How to choose good champagne for the New Year. What you need to know about champagne and how to choose a good one Which champagne is better, sweet or semi-sweet

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

We are used to calling all drinks that have bubbles champagne. But this is far from true and everything that is produced outside of France is just sparkling wine. And some examples are a completely pathetic 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 subregions: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar.

French champagne is always expensive.

Champagne varies in sugar content

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

Brut (brut).

Extra-Sec (extra dry).

Sec (dry).

Demi-sec (semi-sweet).

Doux (sweet), which is practically 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, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier.

Real champagne is produced using a unique patented technology - “Méthode Champenoise” - this is when champagne, i.e. filling the product with carbon dioxide, occurs naturally, through secondary fermentation in a 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 recommendations from 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 in small specialized shops or large supermarkets with a good reputation.

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

The label must contain the inscription “Méthode Champenoise”. If you do not find this inscription, then this only indicates that you have sparkling wine in your hands, and not champagne.

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

Shake the bottle, if uniform foam appears and 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 material of the cork can be determined even through the foil with a simple press. Natural material will be softer, unlike synthetic material.

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

Another important factor is bubbles. After filling the glass, those same bubbles should be the same size and rise up. In a high-quality drink, bubbles can leave the glass for hours.

Be careful when choosing Demi-sec (semi-sweet) and Doux (sweet) champagne, since famous 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 you can hide many technological errors (applies only to counterfeit products).

Use the Vivino app. All you have to do is 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 from Google Play and iTunes.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

And remember: “Not all champagne has bubbles.”

It is unlikely that any celebration or holiday would be complete today without such an attribute on the table as champagne. Sparkling and foamy champagne creates a special atmosphere of a festive event and is liked not only by many women, but also by men. Modern manufacturers offer users a wide range of champagne, which differs in color, taste, strength and cost.

But a wide range often presents a certain difficulty when the user finds it difficult to choose a quality drink due to the large selection. What should you focus your attention on when choosing quality champagne? How to choose this drink correctly?

Although, according to the well-known expression: “There are no comrades according to taste and color,” the choice of champagne is still based on the factor of the taste of the individual buyer. Before he buys a bottle of champagne in a store or supermarket, it is also important to take into account the types of dishes that will be on the festive table. Depending on this, the brand of sparkling drink will be chosen. What main varieties of champagne exist and by what criteria are they distinguished from each other?

One of the main criteria by which brands of champagne are distinguished from each other is the presence of sugar in the drink. How many grams of sugar are in one liter of the following brands of champagne?

• Extra Brut – up to 6 g;
• Brut – from 6 to 15 g;
• Dry Extra – from 15 to 20 g;
• Dry – up to 35 g;
• Dry Semi – from 33 to 35 g;
• Semi-sweet – up to 50 g.

As a rule, Brut champagnes are consumed with meat dishes or seafood. And sweeter varieties are consumed with fruits, desserts or baked goods.

The choice of sparkling wine can also be influenced by its preparation process. Today, modern manufacturers use two main methods of making champagne:

• Classical. Involves fermentation taking place in glass, sealed bottles in cool basements.
• Acratophoric. Fermentation takes place in special containers made of special food grade stainless steel.

The first method is used for the production of expensive champagne wines, and the second - for cheaper varieties.

In order not to make a mistake when choosing quality champagne, you must consider the following recommendations:

• The information on the label must contain detailed information about the manufacturer, the composition of the drink, aging time, energy and nutritional value, date of manufacture and shelf life;
• The bottle should be made of dark glass, because when exposed to direct sunlight, champagne loses its quality properties and characteristics;
• The cork in the bottle should be made of balsa wood, because the plastic version can let oxygen in, which will change the taste and properties of the champagne;
• Under no circumstances should there be sediment in the bottle;
• The color of champagne must be pure and transparent, and fully correspond to that indicated on the label;
• All stickers on the bottle must be clear, even and glued without smudges of glue;
• Champagne should not contain flavorings, dyes or flavor enhancers.

It is worth considering that high-quality champagne simply cannot have a low cost. Only drinks that do not contain grape material at all can have a low price. For a celebration, wedding or other celebration, you should choose champagne in the middle price segment.

The quality of original champagne is also divided into 3 main categories:

• Champagne that does not indicate the date of manufacture. Today, in retail outlets, most of the products are represented by just such varieties of the drink.
• Millesim or vintage champagne. For it, grapes are harvested in successful harvest years, and also in production, secondary fermentation is carried out and a three-year aging takes place.
• Prestigious varieties of champagne. During production, all the subtleties of the technological process are observed, and hand-picked grapes are used as raw materials.

Although the above tips are not all that can be taken into account when choosing champagne, in most cases, when you are in a store and choosing a sparkling drink, they will be enough for an unmistakable choice. If the champagne is chosen correctly, then the festive table will not only display high-quality products, but it will also allow the buyer to save a significant amount of personal funds, especially if he buys champagne in large quantities.

Nothing creates a happy holiday mood like sparkling cold champagne poured into thin, elegant glasses. Sparkling wine began to gain popularity back in the Middle Ages, and today in many supermarkets and wine boutiques we can perhaps even get lost among the wide range of sparkling wines from various regions of the world.

We tell you how not to make a mistake with your choice and find exactly the champagne that will create the warmest New Year's atmosphere and will not bring a severe headache the next morning.

Champagne, sparkling or sparkling?

First, a little simple theory.

Champagne(vin de Champagne) proudly refers exclusively to wine that was made using traditional technologies in the province of Champagne. The most famous wine houses in this region are Moët & Chandon and, of course, the legendary Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.

Other sparkling wine do not fall under the “champagne” category, but they are often in no way inferior to the French original, either in quality or taste. Among the best representatives are wines from other French regions called Crémant, Italian Spumante and Asti, German Sekt and Catalan Cava. Among worthy Russian sparkling wines, Abrau Durso boasts the best price-quality ratio, but it is better to avoid Sovetsky and Rossiyskgo champagnes - most of these wines are artificially carbonated, which, of course, affects the quality of the drink.

Read the label and be careful: some manufacturers even produce special ones at a ridiculous price sparkling wines(sometimes called carbonated), which are simply artificially saturated with carbon dioxide. As a rule, these are lightly carbonated alcoholic drinks that can hardly be called full-fledged sparkling wine.

Read the label and back label

Reading champagne labels is, by and large, no different from reading wine labels. The champagne label must include:

• manufacturer's name;
• name of the wine;
• appellation - classification of quality and place of origin;
• vintage year;
• alcohol content;
• wine category based on sugar content.

On the back label you will find information about the individual qualities of champagne or sparkling wine - about its taste and combination with various dishes.

If you decide to buy real champagne, do not hesitate to ask for help from a consultant in a special wine store - he will help you navigate.

Having chosen a good sparkling wine, check whether its label indicates that it was made using the traditional method (méthode classique) - this will give you a guarantee of impeccable quality of the drink.

Sparkling wines in the mid-price category are usually made using a simpler tank method: these are the extremely popular Italian Asti, Prosecco and Lambrusco.

A bad producer can follow all the rules and make bad wine; a good producer makes decent wine in almost any circumstance.

Dry or sweet?

The most popular and traditional type of champagne is, of course, brut. This is a dry, light, but at the same time rich sparkling wine, suitable for most dishes.

Wine connoisseurs advise choosing brut, because it is this category of wine that best conveys the entire flavor bouquet, and sweetened champagne, most often, is quite inconspicuous.

But not just brut. If you prefer something more dessert-like, check out the following categories:

• doux (sweet);
• demi-sec (semi-sweet);
• sec (semi-dry);
• extra sec (extra-semi-dry).

They all differ in sugar content and, as a result, calorie content. But no matter what kind of champagne you prefer, wine experts highlight common features that both sweet and dry good sparkling wines should have.

Good champagne has a nutty, bready aroma, apple freshness and very fine bubbles. Don't buy the cheapest champagne - it's usually too sour to even drink, let alone enjoy.

White or pink?

Champagne can be white or pink: the choice of one or the other depends not only on your personal preferences, but also on the dishes that you are going to serve on the festive table.

All dry sparkling wines, rosé or white, are quite versatile: they pair equally well with seafood, cheeses, poultry and fruits.

The best combination for white brut is red caviar. It's as classic as pineapple. Fish, nuts, cheese plate - all these are excellent companions for white sparkling wines. But pink champagne is recommended to be served with duck and fruit or berry desserts (especially strawberries), but it will look best as an aperitif.

Meat dishes are perhaps the only exception, which should not be combined with light wines (and champagne falls into this category). But if your soul craves both meat and champagne, try Australian sparkling red wines or the legendary red Lambrusco champagne. The juicy, rich taste of such champagne will definitely surprise you and will certainly be remembered for its unique velvety richness combined with soft bubbles.
It's not just temperature that matters. The capricious drink also requires special glasses: tall, narrow, and made of very thin glass. It is in them that champagne will better retain its bubbles and its effervescence.

When the time comes to pour the champagne, do it slowly, slightly tilting the glass and directing the drink along the wall of the glass - this way the wine will not produce a lot of foam.

Share New Year's dinner with your dearest people, choose the best sparkling wine for the holiday and, most importantly, smile and have fun - you are drinking champagne!

Champagne- a drink that was invented for kings. Apparently, this is where its prestige and price come from. 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 get a real high-quality product, and not a surrogate.What do you need to know when choosing champagne?Let's find out.

Secrets of manufacturers

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

The tank method involves an accelerated production mode at minimal costs and large volumes. That is, the price is low, and the quality of the drinks differs slightly.

Wines made using the classical method have an aging 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. Classic wine tastes different from “reservoir” wine due to its characteristic yeasty tint.

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

Kinds

Sparkling wines, depending on the sugar content, are 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. Semi drive- 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 have a stronger sense of the bouquet inherent in the drink. If you drink champagne only on holidays, it is better to take semi-sweet.

Quality level

Champagne, according to quality level, is usually divided into three groups:

1. Without year of manufacture- this is about 80% of total production. The label does not indicate the year, but there is information about the sugar content.

2. Millesime or vintage champagne. Made from grapes from the same harvest in successful years. It has undergone secondary fermentation, has the vintage year on the label, and has been aged for at least three years.

3. Prestigious and special- made from selected grapes, has the year on the label, has its own name, and is incredibly 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 are unlikely to agree with this statement. As for pink sparkling wine, this is a real rarity. It is produced about 1 percent of the total. Its taste is more “dense”, but in elegance it is not inferior to white.

Grape varieties

Champagne is most often made from grapes Chardonnay- on the label Blanc de Blancs.

From black varieties, for example, Pinot Meunier or Pinot Noir, the resulting wine is stronger. Called Blanc de Noirs- translated: “white from black.”

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

We meet by clothes

After you decide 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 stopper. By the way, the bottle should be stored in a horizontal position, then the wine moistens the cork and does not allow it to dry out, which means that carbon dioxide does not evaporate.

Do not buy bottles with crooked or damaged labels.

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

The bottle is open...

Everything will become clear after the plug comes out.

Regardless of color and sugar content, sparkling wine should not contain sediment. A good-quality drink is always transparent, and the color of white champagne is golden or light straw, for pink champagne it is from light pink to red, and for red champagne it is from light red to dark burgundy.

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

If you uncork the bottle correctly (without shooting), the foam will be fine and persistent 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 for the artificial bubbles to disappear. And in real champagne they last for at least 24 hours.

Buy a bottle with a cork stopper because the plastic stopper allows oxygen to pass through.

If it says “aged”, then it is a good champagne.

But the presence of the words: “with flavorings” or “with additives” is a sign of counterfeit.

Some tricks

Regular, non-vintage champagne can be stored for no more than two years. Therefore, you should not uncork a bottle that you have kept for 10 years since your wedding day - most likely, the champagne has already spoiled. Sparkling wine does not tolerate temperatures above 5 degrees Celsius. But you can’t put it in the freezer either! It is better to keep it 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. This makes the taste better. Pour the champagne by tilting the bottle slightly and preferably slowly.

The choice of cookware is very important. Pour sour varieties of champagne (brut and dry) into elongated tall glasses, and sweet ones into wide glasses such as bowls with a stem.

It is better to eat champagne with olives, shellfish, cheese, and poultry. Black caviar is also suitable. Sweet snacks include pastries and pies, biscuits, fruits and ice cream. But chocolate is not suitable, it does not allow you to feel the aroma of the drink.

Good luck with your choice!

When 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 sugar) or du (sweet, more than 50 g/l sugar). Experienced winemakers advise: if you drink champagne once or twice a year, then it is better to buy semi-sweet. If you drink champagne every month, then choose dry. Professionals, experts and aristocrats who drink champagne daily should only drink brut.

Champagne- a traditional drink that is drunk on New Year's Eve while the chimes ring. 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, there is a high chance that the champagne will be bitter. The drink should be clear and without sediment.

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

4. The label on the bottle must be glued evenly and precisely in the center. The glue should not be visible.

5. Carefully read the composition of the drink. Good champagne cannot contain any flavorings or food additives. Fruity notes may only be present as a result of the area in which the grapes were grown.

6. Ideally, champagne is stored horizontally so that the drink wets the cork and maintains the bottle's seal. If champagne is stored vertically for a long time, there is a risk that the cork will dry out and air will get inside 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 letter combination N. M. means that the wine producer also sells it. This is the highest quality champagne, which comes directly from the manufacturer to your table.

Other designations - M. A., R. M., S. M. - indicate that the company sells, but does not produce wine. Champagne can be produced by small estates that supply grapes to large producers and use their symbols. 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 made from these three grape varieties. Champagne gains weight from the pinot noir grape, chardonnay adds elegance, and pinot meunier gives softness.

When buying a bottle of branded champagne, make sure that the bottle that the seller sells you is in a horizontal position beforehand (this applies to bottles with a cork stopper, not a plastic stopper) so that the wine wets the stopper.

Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase real champagne produced in the French province of Champagne for their celebration. These brands of sparkling wine belong to the highest price category. However, if you are on a limited budget, there is always the opportunity to buy inexpensive champagne. Currently, many producers offer affordable sparkling wines. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the list of alcoholic drinks 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 grape varieties are grown. The following products can be classified as inexpensive and fairly good quality Russian sparkling wines.

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

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

Phanagoria. In the production of sparkling wine, 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. The champagne is distinguished by its bright bottle design and has raspberry, strawberry and cherry flavor tones.

Santo Stefano. Refers to sparkling wines. There are two types of semi-sweet alcoholic drink available: white and pink. Alcohol is made from imported wine materials. Despite this, the wine turns out to be light and pleasant to the taste. Does not have characteristic alcohol notes.

Rachelle. The technology used to produce Rachelle products meets all international standards. The result is affordable, delicious champagne. The manufacturer offers white alcoholic drinks, which can be dry, semi-sweet and sweet.

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

Villa Blanco. The manufacturer's collection includes white sparkling wines of brut, semi-dry and sweet rose varieties. This champagne is incredibly light and is especially popular among women.

Each brand that produces inexpensive champagne brands tries to maintain as much as possible the optimal ratio 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 choose relatively inexpensive, but at the same time high-quality champagne for a wedding or any other celebration from the assortment of such foreign brands.

Cricova (Moldova). The manufacturer's collection includes white, pink and red brands of sparkling wine. 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 significantly lower than for champagne produced in France.

Cava (Spain). Champagne is produced using the secondary fermentation method. The 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. This alcohol is classified as sparkling wine. It has a very affordable price.

In addition, today affordable champagne of relatively good quality is offered by manufacturers from Portugal.

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

The price of champagne purchased for a celebration depends on the financial capabilities of the buyer. However, even with a limited budget, you can always choose 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 guests only positive emotions.