne, their use of any alcoholic beverages, and often this champagne, can be detrimental to their future children. Alcohol irrevocably affects the reproductive function of women, in contrast to the strong half of humanity, whose full recovery can occur in four months, subject to a complete rejection of alcohol.
Excessive consumption of champagne by pregnant women can slow down the development of the unborn child, both during pregnancy and after birth.

Champagne is contraindicated for persons under 18 years of age, at this age the human body is most sensitive to ethanol. Drinking champagne by children under 5 years old can damage the respiratory center, and 30 ml of champagne is considered a lethal dose for a child.

Under the influence of ethanol, found in champagne and other wines, the destruction of blood cells - erythrocytes - occurs. Erythrocytes saturate all organs and systems of the body with oxygen, and in the event of their destruction, the body experiences oxygen starvation, and the death of various cells, including the brain, occurs.

A glass of champagne guarantees a good mood, a surge of joy and a sense of celebration, the main thing is not to overdo it with the quantity, so as not to worsen your well-being.

Most often, champagne is bought for the New Year or for a wedding. Choosing champagne is not an easy task. Most people do not know at all how to choose sparkling wines, so a good champagne, in their opinion, is one that “shoots” like a cannon, foams, does not sour and is cheaper. It is these people who risk becoming victims of charlatans who shamelessly forge and sell under the guise of real champagne a hellish potion - a mixture of water, alcohol and chemical powders. Bottles of this champagne do not contain a single drop of real grape juice, the use of such a drink is dangerous to health.

You should only look for safe champagne in stores that have all the necessary certificates of quality and conformity. Real champagne is one that is produced exclusively using the classical method.

Only real French champagne, produced in the Champagne province, has the right to bear this name - "Champagne". Everything else is sparkling wines that have nothing to do with Champagne. "Sect" is the name for champagne in Austria and Germany, "Spumante" - in Italy, in Spain - "Cava".

The most prestigious brands of French champagne:

* Dom Perignon (Moet and Chandon) - The most prestigious French champagne. Since 1958 it has been delivered to the British royal court. Available in white and pink champagne.
* Cuvée of the Great Age (Laurent - Perrier)
* Prince of Champagne (Tatinger) - Issued in honor of the Prince of Champagne Thibaut, who, after returning from the crusade, brought to Champagne from the east Chardonnay grapes, from which the most prestigious champagne wines are made, including this.
* Florent Louis (Pieper - Haydseck)
* Cuvée Charles VII (Canard - Duchene)
* Cuvée Champs-Elysees (Jeanmere)
* Cuvée Emperor (Mercier-Raederer) - Released in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II. Supplied in exclusively crystal bottles with Russian state symbols (with the highest permission of Alexander II)
* Great Lady (Veuve Clicquot) - Champagne dedicated to the founder of the company, Madame Clicquot. It can be white and pink.

Always read the label on the bottle carefully. In addition to the name, it must contain: the name of the company and the address of the manufacturer. If you wish and have good financial resources, you can choose high-quality champagne not only from France, but also Russian manufacturers who have proven themselves and received awards at international competitions.

Here is a list of Russian companies that today produce world-class champagne:

OJSC "Cornet". Founded in 1942.
AOZT "Sparkling Wines". Founded in 1945.
AOZT "Agrofirma Abrau-Dyurso". Founded in 1870.
OJSC "Moscow Factory of Sparkling Wines" (MKShV). Founded in 1980.
LLC "RISP". The enterprise was founded in 1994 at the production facilities of JSC MKShV.

The most prestigious brands of Russian champagne:

* "CORNET" (brut and dry).
* "GOLD" (semi-dry).
* "HOPE" (semi-dry, semi-sweet).

Choose champagne in a dark bottle (this is a must), as light destroys the taste and color of the wine. The cork should only be made of natural materials, not plastic. Champagne should be clear, clean and free of sediment. Pay attention to the amount contained in the drink:

* Extra – Brut (extra brut) - (up to 6 g / l);
* Brut (brut) - (up to 15 g / l);
* Dry - (20-25 g / l);
* Semi-Dry (semi-dry) - (40-45 g / l);
* Semi-Sweet white (white semi-sweet) - (sugar 60-65 g / l);
* Semi-Sweet red (semi-sweet red) - (80-85 g / l).

If champagne appears on your table 1-2 times a year, then choose semi-sweet or sweet. If you indulge yourself with champagne once a month, go for dry brands. And if you drink champagne every day, go for brut.

How to drink champagne correctly?

Release the cork from the foil and wire bridle that covers it. It is necessary to hold the bottle at an angle of 30-45 degrees to avoid foam escaping. Be careful not to direct the bottle towards those present. Open champagne without a clap, but with a quiet hiss. Quality champagne should be quiet and delicate. It is more correct to pour champagne into glasses a couple of minutes after opening the bottle. This will help the champagne to open up, and you better experience the taste of the drink. Pour champagne carefully, slowly, tilting the bottle slightly so that the wine flows along the side of the glass - this technique avoids an abundance of foam.

Large bubbles indicate that the champagne was artificially carbonated, and not obtained as a result of natural fermentation. The bubbles should be of the same size, but they should not be compared immediately after the glasses are filled with champagne, but after five minutes - when the glass and champagne are at the same temperature.

It is generally accepted that a precisely matched glass delivers champagne directly to the right taste buds, and you will fully enjoy its taste. Sour champagne (dry or brut) is poured into tall elongated glasses - "flute" (flute). Sweet and semi-sweet champagne is poured into wide glasses.

To better understand the taste of champagne, before swallowing the drink, sip it a little in your mouth. An appetizer suitable for champagne is considered: seafood, white meat and game, cheese, olives, fruit desserts, and, of course, pineapple.

Champagne is stored in a dark place at a temperature not lower than + 5 ° С, but also not higher than + 15 ° С.
A bottle of champagne is stored only in a horizontal position, otherwise the cork will dry out, lose its elasticity and elasticity, and crumble when uncorked.

If you have opened a bottle of champagne, but did not have time to drink it in the evening, close the bottle with a special stopper and store it for no more than two days in the refrigerator, but this is not done with champagne of a certain vintage (Champagne Millesime).
It is generally not worth storing champagne for a long time, with the exception of the most prestigious brands.