Champagne brut which is better. What is the best champagne in terms of quality and price. Champagne or sparkling wine? Main similarities

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 represented by 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 to know 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 and 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?

When choosing champagne as a gift, do not focus 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, if desired, can buy it on his own. 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

The 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 "Bosco" at a price from 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 - a 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 an awkward 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!

Factory New World produces classic, aged, produced in compliance with all the rules of 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 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 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 the sweet tooth good gift will become « 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 are classified as 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 sophisticated 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" - 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 gives the world sparkling wines with a high content of natural sugar. To choose the category of dry and brut, the well-known 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 be purchased by special order in an online store or in a specialized wine boutique. Decent quality contains 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 famous 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 and 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 quality alcohol and let the donee be delighted!

Before we tell you how to choose real champagne, we need to find out what is meant by the word "real".

We used to call all drinks that have bubbles as champagne. But this is far from the case, and everything that is produced outside of France is just sparkling wine. And some of them are a miserable parody of a noble drink.

Everything you need to know about real champagne

Champagne is produced only in the French province of Champagne and its four sub-regions: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar.

French champagne is always expensive.

Champagne by the amount of sugar content is

Brut Nature / Zéro Dosage (brut nature / zero dosage).

Brut (brut).

Extra-Sec (extra dry).

Sec (dry).

Demi-sec (semi-sweet).

Doux (sweet), which is almost never found and is very rare.

In the province of Champagne, only 7 grape varieties are grown and the most popular of them are: Chardonnay (Chardonnay), Pinot Noir (Pinot noir), Pinot Meunier (Pinot meunier).

Real champagne is produced using a unique patented technology - "Méthode Champenoise" - this is when champagne, that is, filling the product with carbon dioxide, occurs naturally, by secondary fermentation in the bottle and subsequent aging in a horizontal position for at least 9 months.

Now let's move on to the most important thing, how to buy real champagne and not fall for a fake. We have collected the recommendations of the best sommeliers to help you choose a noble drink.

First of all, pay attention to the price, real champagne cannot be cheap. The minimum price can start from 1500-2000 rubles.

Try to buy champagne from small specialty shops or large supermarkets with a good reputation.

Be sure to look at the manufacturer's country on the label. Champagne is only France, the Champagne province and its four regions (we talked about them at the beginning of the article).

The inscription “Méthode Champenoise” must be present on the label. If you did not find this inscription, then it only indicates that you have sparkling wine in your hands, not champagne.

Also, pay attention to the presence of an excise stamp, an exception may be drinks purchased in the duty free zone.

Shake the bottle, if a uniform foam appears that fills the entire empty space of the bottle, then this is a good sign. The main thing is not to overdo it with shaking.

Cork is also an important element. It should be made only from natural materials so that the champagne can "breathe". The cork material can be identified even through foil with a simple push. Natural material will be softer than synthetic material.

The bottle should be made of thick and dark glass. If the glass is thin, it can simply break, and thanks to the dark glass, the champagne does not deteriorate when exposed to sunlight.

Another important factor is bubbles. After filling the glass, the same bubbles should be the same size and rise up. In a quality drink, bubbles can come out of the glass for hours.

Be careful when choosing Demi-sec (semi-sweet) and Doux (sweet) champagne, as well-known Champagne houses produce only 7-10% of this type of drink and you can run into a fake. Since with the help of a sweetener, many technological errors can be hidden (only applies to counterfeit products).

Use the Vivino app. It is enough to take a photo of the bottle, and you will immediately receive comments and an overall rating based on the rating from people who have already tried this drink. You can download it from Google Play and iTunes.

Veuve clicquot ponsardin

And remember: "Not all champagne has bubbles."

Champagne is a sparkling wine produced by secondary fermentation in the French Champagne region. As you may have guessed, this drink was named after the province where it comes from, but in countries post-Soviet space almost any carbonated drink can be called champagne, which of course is wrong.

Interesting fact. Real champagne glasses have inner walls with a microscopic embossed layer so that the bubbles stick to the walls.

Often, difficulties arise when choosing champagne for a wedding or other festive events, where the main task is to combine good quality and reasonable price. We will help you not to be mistaken when choosing an effervescent drink and will reveal many nuances.

Adhering to these tips, you will definitely choose a good champagne, but remember that the taste and color will not please everyone, so you can choose your ideal option only by trial and error.

Interesting infographics on the topic of champagne. Lots of interesting facts and useful tips.

Champagne variety

The amount of sugar added after fermentation and aging affects the production of a particular variety. Champagne is divided into:

• Sweet (Doux / Du) - very high sugar content. More than 50 g / l
• Semi-dry (Demi-sec / Demi sack) - contains about 33-50 g / l
• Dry (Sec / Seq) - sugar content within 17-35 g / l
• Extra dry (Extra sec / Extra sec) - sugar content in the range of 12-20 g / l
• Dryest or brut (Brut / Brut) - sugar content less than 15 g / l
• Exta brut (Extra brut / Extra brut) - no sugar is added to such champagne

The most widespread variety in the world (but not in Russia) - brut. In Russia, they prefer sweet or semi-dry sparkling wines, choose these varieties if you arrange events with a large number of guests. If you are on a diet, then it is better to choose brut, because it contains almost no sugar

I really like champagne, namely French, real, not "Soviet", Spanish, etc. But I agree that you need to get used to brut a little, especially after many years of "Soviet sparkling wine".

Feedback from the forum

Champagne quality

Manufacturers divide champagne into:

• Champagne no year (champagne sans annee) - currently occupies a huge share of the wine market. This is a champagne that has not matured even for a year. Only the type of champagne is written on these bottles (white, pink, etc.) and be sure to indicate the sugar content.
• Millesimnoe (millesime) - such wine is wholly or partly made from grapes of the harvest of the year indicated on the label.
• Prestigious (cuvee de prestige) - champagne made from wort of the highest quality, the year of production must be indicated and often the bottle can have an individual name.

It is also worth paying attention to the presence of the abbreviation, if it is, then you are holding real French champagne in your hands and you can be sure of its quality.

NM: Negociant manipulant. These are companies (including most of the big brands) that buy grapes and produce wine;
CM: Cooperative de manipulation. Cooperatives that produce wine from grapes grown by members of the cooperative, with the entire harvest pooled together;
RM: Recoltant manipulant. Producers who independently grow grapes and produce wine from them. They are allowed to purchase no more than 5% of the grapes from outside;
SR: Societe de recoltants. An association of winegrowers producing common champagne but not forming a cooperative;
RC: Recoltant cooperateur. A member of a cooperative who sells champagne produced by the cooperative under his own brand;
MA: Marque auxiliaire or Marque d'acheteur. Brand not associated with producers or growers; the name of the wine that belongs to someone else, for example, a supermarket (like a Private Label);
ND: Negociant distributeur. A merchant selling wine under his own brand.

Wikipedia

Grape sort

Traditionally, champagne is made from white chardonnay, very rarely red grapes are used and these varieties are also rarely mixed.

Good to know. Champagne is almost always white (possibly yellowish) color, even if it was made from red grapes. This is because the juice has very little contact with the skin, which gives the grapes their color.

Bottle size

Most often champagne is bottled in standard bottles (750 ml) and large bottles (1.5 l) they are called magnums. Champagne in large bottles, usually better quality (since they have less oxygen), accordingly, it costs much more than champagne in a standard bottle.

It is very difficult to find magnum bottles in Russia, since they are very difficult and costly to produce. (only experienced glass blowers can do this). If done incorrectly, this bottle is likely to burst due to high pressure, so manufacturers use a more reliable option, a standard bottle of 0.75 l

Video about choosing champagne

The video will tell you how to choose the right champagne (a sparkling wine) in the store, they will also tell you which variety is better and which snack to use when serving it.

Conclusion

You have learned enough about champagne in order to match it to the festive table or just buy it for dinner. Now you can safely experiment and search for your own taste without worrying about which champagne to choose.

Some Russian producers also produce sparkling wines worthy of any holiday.

What is good quality champagne and how to choose it

Before heading to the store for a bottle (or box) of a festive drink of all times and peoples, it is a good idea to understand its "origin".

Good old classics

The classic manufacturing method (as is done in Champagne) is a laborious and time-consuming process. Such wine is naturally saturated with carbon dioxide (festive bubbles), during secondary fermentation and long aging directly in bottles - this requires at least 15 months.

The technology is known all over the world, but today only those few companies whose production facilities are located near the vineyards use it. The fact that the drink is made according to the classic French method can be judged by the inscription on the label "Metodo Classico" or in Russian - "Aged", "Classic".

Tank production

About a hundred years ago, a method was invented that made it possible to speed up the fermentation processes dozens of times and, accordingly, to reduce the cost of the product. The technology was called "reservoir" due to the fact that the wine is saturated with gas bubbles in huge metal containers (tanks), and not in bottles. If the intoxicated drink is made using this method, no markings are made on the labels.

Most of the sparkling wine, which in our country is called "champagne" - the result of such "accelerated" fermentation. The "classics", of course, have a richer bouquet and more shades of taste. But more often than not, these differences are found only by experts. Whether it makes sense to overpay for something that you cannot appreciate is up to you.

Beware of counterfeiting

It is much worse if the manufacturer is trying to sell you an ordinary, sometimes not very good quality wine, artificially saturated with carbon dioxide bubbles (like lemonade).
An indication that this is a surrogate product will be its low price and adjectives on the counter-label: “sparkling”, “effervescent”, “carbonated” or “saturated”. Set aside such a bottle without a doubt.

How to choose quality champagne in the store

We stopped in front of the rows of bottles on the shelves of the store - pay attention to the following signs of the “correct” sparkling wine:

• Price tag. A good wine, even made using a reservoir method, cannot be cheap. At the same time, the products of famous brands often do not justify the overpriced - get ready that you will pay for prestige, and not for a special bouquet and taste.
• Bottle. For sparkling wine, a 0.75 ml dark thick glass container is used, which can withstand a pressure of at least 6 atmospheres. It is very rare to find it in bottles of 1.5 liters and large - their production requires special skill of glass blowers. 0.2 ml containers are used mainly by airlines and hotels, 0.375 ml - by restaurants.
• Bung. Russian producers protect their wine with natural material, not plastic. Cork made from balsa wood is difficult to see under the protective foil, but you can feel it - it is softer to the touch.
• Label and counter-label. Look for such signs on them: category, expiration date, grape variety used in production, manufacturer's legal address and location of production facilities. Pay attention to the composition - there can be no flavors and dyes in a quality product! Inaccurately glued labels, indistinct and blurred inscriptions should also alert.

If you want to protect yourself from buying low-quality champagne, go to buy it not in the nearest small store, but in a wine boutique, in extreme cases - in a hypermarket. Do not buy bottles from a display case where they have been under the light for a long time - most likely, the drink has lost its quality.

Test purchase - video

How to determine the quality of champagne at home

The coveted bottle was bought and uncorked, now you can determine the correct choice by the appearance of the drink, smell and taste:

• Colour. In authentic champagne, it is white, with a shade of light straw, sometimes the drink in the glass glows with golden-greenish reflections. Sparkling wine can also be pink and red. The color of the drink in the glass must match that indicated on the label.
• Bubbles. Small, the same size, play in the glass for at least 10 hours. They hissed and disappeared after 10 minutes - in front of you is a surrogate.
• Transparency. The drink should be free of impurities and sediment.
• Aroma. A subtle and exceptionally natural scent with fruity and citrus notes.

The presence of a yeast or alcoholic aftertaste indicates that the manufacturer does not pay enough attention to technology compliance.

How to choose champagne for the New Year

Looking at sparkling wine for the festive table, decide on its variety. It all depends on the content (or absence) of sugar liqueur in the drink. Look for labels for the following:

• Doux - with a high (more than 50 g / l) sugar content, is quite rare.
• Demi-sek, sec and extra sec - semi-dry (semi-sweet), dry and extra-dry, respectively, the amount of sugar varies from 50 to 20 g / l.
• Brut and extra brut - with a very low sugar content (less than 15 g / l) and no sugar liqueur added.

It is believed that winemakers use sweet liquor to mask material flaws or production flaws. For this reason, brut wines with their absolutely "pure" taste and aroma are absolutely popular all over the world. It is best to open a feast with such champagne, it is ideal for seafood, white meat, hard cheese.

Another thing is that in our country they traditionally give preference to semi-sweet or even sweet varieties, and brut is considered too sour. In this case, semi-dry can be an ideal compromise, which will be appropriate both for traditional Olivier and for sandwiches with black caviar. However, semi-sweet champagne for new Year's table there is a "company" - it can be served with fruit and cake at the end of the meal.

Russian champagne is tasty and inexpensive - myth or reality

In order to give yourself and your loved ones gastronomic pleasure, it is not at all necessary to decorate the table in New Year elite Dom Pérignon or Moët & Chandon. And it is really possible to find worthy samples from domestic manufacturers at a very "our" price:

• "Tsimlyansk wines". The factory, located in the Rostov region, produces excellent sparkling wines. The most famous of them is red, according to a unique Cossack recipe - an ideal option for any celebration. Well, premium white Onegin is ideal for the New Year's feast.
• "New World". The plant, founded more than one hundred and twenty years ago by Prince Golitsyn, pleases the consumer with the unchanged quality of its "sparkling products". The brands "Collectible", "Novy Svet", "Paradisio" are ideal for the festive table.
• "Abrau-Dyurso". The most famous champagne in Russia from a company from the Krasnodar Territory. In its assortment you can find sparkling wine made using reservoir technology ("Russian Champagne", "ABRAU") and excellent "classics" ("Imperial", "Millesim"). One thing saddens - Abrau-Dyurso makes a big markup on a well-known name.

Now it will be easier for you to understand the large assortment of wine boutiques in the "intoxicated" hypermarket departments - you know for sure which champagne is good in quality, taste and aroma, how to choose it, and which domestic producers you can safely give preference to.