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French sparkling wines are traditionally among the leaders in international competitions. Champagne’s unique terroirs and centuries of production experience are the reasons why French champagne consistently ranks at the top of the rankings. In recent years, the products of Italian winemakers have been highly valued – Italian companies are among the best producers of sparkling wines in the world’s leading competitions.
Leaders of world competitions of recent years
Experts rank sparkling wines in different categories. Champagne is classified by type, class, country of origin. Separate competitions are held between Italian Prosecco and Asti, Spanish Cava wines. In each category, the best representatives are determined, which does not prevent those who remain on the sidelines from receiving honorary gold medals.
One of the most respected sparkling wine competitions The Champagne Sparkling Wine World Championships in 2019 gave the palm to Dom Pérignon 2004 Brut. Vintage magnum with a ten-year exposure has a rich flavor that combines hints of red fruits, spices, almond biscuit and hazelnuts. In 2017, the brand was also in the lead in this competition, when the Dom Perignon 1998 P2 magnum was recognized as the best.
Among classic bruts, the winner in 2019 was Louis Roederer 2012 Brut Vintage in a 1,5 liter bottle. Elite sparkling wine created from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes grown in Premier and Grand Cru Champagne and aged on the lees for at least five years. A year earlier, Louis Roederer became the absolute leader of the competition, winning the title of best manufacturer and the title of champion with Louis Roederer NV Brut Premier.
The Decanter 2018 wine competition put Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut champagne in one of the first places. Brut of the 2002 harvest was the best in the Best in Show nomination. The experts highly appreciated the multifaceted bouquet, which combines shades of freshly cut grass, green apple, citrus fruits and freshly baked buns.
Brut Charles Heidsieck, Blanc de Blancs was among the main winners of Decanter 2019. The company was founded by a representative of the Heidsieck family, but has been developing as a separate brand since 1851. Sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay grapes and has a characteristic blanc de blanc fresh apple flavor with hints of toasted bread.
Among Italian wines, judges of competitions in recent years have noted the products of the Ferrari wine house. The company was named manufacturer of the year at CSWWC in 2019. Champagne of this brand is made according to the classic French technology with aging in a bottle of grapes harvested in the mountainous terroir of Trento. The company has nothing to do with car manufacturers – Ferrari wines appeared half a century earlier than sports cars of the same name.
The world ranking of champagnes in 2019 does not bring unexpected discoveries – at the top is the products of French manufacturers that have already proven themselves from the best side.
In the top five:
- Moët & Chandon;
- Krug;
- Louis Roederer;
- Bollinger;
- Widow Clicquot.
According to the authoritative publication The Drinks Business, the world leader in sales is the house of champagne Moët & Chandon. The company owns about 1200 hectares of vineyards in the best areas of Champagne, and production volumes are about 26 million bottles per year.
Champagne rating in Russia
The basis for the production of sparkling wines in Russia was laid by Lev Golitsyn at the end of the 1900th century. The prince sought to create a champagne that would be in no way inferior to the best examples of French winemaking. He succeeded in this to the fullest – in XNUMX, the Paradisio brand was highly appreciated by Parisian experts and was awarded the Grand Prix.
Champagne “New World. Recreated according to Golitsyn’s recipes. Paradisio has repeatedly won prizes at prestigious international competitions and in 2019 once again confirmed its high quality by winning the Grand Prix at the XXIII International Wine Competition, which is held under the auspices of the OIV.
Millesime sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay grapes only in the best years for harvests and is aged in the cellars of the Novy Svet plant for at least three years. The pale straw-colored drink has a floral aroma and a fresh taste with subtle mineral notes. Champagne is considered exclusive and is produced in very limited quantities.
“Abrau-Durso”
At the top of popularity among Russian buyers in recent years is the Abrau-Durso brand. Champagne was recognized as the best by independent experts of Roskachestvo in 2019. The plant on the shores of Lake Abrau, founded in 1870, produces several dozen types of sparkling wines, among which elite brands with a long aging period occupy a special place. The classic collection “Russian Champagne Abrau-Durso” with a harmonious floral and fruity bouquet remains the leader in sales.
Chateau Tamagne
A relatively young brand of champagne produced by the Kuban-Vino holding ranks second in the quality rating. The company has been operating since 1956 and makes its products from grapes grown in the unique climatic zone of the Taman Peninsula, washed by the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Oenologists from France worked on the recipe of champagne, and in terms of organoleptic indicators it is in no way inferior to the best examples of European products.
Inkerman
In recent years, the wines of the Crimean plant Inkerman are rapidly gaining popularity. The company was founded in 1961 and produces champagne from grapes of the Sevastopol terroir. There are only four types of sparkling wines in the assortment of Inkerman, the most popular is traditionally “Semi-sweet” with the aroma of white flowers and a delicate peach-honey taste.
P.S. Which champagne is better can be determined only by tasting a few drinks on your own. In recent years, the task has become more complicated due to the appearance on the market of a huge number of attractively designed carbonated wine drinks that are not actually champagne. Poor quality products greatly undermine the image of real sparkling wines. Experts recommend that when choosing, carefully study the composition of the contents of the bottle – the list of ingredients should not contain flavorings, preservatives and carbon dioxide.