On the eve of the holidays, a reasonable question arises - what kind of good champagne to buy? And is it true that only white wine can rightfully be called champagne, while other frothy semi-sweet drinks of pink and red color are just sparkling wine?

Let's figure out which champagne is better, dry, semi-sweet, elite or Soviet.

Which champagne is real and which is fake

The bulk of sparkling wine, which we call champagne, is made using a simplified method. Without reading the label and being tempted by the affordable price, the buyer risks buying, at best, wine artificially saturated with carbon dioxide instead of real champagne. And at worst, an effervescent flavored drink that was made from sugar, alcohol and water.

So, how does real champagne differ from beautifully frothy ones poured into graceful "curvy" bottles of wine?

Real champagne is made from three grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot and white chardonnay in the Champagne region of France. Only such sparkling wine can be called champagne. The rest of the alcoholic drinks labeled "champagne" produced in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of the world are nothing more than a good analogue of the famous French product.

The estimated cost of real sparkling wines in Russia from the world famous brands Louis Roederer, Pierre Gimonnet & Fils, Chanoine is from 3,000 rubles to 500,000 per bottle. At the same time, numerous reviews indicate that our compatriots, for the most part, prefer Russian semisweet champagne to overseas. It is also produced according to old French technology, but domestic products are several times cheaper.

The prices of champagne wine depend on the production technology, grape varieties, aging and range from 200 rubles for semi-sweet white wine to 2300 rubles for extra brut white sparkling wine.

It is customary to classify champagne not only by sugar content (brut, ultra-brut, semi-dry and dry), but also by the year of production - vintage. So, more affordable and light drinks do not last for several years and are ready for use within a couple of months after production. (Producers of such wines achieve "sparkling" through the mechanical addition of carbon dioxide). And vintage sparkling wines made from the same grape harvest and passed the strictest control, withstand for 5 years or more. In this case, the whole process of "champagne" occurs naturally.

Which champagne is better, brut or semi-sweet?

The purest taste in dry champagne with the least added sugar. Those who once chose brut nature for themselves are unlikely to ever be able to drink anything else. Dry sparkling wine is an ideal accompaniment to seafood and white meat. Brut goes well with peach and pear.

But in our country there are also many who contemptuously call brut "sour" and enjoy using semi-sweet brands of champagne on holidays. This unfair treatment of dry champagne is partly due to the wrong product choice. Genuine Brut with the richest palette of flavors and amazing aftertaste cannot be cheap a priori.

Cuvee Royale AOC Joseph Perrier, Brut Rose Deutz, Ayala Blanc de Blancs and many other brut should be drunk correctly, without eating at the same time herring, chocolate and chops. For, knocking down its amazing taste with coarse food, it is easy to spoil all the gastronomic pleasure.

But in the countries of the post-Soviet space, consumers give the main preference to brands of champagne from the economy segment. Bottles worth 200 rubles are sold much faster than expensive and elite wines, and occupy about 80% of the entire market.

Champagne for New Year

On New Year's Eve, a bottle of semi-sweet on the table is a tradition. And most often the glasses are not filled with elite Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon and Piper-Heidsieck, but at best affordable Lambrusco dell'Emilia and Martini Asti, at worst - “Soviet” white semi-sweet for 170 rubles. Although, if it is original, then not everyone will pay attention to its contents.

Rating of the most popular inexpensive champagne in Russia:

1. ABRAU-DURSO champagne of Russian production.
2. Champagne Bosco, white and sweet. The range of the Italian manufacturer Bosca includes both inexpensive sparkling wines and innovative drinks.
3. Champagne wines "New World" are rightfully called one of the best examples of Crimean champagne. Especially loved by all Novosvetskiy "Pinot Noir".
4. Asti champagne. Asti Martini is a light sparkling wine with natural fruity sweetness and a range of flavors.
5. Soviet champagne. When buying it for the next holiday, you need to keep in mind that Soviet champagne produced in the classical way tastes much better than a sparkling drink made in a quick bottle way. You should be guided by the price.

What good quality champagne doesn't have a headache in the morning?

Why does the head hurt after champagne? Producers often mask poor sparkling wine with insufficient taste with excessive sweetening. One bottle of sugar can contain three times more sugar than lemonade! And sugar is known to increase fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract and inhibits the processing of alcohol. That is why the toxic effect of semisweet and sweet champagne is higher (and therefore the head hurts more) than from dry brut. In addition, the surrogate production of sweet fizzy in 2015 in Russia broke all records. Draw conclusions.

Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase real champagne for the celebration, produced in the French province of Champagne. These brands of sparkling wine belong to the highest price category. However, with a limited budget, there is always the opportunity to buy inexpensive champagne. Many manufacturers now offer affordable sparkling wines. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the list of alcoholic beverages that have a low cost, decent quality characteristics and can decorate a festive feast.

Assortment of inexpensive Russian sparkling wines

Affordable brands of champagne are produced both in Russia and in other countries where wine grapes are grown. Russian sparkling wines that are inexpensive in cost and quite good in quality include the following products.

Abrau-Durso. In the collection produced by the manufacturer of champagne, there are inexpensive sparkling wines. The cost of one bottle depends on the production technology and the quality of the wine material. The range of inexpensive drinks from this brand includes dry, semi-sweet and sweet types of champagne.

Tsimlyanskoe. One of the best varieties of popular light alcohol produced in Russia. In addition to the ruby-colored sparkling wine, the manufacturer offers pink and white champagne. You can buy a fairly high-quality sparkling wine of the extra brut class, semi-sweet or sweet.

Fanagoria. In the production of sparkling wine, the traditional technology of natural champagne is used. This good Russian champagne can be white or pink. The manufacturer offers dry and semi-sweet varieties.

Dolce Vita. Sparkling wine, which is especially popular among young people. Champagne is distinguished by its bright design of bottles, has raspberry, strawberry and cherry flavors.

Santo Stefano. Refers to sparkling wines. There are two types of semisweet alcoholic beverage produced: white and pink. Alcohol is made from imported wine materials. Despite this, the wine is light and tasty. It has no characteristic alcoholic notes.

Rachelle. The technology by which Rachelle products are manufactured meets all international standards. The result is an affordable, tasty champagne. The manufacturer offers white alcoholic drinks, which can be dry, semi-sweet and sweet.

Lavetti. Sparkling sparkling wines of this brand can be semi-sweet or sweet, pink or white. In the process of their production, they use elite grape varieties.

Villa Blanco. The manufacturer's collection includes white sparkling wines of brut, semi-dry and sweet rosé varieties. This champagne is distinguished by its extraordinary lightness and is especially popular among women.

Each brand that produces inexpensive champagne brands tries to keep the best balance between price and quality of the product. Such alcoholic drinks will make any event solemn and memorable at relatively low material costs.

Budget brands of imported champagne

You can pick up relatively inexpensive, but high-quality champagne for a wedding or any other celebration from the assortment of such foreign brands.

Cricova (Moldova). The collection includes white, rosé and red sparkling wine brands. Sweet, semi-sweet, dry and dessert types of champagne are produced.

Lambrusco, Asti, Prosecco (Italy). Foamy alcoholic drinks, the quality of which is at a fairly high level. At the same time, the price is much lower than for champagne produced in France.

Cava (Spain). Champagne is produced by secondary fermentation. Alcohol is fermented and saturated with carbon dioxide directly in the bottle. The assortment includes brut, semi-sweet and dry drinks.

Cremant (France). This is the name of champagne, which is produced in the French provinces of Burgundy, Alsace and Bordeaux. Such alcohol is referred to as sparkling wines. It has a completely democratic cost.

In addition, currently affordable champagne of relatively good quality is offered by producers from Portugal.

There is always a choice. You should never buy the cheapest champagne. Because of this, the planned holiday may be spoiled.

The price of champagne, which is bought for the celebration, depends on the financial capabilities of the buyer. However, even with a limited budget, you can always find a decent option that will be affordable. Inexpensive, but high-quality sparkling wine will allow you to fully experience the solemnity of the moment and will bring only positive emotions to guests.

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!
The choice of 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 the 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 of champagne, and everything else is inherently sparkling wine.

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 producer never breaks centuries-old traditions and classical technologies of sparkling wine production. Only the method of secondary fermentation in a bottle, with 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 shouldn't be gifted?

Choosing champagne as a gift, do not stop your eyes 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 himself 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 fun party. However, for a gift they are too “weak” in their inner content, since they are made not according to the classical technology (the method of secondary fermentation in a bottle), but by the so-called acratophoric method (the 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 beloved by 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, lambruusco. 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 manufacturer. 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. The price for 0.75 liters of goods is from 1,800 rubles. Do you think it's expensive? Really worth it!

Plant New World produces classic, aged sparkling wines produced in compliance with all the rules. 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 can 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 of the brut or dry category. Only the most fermented sugar allows you to enjoy the true flavor of the contents. The presence of sugar suggests that it is possible to 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 sweet and semi-sweet sparkling 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 category of 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 selection of champagne from several categories. 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 included 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 grapes 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" - the dream of any collector. The minimum price for such liquid gold starts at 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 content. 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 - DOCand 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 will most likely only be purchased by special order in an online store or in a specialized wine boutique. Decent quality contains it 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 the best of champagne traditions. 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 the Russian market both white, pink 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 - a drink that was invented for kings. Apparently, hence its prestige and price. Only the taste of the contents of not every bottle labeled "Champagne" makes you feel like a king, or at least enjoy a few sips. You need to be lucky and you come across a real high-quality product, not a surrogate.What you need to know when choosing champagne? Let's find out.

Manufacturers secrets

Champagne, or rather sparkling wine, is produced all over the world in two ways: classic - in bottles and acratophoric - in tanks.

The tank method assumes an accelerated mode of production with minimal costs and large volumes. That is, the price is low, but the quality of the drinks does not differ significantly.

Wines made in the classical way have a maturation period of three years and are more expensive. On the label you can find the mark - "aged".

If you are a gourmet, then it will not be difficult for you to determine the taste characteristics of wines made in different ways. A classic wine tastes different from a "reservoir" wine in its characteristic yeast tinge.

Please note that there are also sparkling wines, or simply "carbonated" wines. They are artificially saturated with carbon dioxide. There is a corresponding inscription on the label with such "champagne" in small print.

Views

Sparkling wines, depending on the sugar content, were divided into 6 types.

1. Extra - brut or ultra - brut - less than 6 grams of sugar per 1 liter.

2. Brut - from 6 to 15 grams of sugar per 1 liter.

3. Extra dry - from 15 to 20 grams of sugar per 1 liter.

4. Dry - up to 35 grams of sugar per 1 liter.

5. Seven dry - from 33 to 55 grams of sugar per 1 liter.

6. Du - more than 50 grams of sugar per 1 liter.

For connoisseurs, brut or dry champagne are more suitable - they more strongly feel the bouquet inherent in the drink. If you only drink champagne on holidays, take a semi-sweet one.

Quality level

Champagne, in terms of quality, is usually divided into three groups:

1. No year of manufacture - this is about 80% of the total production. The year is not indicated on the label, but there is information on the sugar content.

2. Millesime or vintage champagne... It is made from grapes of the same harvest in good years. Secondary fermentation has passed, there is a harvest year on the label, aged for at least three years.

3. Prestigious and special - made from selected grapes, there is a year on the label, has its own name, is unrealistically expensive.

Color

Champagne happens white and pink... The French believe that champagne cannot be red, since carbon dioxide creates unpleasant-tasting combinations with tannins, which are found in significant quantities in red wines. Although if you have tried Crimean and Moldavian red sparkling wines, you will hardly agree with this statement. As for the rosé sparkling wine, this is a real rarity. It is produced about 1 percent of the total. Its taste is more "dense", but in terms of elegance it is not inferior to white.

Grape varieties

Most often, champagne is made from grapes. Chardonnay - on the label Blanc de blancs.

Black varieties, for example Pinot Meunier or Pinot Noir, the wine is stronger. Called Blanc de noirs- translated: "white from black".

If there are no inscriptions on the label, it means that the wine is made from white grape varieties plus at least one black variety.

We meet by clothes

After deciding on the type of champagne, inspect the bottle. The color of the glass should be dark green. Then the sparkling wine will be protected from sunlight, which means it will retain its properties longer. The high quality of the product is also indicated by the expensive cork. By the way, the bottle should be stored horizontally, then the wine wets the cork and does not let it dry out, which means that carbon dioxide does not evaporate.

Do not buy bottles with crooked and damaged labels.

The label itself must indicate the energy and nutritional value, product composition, sugar content, color, shelf life and production date.

The bottle is open ...

Everything will become clear after the cork will fly out.

Regardless of the color and sugar content, sparkling wine should be free of sediment. A good-quality drink is always transparent, and the color of white champagne is golden or light straw, in pink it is from light pink to red, and in red it is from light red to dark burgundy.

The aroma of champagne is well expressed and without foreign odors. Brut has a refreshing sourness, semi-sweet wine has a slightly sour-sweet hue.

If the bottle is properly uncorked (without a shot), the foam will be finely dispersed and stable and the bubbles will “play” for at least 24 hours.

What if the label says “sparkling wine”? This suggests that the drink did not ferment, but was simply carbonated using a special apparatus. It will take 10 - 15 minutes after opening the bottle, and the artificial bubbles will disappear. And in real champagne, they last for at least 24 hours.

Buy a bottle with a cork stopper because oxygen permeates through the plastic stopper.

If there is an inscription "aged", then this is good champagne.

But the presence of the words: "with flavors" or "with additives" is a sign of a fake.

Some tricks

Regular, non-vintage, champagne is stored for no more than two years. Therefore, you should not open the bottle that you have kept for 10 years from the date of the wedding - most likely, the champagne has already deteriorated. Sparkling wine does not tolerate temperatures above 5 degrees Celsius. But you can't put it in the freezer either! Better to keep in the refrigerator, and 20 minutes before serving - in a bucket of ice.

Champagne is poured a couple of minutes after the bottle is uncorked. It tastes better this way. Pour the champagne by tilting the bottle slightly and preferably slowly.

The choice of dishes is very important. Pour sour sorts of champagne (brut and dry) into elongated tall glasses, and sweet ones - into wide glasses like a bowl on a stem.

Champagne is best eaten with olives, shellfish, cheese, poultry. Black caviar is also good. Sweet snacks include pastries and cakes, biscuits, fruits and ice cream. But chocolate is not suitable, it does not allow you to feel the aroma of the drink.

Happy choice!

Choosing champagne for the New Year's table, even before going to the store, decide what kind of champagne you would like to savor on New Year's Eve: brut (sugar content less than 15 g / l), extra sec (very dry, sugar from 12 to 20 g / l) , sec (semi-dry, sugar from 17 to 35 g / l), demi-sec (semi-sweet, from 33 to 50 g / l of sugar) or du (sweet, more than 50 g / l of sugar). Experienced winemakers advise: if you drink champagne once or twice a year, then it is better to buy semisweet. If you drink champagne every month, then choose a dry one. Professionals, experts and aristocrats who drink champagne on a daily basis should only drink brut.

Champagne - a traditional drink that is drunk on New Year's Eve to the chimes. But not all people know how to choose good champagne. Here are some ways:

1. Good champagne, or sparkling wine, rarely costs less than 200 rubles.

2. Buy champagne only in dark bottles. If the bottle is light, chances are good that the champagne will taste bitter. The drink should be clear and free of sediment.

3. If the label says that the wine was produced by the classical method, it means that the champagne was carried out according to French traditions, separately in each bottle. Such champagne will most likely delight you with an exquisite taste.

4. The label on the bottle must be glued exactly and exactly in the center. No glue should be visible.

5. Carefully read the composition of the drink. Good champagne cannot contain any flavoring or food additives. Fruit and berry notes can only be present as a result of the peculiarities of the area in which the grapes grew.

6. Ideally, champagne is stored horizontally so that the drink wets the cork and keeps the bottle tight. If champagne is stored upright for a long time, there is a risk that the cork will dry out and air will penetrate into the bottle.

7. Champagne should not be older than one to one and a half years. After this period, the taste of the drink deteriorates.

8. When choosing real champagne, carefully read the label on the bottle. For example, the combination of letters N. M. means that the wine producer is selling it at the same time. This is the highest quality champagne that goes directly to your table from the manufacturer.

Other designations - M. A., R. M., S. M. - indicate that the company sells, but does not produce wine. Champagne can be produced by small farms that supply grapes to large producers and use their symbolism. At the same time, the quality of champagne is noticeably inferior to branded wine.

In general, champagne is made from three types of grapes: two red - pinot noir (pinot noir) and pinot meunier (pinot meunier) and white - chardonnay (chardonnay). Typically, champagne is an inflorescence of wines from these three grape varieties. Champagne gets its weight thanks to the Pinot Noir grapes, Chardonnay gives elegance, Pinot Meuner - softness.

When buying a bottle of branded champagne, make sure that the bottle that the seller is selling you is lying in a horizontal position before that (this applies to bottles with a cork, not a plastic cork) and the wine would wet the cork.

Champagne is the most famous sparkling wine in the world, sold under the protection of the Champagne AOC appellation and produced in the French Champagne region using the traditional champagne method. The main grape varieties used to create the drink are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier.

Therefore, Russian champagne does not exist by definition, there is only Russian-made sparkling wine, but for convenience we will use the term "Russian champagne".

Popular brands of Russian champagne

Champagne has a bright golden color with a noticeable straw tint. On the palate, there are shades of mineral and bright acidity. Created with nuances of bread and citrus notes. The aroma of sparkling wine is fresh, fruity, it combines touches of pear, apple and quince, at the end there is a floral motif. A great . Serve well with oysters, light seafood dishes and cream soups.

Semi-sweet white sparkling wine. Color - light straw with sparkling sparkles. The taste is balanced, with moderate acidity and sweetness. Contains notes of yellow apple, banana, apricot, complemented by touches of biscuit biscuits and honey. The composition ends with a long, citrusy finish. The aroma gives the fragrance of garden fruits: apricot, pear, apple, peach. The aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon complement the palette. Used as and also served with fruits, desserts, pastries, nuts, sweets.

Sweet champagne with a beautiful ruby \u200b\u200bcolor. Taste: tart and sweet at the same time. It combines motives of red berries, cherries, chokeberry, cinnamon, cloves, bird cherry, tea rose. Has a creamy texture. The aroma is restrained at first, but then begins to unfold with notes of black currant, plum, cherry and grapes. The drink is good as a digestif. It is used with berry, fruit and chocolate desserts.



Dry white champagne. It has a straw color with a flesh tint. The taste is incredibly bright and fresh, with a moderate sourness, where notes of pear and quince come to the fore. There is a creamy aftertaste. The aroma combines hints of citrus nectarine and brioche. Excellent or an addition to seafood, cheeses, fruits, desserts.



Semi-sweet sparkling wine with intense ruby \u200b\u200bcolor. The berry taste is characterized by velvety and astringency in the aftertaste. The aroma is bright, with hints of pomegranate juice and black currant motifs. Good with desserts.



Red sparkling wine of sweet type. It has a red color, turning into ruby, a violet hue is inherent. In a harmonious taste, hints of cherry and black currant are perceptible. The drink will perfectly complement a variety of desserts.

Champagne with a pleasant refreshing taste with delicate acidity. Its aroma is delicate with strawberry-creamy nuances and touches of rosemary. The wine goes well with caviar snacks and lightly salted fish, pates, seafood dishes, hot dishes with berry sauces.

Dry type sparkling wine. The color is changeable - from light pink to pink-coral. The seductive taste is full of fruity notes. Delicate aroma with a floral-fruity bouquet. The drink will perfectly emphasize the taste of smoked fish and seafood, it is good in quality.