Imagine a New Year without champagne is hardly possible ― a bottle or two will stand on the festive table, even for those who categorically prefer stronger drinks. But champagne is just one of the representatives of an extensive family! Irina Mak talks about the wonderful qualities of sparkling wines and the national traditions of their production.
Many people in everyday life prefer” quiet ” wines to drinks with bubbles. And in the New Year, everyone prefers champagne. And not only champagne, but in general — sparkling wine, of which there are more types than countries that are successful in winemaking. Don’t think I’m against champagne. By no means, with both hands for, especially if it is Salon or Krug, and better Blanc de Blanc, that is, wines made exclusively from white grapes. Millezimny champagne, released in the year that was distinguished by the most successful (even if not the most abundant) harvest–yes, you can not even dream of the best! But Champagne, we note, is small — there is not enough wine for all of them. And champagne is expensive, especially in Russia, where the hand does not rise to pay for it… we will not even specify how much, we will rather think about the alternative, which, of course, is there.
No, we are not talking about the ” Soviet “version, and not about the” Russian”, and not even about the”Tsimlyansk”. Although on the territory of the CIS there is something to profit from-first of all, this is the “New World”. The once famous, first in Russia (and now in Ukraine) Crimean champagne factory in Novy, founded in 1878 by Prince Lev Golitsyn, is still alive. According to the old method of Champenois, excellent wine is produced here — you can easily see this by buying a bottle of New World brut in the supermarket, white or red, with yat instead of the letter “e” on the label. It costs, of course, not three kopecks, but the price of a bottle of ordinary brut is 550-600 rubles. The cheaper domestic version of the safe — “Abrau Durso”. But try both–and make the right choice.
With” Abrau Durso”, by the way, the Spanish Cava is quite comparable in price — the most popular sparkling wine from the Iberian Peninsula. All other things being equal, I would have chosen it, fortunately, today kava is sold in full in domestic supermarkets — both white and pink. The only thing, you must definitely buy brut. Someone will object to me that, they say, they prefer semi-sweet. I won’t even try to dissuade them — I just don’t write for them. For those who are ready to listen to the voice of reason, I will explain: the habit of drinking semi-sweet champagne since Soviet times is explained only by the monstrous quality of the drink produced then — dry sparkling wine seemed sour. This won’t happen with kava.
Among the best quality European sparkling wines — Loire, in particular Vouvray, which is produced in the department of the same name from white grapes Chenin Blanc–this is the only acceptable grape variety in those places. We don’t know much about Vouvray yet, but if you choose between it and the ordinary Moet&Chandon, the latter will probably lose. Vouvray is often more expensive than cava, but it is worth the money. Nor is Vouvray the only place on the Loire where sparkling wine is made. Next to Vouvray is Saumur, which also produces a sparkling drink that is quite competitive in our field both in quality and price.
Finally, Italian wines ― if we talk about them, the first thing that comes to mind is Prosecco — the Italian equivalent of cava. Prosecco is the name of the grape variety from which this wine is made. It grows in the Veneto. Another region of Italy that has presented excellent sparkling wines — Franciacorta. The wines there are the champions of Italy and the leaders of the world championship. As often happens with champagnes, Franciacorta wines are made from three grape varieties — chardonnay, Pinot bianco and Pinot Nero. And among all the wines of this area, there is one main thing — Ca‘Del Bosco. It is clear that it costs more than all analogues — from 2000 rubles per bottle, but in the table of ranks it is at the level of the best champagnes. Still noticeably inferior to them in price…