The most popular sparkling wines. The names of champagne, which are known worldwide

The contract of 1891, and confirmed later by the Treaty after the end of World War II. Even the method of manufacturing sparkling wines can be called " champagne» ( méthode Champenoise. or "Champagne Method") only in, in the rest of the same countries and regions, you can only specify "Méthode Traditionelle" - the traditional method.

Sparkling wines of the world

Despite the fact that champagne wines are preserved not only in champagne, in other countries the word "champagne" cannot be used, because their names are used:

• Others (,) -
• Italy - spumante (From the Muscat variety in Piedmont is called ASTI)
• Spain - Cava.
• Germany - SEKT.
• South Africa - Cap Classique.

However, in some countries the term " champagne»Registered as part of trademarks, such as the famous" Soviet champagne«.

Requirements for champagne wines

Right champagne It is produced by tough rules developed by " Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wine", Designed to ensure the high quality of the resulting drink. The rules regulate the most suitable places for and define 7 varieties that are allowed to use in.

As a rule, champagne wines are made from one or from a mixture of three varieties: chardonna, Pinot Noir and pinot Mönya (chardonnay, pinot Noir pinot Meunier). The rules also regulate the process of growing grapes: the degree of spinning of berries, the minimum exposure time on the sediment, the yield of the vineyard, the trimming of the vine. Name " Champagne»It can only stand on the fault that is produced by all the rules.

Varieties of champagne wines

Champagne wines are made in mass of three grape varieties:

• chardonon
• pino Nair
• pinot Mönya

Pretty rarely use small additives of other grape varieties.

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If champagne wines are made only from grapes chardonon, he's called blanc de Blancs. (White white).

If champagne is made only from red grapes, it is called blanc de Noirs. (white from black).

Color champagne

Shappanic, as a rule, is white a sparkling wine. Even if it is made of red grapes, the berries are squeezed so carefully that the skin, giving a red shade, is almost not in contact with the squeezed juice. But do I. pink champagne wine: In this case, they extend contact with red skin, or simply add to a bit of red wine.

Soldes of champagne wine

In dependence on the amount of sugar and excerpt, there are several champagne varieties:

• sweet - "Doux"
• semi-sweet - "demi-sec"
• semi-dry - "sec"
• extra-semi-dry - "Extra SEC"
• brut - "Brut"
• extra Brut / Brut-Küwe - Extra Brut / BRUT NATURE / BRUT ZERO (liquor or sugar are not added at all).

Initially, champagne was rather sweet, as Sugar allowed to hide flaws in production or poor wine quality. But now the most popular in the world is champagne brut. However, by historical tradition, the most popular champagne on the territory of the former USSR is a semi-sweet champagne.

Standards for the amount of sugar in champagne may differ depending on the country:

Sweet grade champagne

Sweet grade champagne (as an example - the famous brand of Italian Asti) are considered dessert wine. They do not require any snacks, but rather will cause a headache with a hangover.

Carbon dioxide not only succumbs to the taste of champagne: bubbles and fine drops of wine, resulting in a bubble break, enhance the evaporation of aromatic substances of the beverage. Bubbles should be formed on the bottom of the glade and fountainly climbing up, creating a "lounge" along the walls of the glade. If the champagne is good, then bubbles must be small and hold on several hours. Large bubbles indicate additional gas production.

How to drink champagne

Proper glasses for champagne have a narrow high shape on a long leg so that the heat of hands does not warmer wine. Flat wide glasses are more suitable for sweet champagne wines, but they are inferior to narrow and high glasses, as they do not preserve bubbles and aroma of the drink. It is better then to use big glasses for red wine with a wide belly and a narrowed neck: it prevents flavoring flavor and allows you to enjoy the whole bouquet to fully. The walls of glasses for champagne make thin so that the champagne does not heat them from them.

The glass is filled in two thirds. Champagne should be well-sued, at least degrees to 7. The thinner champagne you drink, the lower the temperature should be. In often cooled champagne to 1-2 ° C and even add a piece of ice. Preferably an open bottle to continue to cool down: for example, in a bucket with a cheerful ice.

If the champagne is clogged with a natural plug, then when the bottle is opened, it is not necessary to rotate the plug, but a bottle clockwise. Slightly hold the cork when it has almost left the bottle: a little normalizes the pressure in the bottle and the champagne does not spill a fountain from the bottle. Immediately after the opening, glasses are filled: it is advisable to slightly tilt the fuasher and pour champagne along the wall so that the foam is not formed. The glass is poured on 2/3. Drink champagne, holding a leg without touching the body of a glass so as not to heat the wine with warm hands.

Dry champagne wines are often served in restaurants as an aperitif. Sweet champagne is suitable for sweet dishes, to the cake. Dry champagne perfectly suits seafood with thin taste: crabs, oysters, white fish in sauce, with vegetables such as artichokes and asparagus. Champagne is perfectly combined with fruits and desserts.

Marking french champagne wines

On this champagne must be marked Champagne.

The bottle indicates the name of champagne, the manufacturer and its registration number. In dependence on the size of the company, there may be a marking of the form:

— N.M. - Winery selling wine through their trading network;
— M.A. - Only implementers;
— R.M. - minor winery;
— C.M. - Small cooperatives.

On the eve of the New Year, it's the time to talk about a wonderful player, without which the Fight of the Quarants most of the Russians simply does not represent. Of course, we will not, but we will not detain the advantages of champagne "Widow Kliko" or "House Perignon", but we will take products for consideration that by pocket the average Russian. Our champagne rating will help choose the best and will prompt which ingredients should be present in it.

New World

This is a real champagne made in the Crimea by a bottle. The first place in our ranking of champagne is deservedly given to this brand.

The prince of Golitsin himself for more than one and a half years ago, put his hand to the fact that Russian champagne could compete with French. These traditions have been preserved to the present.

Champagne is made from grape varieties Pino Noir, Aligote, Chardonnone and Riesling, according to classic canons, with an excerpt of 9 months and up to 3 years. All processes are made manually. Champagne "Novosvetsky", "Pinot Fran" and "Crimean Sparkling" long love buyers for the sophistication of taste and rich fragrance. And it is cheaper than French.

CJSC sparkling wines, St. Petersburg

CJSC "Sparkling Wines" SPb

"Russian champagne" is produced by classical technologies for over 80 years. Raw materials are delivered from all over the world and from Crimea.

All alcohol corresponds to the guests and is manufactured in three common methods, and innovative recipe Continuous fermentation in the stream at one time was even sold to the French.

The company produces only 3 types of white sparkling wines: rut, semi-dry and semi-sweet.

The brand "Lev Golitsin" was created in memory of the outstanding winemaker. Glory Prince was so great that the St. Petersburg brand decided to use his name to create a new brand.

Cricova.

Moldavian champagne with the optimal price-quality ratio (from 500 rubles). All products are created by the classic method, the drink is kept in oak barrels And stored in the basements.

In the Soviet champagne - there are few foam, bubbles play a glass for a long time, the aftertaste is wonderful. And there is still a "muscat", "Pink", "De Lux" - the choice of drinks is quite worthy.

Collectible drinks are offered in bottles of mountain crystal.

Golden beam

Sevastopol company, one of the oldest on the market, occupying a significant segment of the champagne wines market. All products are created exclusively from their own grapes collected manually.

At the moment, the tastes of consumers have changed - a larger half of the produced occupies a semi-sweet champagne, and the second half divide the brut, semi-dry and dry.

The basic collection is manufactured by the Sharma method (from 350 rubles). With the names, they are not particularly bored here, so on the label immediately everything becomes clear - white or nutmeg.

Premium monosortion line, withstands from 6 to 9 months.

Tsimlyan wines

Tsimlyan wines

The Don Steppes gave rise to this champagne produced mainly by the reservoir way. But there are three brands produced by the recipe of a classic champagne - "Victory Bouquet", "Onegin" and "Tsimlyan Sparkling".

Today, the vineyards occupy more than 1000 hectares used precisely under sparkling wine. At one time, it was another Russian response to the French.

The main range: The Soviet Champagne series, withstanding at least 6 months and "Tsimlyan Golden" with an increased muscat content.

Abrau-Durso

Production is located in the Caucasus, on the same latitudes as the famous Champagne Province. A playful drink is produced in several ways - bottle and tanks.

The first suggests a classic: exposure and insisting of a beverage in the Viktor Dravigny glass glass containers and "Imperial" (from 600 rubles). But the reservoir method produce "Russian champagne" and "Light", which with a black label (from 500 rubles).

Fanagoria

These are Taman wines of the brand of the same name, including the line for the number reserve and Madame Pompadour. Drinks are easy to drink, quite pleasant, and at a ridiculous price (from 200 rubles).

Brut "Madame Pompadour" for lovers of dryness with unaccustomed seems sweetish, but "Fanagoria" having the most best Reviewsis made by secondary fermentation in tanks and withstands bottled.

Asti.

Asti is the territory of the same name in Piedmont (Italy), which served as the name of this fragrant champagne. "Asti Martini" is an easy and pleasant drink, produced only from white muscat. It does not have sugar at all, only the natural sweetness of grapes.

In essence, Asti is sparkling wine with one stage of fermentation, since secondary fermentation occurs in steel chains, and not in bottles. Only therefore it takes the penultimate place in our ranking of champagne.

Nevertheless, the flower-fruit aroma likes everyone without exception to the representatives of the beautiful sex. "Chinzano Martini" and "Mondoro" - famous and popular rules.

The price of the product begins from 700 rubles. for a bottle.

Bosca.

Cheap sparkling wines of the Italian manufacturer. The brand has more than 15 items, but on the expanses of Russia, the white and sweet uses are particularly popular, which says "Wine Roam". Alcohol content in the brand "Anniversary" 7.5% due to the fact that sugar is replaced by malt. Moderate foaming, without carbon dioxide. Price - from 300 rubles.

Strong drinks - "Chardonnay", "Red Label", "Asti". They are produced by classical technology, and the price is respectively more expensive (from 400 rubles).

There is also a premium segment - "Verdi Spumante", "Classic", "Anniversary Double" and "Moscato".

Any celebration is rare when it costs without champagne. And by New Year This drink is simply indispensable! But to enjoy this wine, you need to choose it correctly. And here you should consider qualitative characteristics, and your own preferences. After all, the best champagne is that not only done correctly, but also like you personally.

To make it easier to decide, it is important to know some secrets and features of sparkling champagne wines.

Choose the best

Let's start with the fact that we call any sparkling wines with champagne. In the whole world, this name can only belong to those drinks that are produced in France in Champagne Province. It is believed that only in this area, grapes have all the necessary properties to obtain the desired taste bouquet. For manufacture use only 3 varieties wine Yagoda - Pinot More, Pinot Noir and Chardonna.

But this does not mean that sparkling wines made not in champagne, worse. If the manufacturing technology was observed and high-quality raw materials were taken for production, the taste and aroma of such a drink is not inferior to the truly champagne.

For example, in the distant 1900 in Paris, it was recognized as one of the best and won the Grand Prix of Wine, produced at the plants of Prince Golitsyn. By the way, it is believed that after this event, Russian sparkling wines began to wear a proud name of champagne.

Criterias of choice

So, what to pay attention to, buying a bottle of champagne.

First of all - the price. Remember that cheaper than 200 rubles. It does not happen!

Also look at the appearance: the label must be glued smoothly, neatly. The inscriptions are made clearly and without grammatical errors. Be sure to be improved the date of manufacture and expiration date, all the ingredients are written, etc.

No flavors, dyes in the composition can not be! It also does not happen in real wine and artificially added gas.

The bottle itself is necessarily dark, liquid inside - without precipitation.

When buying expensive instances, try to buy those that make, and implements one company. Usually they have a marking "N.M."

How do real champagne doing

This champagne is considered that which is produced in accordance with all the strict rules of manufacturing technology. The classic process looks like this:

• from grape raw materials, dry wines are manufactured;
• depending on the desired result, the resulting beverages are mixed in certain proportions;
• overflow into special thick-walled bottles and add the so-called cure liqueur (sugar, yeast and some other ingredients);
• the bottle is well bitten and stacked horizontally;
• the liqueur provokes the beginning of fermentation, carbon dioxide appears, which saturates wine.

In this state, the future champagne lies several months or even years. When the fermentation process ends, the sediment falls - it is he who gives those notes a drink for which the gourmets appreciate it. By the way, the taste will be able to vary from bread and fruit to nut and even cheese.

After this, the contents of the bottles are cleaned of the sediment, if necessary, add sugar syrup And champagne is ready for sale.

Alternative to this method - reservoir manufacture. All processes are the same, but they pass in large capacities (barrels, tanks). And the period of such production is shorter. This is how most sparkling wines are made, which are sold on the shelves of our stores. But this does not mean that the "reservoir" champagne is worse - an ordinary person will not even feel the difference in tasting. But experts argue that a bouquet of such a drink is always poorer than the classical technology done. The difference between the classics from such a wine will be visible only on the label - domestic manufacturers will write "weathered" or "classic", and foreign, for example, "Metodo Classico".

Where worse, if you caught a sulfur champagne. In general, this drink can rather be called lemonade than sparkling wine. Bubbles in it appear after forced gas production with a siphon. If the label is written "awesome", "hip", "saturized", then there is nothing from champagne. Most likely, and natural wine There are no - dyes, flavors, etc. Prices for such a product, of course, low.

Types of champagne wine

When choosing it is important to remember that any champagne is distinguished depending on the sugar content:

• extra Brut (Extra-Brut) - sugar no more than 6 g / l;
• brut (Brut) - up to 15 g / l;
• dry (DRY) - 20-25 g / l;
• semi-dry (semi-dry) - 40-45 g / l;
• white semi-sweet white - 60-65 g / l;
• red semi-sweet red (Semi-Sweet RED) - 80-85 g / l.

In French terminology, they call any sweet, in which sugar is more than 50 g / l.

Each type of champagne is good in its own way. But real connoisseurs believe that the less sugar, the brighter and exquisitely a bouquet. In general, there is an opinion that sugar flies the real taste and even masks the flaws in production. But if you do not relate to gourmets, then sour ruts and even more so extra-rut, you will like it hardly. The most optimal option is semi-dry.

French manufacturers

With terminology, we figured out, moving to trademarks. If you want a real champagne, then, of course, should look at the manufacturers of France. It is only important to immediately understand - you will not be cheap such a purchase. However, and affordable, too - not everywhere you can buy real products of Champagne Province. If you decide to try, then choose the best brands.

Perhaps the most famous brand heading the rating best Wine France is no longer one hundred years old - VEUVE CLICQUOT PONSARDIN). The founder of this brand was obsessed with winemaking and improved the manufacturing technology maximally, reaching unprecedented heights in business. What is especially amazing for a woman, since all this happened at the beginning of the 19th century. The simplest champagne will cost from 80 cu.

Nearest competitor - Moet and Shandon (Moë [Email Protected]). This champagne loved Louis XV, Napoleon Bonaparte. And now it is his prefers Queen of England. But thanks to serious volumes, prices for such royal luxury are quite democratic - from 70 cu. It is this company since 1936 produces the legendary champagne house Perignon (Dom Pérignon).

Piper Hyidsik (Piper-Heidsieck) - sparkling wine, without any Oscar ceremony. He loved Merilin Monroe. The cost starts from 50 cu

By the way, the champagne of this brand is the most expensive in the world. Speech about Hiedsieck Diamant Bleu 1907 - the cost of one bottle is more than 275 thousand dollars! This wine was sent to Russia, but the ship sank. After a few decades, the bottles from the bottom of the sea got, and in the auction, Russian businessmen bought them.

Paul Roger (Pol Roger) is one of the best houses of champagne wines. This brand produces excellent vintage wine, that is, that, which after 30 years does not lose its qualities. Prices begin with 80 cu.

The demand for champagne Bollinger (Bollinger) exceeds the offer. I wonder what trademark My fame is also obliged to widow. Lily Bullezder did everything so that this champagne was one of the best.

What Russian champagne is better

And we have champagne doing quite decent. I am glad that prices for it begin not from such transcendental numbers. Among the huge number of manufacturers' firms is to highlight these:

• Agrofirma Abrau-Durso (awarded various medals, not once received the Grand Prix);
• OJSC "Kornet";
• JSC "Moscow Combine Champagne Wine";
• AOZT "Sparkling Wines";
• LLC "RPC".

Crimean wines are very tasty - unique weather conditions make it possible to get grape raw materials, which some connoisseurs consider even better than French. For example, I always try to buy a champagne wines of the wines a new light. This is a delightful Crimean champagne, one of the best.

What and how to serve

Serve this noble drink is also important correct. Be sure to choose glasses of glass or crystal correct shape. Ideally - high "tulip" or "flute" it is these glasses that allow a long time to "play", brighter the present and giving the opportunity to experience all the completeness of the taste and flavor of champagne.

On etiquette, glasses "Cup" are allowed, but such a tableware is not suitable if you are important to the taste, and not aesthetics. Because of the large surface area and a small depth of the bubbles will destroy very quickly.

Feed champagne to almost any kushans, but take into account the variety and kind of wine. Sweet desserts are suitable for desserts. And with seafood, cheeses, and some meat dishes are perfectly combined with rude or dry.

By the way, it is believed that fruits and chocolate - excellent supplement champagne. In fact, it is not entirely true. For example, bitter chocolate should not be combined at all - it interrupts the exquisite taste of this wine.

At the end of a few tips from experienced sommelier:

Natural champagne from the French province Champagne - one of the most common alcoholic beverages in the world. A special position in a wide range of brands and varieties takes an elite champagne. These are masterpieces of winemaking, which specialists are called "liquid gold", emphasizing its status and price.

What drink can be called champagne

On the name "Champagne" have the right only sparkling wines made in the province of champagne from standard varieties of grape berries by double fermentation, the second of which proceeds in bottles.

In 1882, Champagne's houses were united in the Shopping Syndicate, which was engaged in the defense of the name Shampagne, initiating both in France and beyond the lawsuits.

Shopping Syndicate prevented the transformation of the word "champagne" in a none definition for sparkling wines.

Today, the interests of manufacturers and denigrations of the province of Champagne is carried out in 1941 the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wine.

French champagne is manufactured according to a strictly regulated technology of 7 varieties, but most manufacturers are limited to three: white Chardonnay (Chardonnay), red nouire (Pinot Noir) and Pinot MEUNIER.

Types of champagne distinguish with the number of sugar in the final product:

Requirements for a drink

Grapes for elite beverages are collected only manually. The contact time of the juice with skin during annealing is reduced to a minimum. Only with this condition it will turn out a pure light drink without a tannic binder aftertaste. Each variety is pressed three times, separately from each other. For elite varieties, only Samotek and the juice of the first press are used.

The taste and quality of the future drink is largely dependent on the correctness of the second fermentation in bottles. They are originally placed in a horizontal position, and then gradually, day after day, lowered with a neck down, changing the angle of inclination. Tar all the time turn around its axis. This process is called a remay. It is necessary for lightening the drink.

If carbon dioxide formed during the second fermentation remains in a bottle, a standard pressure of 6 bar is created. To do this, 18 g of sugar and 0.3 g of special yeast are added to the beverage.

At the maximum angle of the bottle withstand from 2 to 8 years. Elite champagne grade must be set aside at least 4 years. Then the precipitate is removed, freezing the neck of the bottle. After that, there is a dowel - adding ingredients to restore the volume - sugar with ("Expeditionary").

The bubbles game is called "Perlyzh", the concept is formed from the word "perle" - pearl. In a bottle of natural champagne standard size of 0.75 liters, there should be at least 100-250 million beverages produced by "méthode champenoise", differ in long (more than 15 minutes, and sometimes 20 hours), but not intense game bubbles. The bubbles at the same time are small, rising, forming elegant spiral cascades.

Types and classification

The classification of champagne in color looks like this:

From the grapes of the highest quality, a variety of champagne category Cuvée de Prestige (Küwe de Prestige) of the most elite brands are manufactured. The manufacturer can use the harvest of one year or a mixture of raw materials of different years (vintage).

Luxury French champagne is often a million one - consisting of one year's crop. It may not be vintage (NV / NON Vintage) - created from the crop of the current year. Küwe from grapes is particularly nicely called vintage. On the label of such a drink indicate the year of the harvest and sometimes labeled drink as "Millésime".

Popular champagne brands for gourmet

The best champagne wines produce famous champagne houses:

Rating of the best champagne wines

Today the top looks like this:

1. Philipponnat Clos Des Goisses Brut 2004 - Chardonno Wine. A bouquet includes notes lemon zest, pear, hazelnuts, mint.
2. Bruno Paillard Extra BRUT N.P.U. 2003 - The best sparkling wine brand from grapes collected after hot summer. He has a fresh, bright and multifaceted, with honey notes taste.
3. CLOS LANSON BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT 2006 Lanson houses made from Chardonne from a special vineyard within Reims. This is a limited release. It is characterized by a bright fruit taste with the mineral aftertaste.
4. LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL 2009. This is a grade Cru Cap. It is characterized by an atlantic texture with a gentle punishment.
5. TaitTinger Collection Champagne 2008. Despite the name of champagne, it is a collector Comte de Champagne from Chardonnone with a light and clean taste.

The best champagne sometimes does not belong to the leading homes.

Sweet sparkling wine - product processing of sweet grape varieties. Modern manufacturers produce both white sparkling and champagne wines and pink, red. The sugar content in such a category is not more than 100 grams per 1 liter of wine. Sweet wines usually have labeling DOUX.. Dessert sparkling and champagne wines use with unsweetened snacks: white fish, meat, fruit.

Popular Sweet Wines World

• Popular sweet sparkling wines ASTI produce in the southern part of the Italian province Piedmont from the grapes of Moskato variety. The drink is distinguished by a low content of alcohol, which superbly emphasizes its taste. Bright beverage variety representative - White Sparkling Sweet Wine Asti Martini.
• Favorite many white and pink Dolce champagne also make in Piedmont.
• Sparkling wine Lambrusco is manufactured in the Italian region of Emilla-Romagna.
• Cava - sparkling wine from Spain. The manufacture of white and pink sparkling wines is engaged in Catalonia. Wines with Cava marking are strictly regulated by the EU standards. Freixenet Cava Carta Nevada Dulce wine complies with all quality standards.
• German sparkling wines are called SECT and produce both white and red grape varieties. It is worth evaluating the flavor and taste of sweet sparkling wine from Germany Faber Rotlese.
• French wines from the champagne region are traditionally called Shampagne. Sparkling wines of other regions are called Cremant. These wines include, for example, the sweet wine Rosiere Sweet.

How to eat sweet wines

The flow temperature of dessert sparkling wines is 6-7 degrees. High-class wines are cooled to 8-9 degrees. Do not put a bottle in freezing Camera - Shock frost spoils the taste quality of wine. It is wiser to put a bottle into a container filled with ice water.

Sweet wines from Spain are harmonized with risotto and paelle. Pink varieties of wine should serve with duck breast In berry sauce. Fruits and berries are great accompaniment to sweet sparkling guilt. It is worth avoiding chocolate and cakes - such products distort the taste of the drink. WineStyle boutique features a variety of sweet sparkling wines, which can be used at a bargain price.