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The amazing nature of Abkhazia has given us many tourist places worth visiting. White cliffs near Tsandripsh or the Valley of Lakes near the Russian-Abkhazian border will give many impressions to fans of active tourism.
Amazing landscapes are only part of the charm of the Abkhazian land. Its other side is the people who carried through the centuries the ancient culture of winemaking. The central object of this article will be one of the classic wines of Abkhazia – Apsny.
I propose to plunge into the history of this drink, learn the secrets of its production and understand the role wine plays in the life of the inhabitants of Abkhazia.
Historical background
Where to start the story about the Abkhaz wine Apsny is with its name. In translation, the word “Apsny” means Abkhazia, that is, the country of the Apsians or the country of the soul (in the popular interpretation).
Note: here you can draw a small analogy with drinks that have geographical names. For example, Champagne is produced only in the Champagne province, everything else is sparkling wine.
Behind this deep and seemingly ancient name lies a rather young history. The production of Apsna began in 1970, when the first bottle of this drink came off the assembly line of the Sukhumi winery. Late-ripening grape varieties were chosen as wine material:
- Cabernet Sauvignon;
- Merlot;
- Saperavi.
In 1999, the plant experienced a rebirth and was reconstructed, and by the end of the 2000s, the manufacturer established a stable production of wines known to us (Apsny, Psou, Lykhny and others).
Production features
Traditionally, men are involved in the production of wine in the country, although the drink itself is considered more feminine. The strong half of humanity prefers chacha, but the culture of dividing alcohol into male and female is more of a convention than an indisputable law.
But what is really strictly adhered to is the classical manufacturing technology:
- All stages of production are performed by men.
- Wooden troughs are used to ferment the must.
- When the alcohol content in the wort reaches a certain value, the containers are transferred to a cool room to stop fermentation.
- Ripening (aging) occurs in oak barrels for months, and sometimes years.
Tasting characteristics of Apsny wine
Until I am completely fascinated by historical references and technological features, I will tell you a little about the characteristics of Apsna.
- Producer: LLC “Wines and Waters of Abkhazia”.
- Category: red, semi-sweet.
- Strength: 9-12%.
- Sugar: 3–5 g / 100 cm3.
Color
Apsny has a deep garnet/ruby color.
fragrance
Delicate bouquet of ripe berries, dominated by notes of blackcurrant.
Taste
For the manufacture of Apsna, late-ripening grape varieties are used. Harvesting begins at the end of October, when the berries have accumulated the maximum amount of sugars.
The wine is quite sweet, but with a pronounced berry sourness. The brightness of taste is moderate, Apsny will not play the first violin, clogging the taste of all dishes. The aftertaste is dominated by blackcurrant.
Composition and strength
As already mentioned, 3 grape varieties are used for the production of Apsna: Merlot, Saperavi and Cabernet Sauvignon.
For my taste, the drink is not strong, the alcohol content ranges from 9 to 12%. Alcohol notes are not expressed, the drink is clearly not fortified.
How and where to buy real Abkhazian wine
In order to buy 100% real Abkhazian wine, you need to go to the factory where it is produced. But, of course, neither I nor you will do this, so I offer a few simple rules to avoid counterfeit goods.
- Buy from trusted places. The best option is large specialized stores. Such establishments will not risk their reputation for dubious profits.
- Pay attention to the quality of printing (fonts and drawings) on the label. Everything should be clear, without blurry lines. The label itself should be glued evenly, without bubbles. Usually scammers burn out on such trifles.
- If you buy Apsny not in Duty Free, an excise stamp must be present on the bottle.
How to serve
Let’s do it this way, first I will write about the generally accepted rules of use, and after that, I will express a few of my thoughts.
- Any wine reveals itself better when chilled. For Apsna, the ideal temperature is 14-19 degrees. I advise you to put the bottle in the refrigerator for several hours in advance.
- For wine, suddenly, a wine glass is used. It is important that the vessel has a long leg, by which you need to hold it. So, the drink will not heat up from the temperature of your hand.
- Pour not to the top, but about half the glass.
- Shake the liquid before use. Just do it not randomly, but in circular motions. This way you will reveal the taste of the drink.
- Apsny do not drink in one gulp, it must be savored. Drink in small sips, washing the entire mouth with wine.
And now a small insert with my humble opinion. The tradition of drinking wine in Abkhazia is very ancient, it is about 4-5 thousand years old. They often drink it there, and if the clan (family) is true to tradition, then there is always a bottle of Apsna or something like that on the table.
Will they, at feasts, stick to antics with glasses on a thin stem or the disclosure of taste? I’m sure not much. Therefore, drink Apsny the way you like. But I would recommend observing the temperature rule, no one likes warm alcohol.
What do they drink Apsny wine with?
The drink goes well with meat dishes, especially with wild or poultry on the grill. Only in this way does the wine help the taste of the meat to fully open up.
Less relevant, but having the right to life snack – vegetables, herbs and fruits. Let it be from the category, Apsny will definitely not spoil them. I will also mention the classics, wine + cheese – a win-win combination.
Other uses
With the help of Apsna, you can cook many dishes. My favorite is pear marinated in wine. This is a classic dessert, for which red semi-sweet is ideal.
In the category of “alternatives” you can write a variety of sauces and marinades. Especially good, red semi-sweet goes well with meat (I already mentioned this).
Cocktails based on Apsny wine
If you don’t feel like drinking or making Apsny and you’ve already bought a bottle, let’s make cocktails. I will not go through thousands of recipes, I will take two of my favorite and quite simple ones: Kalimocho and Hot Chocolate with Red Wine.
To prepare Kalimocho, we need:
- 1 part Apsna;
- 1 part cola;
- slice of lime or lemon.
Preparation:
Pour ice into a highball (any glass of sufficient volume is suitable), pour chilled Apsny and cola on top. Gently stir the contents and decorate with a lime wedge. Ready.
For hot chocolate from Apsny, you will have to “get confused” a little. We take:
- 100 g of dark chocolate;
- 50 ml Apsny;
- 180 ml of milk (not less than 2,5%);
- 100 ml of water;
- coarse salt without additives (to taste);
- sugar.
Preparation:
- We heat the chocolate in a steam bath.
- Add wine to chocolate and stir until completely melted.
- Add water, milk and salt. We continue to stir until a homogeneous mass.
- Pour the contents of the steam bath into a mug or heat-resistant glass and decorate with sugar crystals.
Photo wine Apsny
I want to give a few words to the appearance of the bottle. There is a small detail here that is worth mentioning.
If you thought that Apsny’s label depicts the brainchild of an inflamed artist’s mind, you are mistaken. This is a well-known find “Bombori Wine Drinker”, a figurine in the form of a man holding a ram’s horn in his hands.
The photo below shows the bottom of the bottle. It is concave in the center and forms a kind of ring closer to the edges. This is a “lifebook” from the world of winemaking and it pursues a simple goal – to collect all the sediment in this ring.
It is considered normal if sediment appears in wine during storage. So that it does not get into your glass, they came up with such an interesting bottom. If the liquid in the bottle is cloudy, do not rush to throw it away, perhaps this means that the drink is made from natural raw materials. In addition, this shape is more stable on uneven surfaces.
Reviews about the Abkhaz wine Apsny
I will say in advance, for wine for 450-550 rubles, Apsna has good reviews. According to my observation, about 90% of opinions can be called positive. What do you like:
- aroma of berries;
- grape aftertaste;
- sweetness;
- reasonable price.
What is criticized for:
- pale taste;
- sourness;
- bitterness.
I note that customer reviews may refer to counterfeit products. No one is safe from buying a fake, but the original will always get a portion of the negative.
Сonclusion
Apsny or the Country of the Soul (if translated) will be a great addition to family holidays or a romantic dinner. It does not clog the taste of the main dish, but rather enhances it. However, this drink is good in its pure form, without any snacks.
Apsny does not belong to the refined wines that are drunk at social receptions and solemn events. It has a different purpose: feasts, cocktails, cooking. With these tasks, the wine copes perfectly.
I recommend trying Apsny as part of your acquaintance with the wines of Abkhazia. You may like its taste. The main thing – do not have high expectations, the drink is relatively inexpensive, but completely beats its price.
Have your friends already tried Apsny? Share this article with them, maybe one of them is just looking for a bottle for the evening at an affordable price?