The best varieties of champagne

Now it is already difficult to determine the exact time when it is customary to celebrate the New Year with a glass of champagne. But on the list of New Year's purchases for every Russian, after the Christmas tree and tangerines, there is always a bottle of champagne.

Shopping centers today can offer hundreds of different sparkling elite wines from different parts of the world. Many, paying tribute to tradition, will choose a bottle of Sovetskoye among all the variety and calmly go home.

But we dare to bring to your attention a small rating, where the best champagne in the world is presented, according to experts and simply connoisseurs of good wine.

Cristal Louis Roederer. France

This world's first elite cuvée was born thanks to the whim of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who wished to drink wine specially created for him at receptions. In 1876, the "Crystal" champagne in a crystal bottle was placed on the emperor's table.

Thanks to the emperor, the tradition of making bottles transparent was also born, since Alexander wanted to see the bubbles, and was also afraid that a bomb would not be hidden in the bottle.

And today the champagne of the wine house "Louis Roederer" is considered one of the best wines in the world, and the annual sales volume of "Crystal Louis Roederer" is 2.5 million bottles a year.

"Cuvée Perle d'Ayala Brut". France

Since 1860 the champagne of the French trading house "Ayala" has been holding the brand of one of the most prestigious and best dry champagnes. The Ayala Pearl is made exclusively from the Chardonnay variety grown and harvested in the best vineyards in the South of France.

Traditionally, these wines are aged in cellars for 5 years. And only then they go on sale. Connoisseurs note in champagne incredible freshness, persistent aroma with a predominance of citrus and mineral tones.

Not more than 650 thousand copies are produced annually, but this does not prevent this champagne from being among the leaders among the leading producers of sparkling wines.

Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rosé. France

The products of the married couple Nicolas Francois Billecard and Elisabeth Salmon began to conquer the world back in 1818, and today they are rightfully among the leaders of prestigious wine producers.

The rosé wine of the Billecart-Salmon trading house harmoniously combines Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and is aged for 10 to 15 years. Experts note not only excellent taste, in which there are aromas of strawberry and mint, but also freshness and sophistication.

The gourmet drink goes well with a variety of dishes, from fried game to tropical fruits.

"R.D. Extra Brut ". France

In 1961, Madame Bollinger, who created this wonderful drink, literally revolutionized the world of champagne production. The fact is that "Recemment Degorge" began to be produced from wines that were aged on lees for 7 - 25 years.

The new variety was highly appreciated by specialists, and today it is very popular among lovers of elite wine, despite the rather high price.

The taste of champagne from the very first sips intoxicates with a powerful and at the same time delicate aroma of linden, acacia and honey, with an exotic aftertaste of hazelnuts and fresh baked goods.

Celebris Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Extra Brut. France

A relatively small trading house by the standards of Champagne surprised everyone with an incredible drink, in the production of which it used new combinations of grape varieties. The result was a sensual and feminine cuvée, which immediately found its connoisseur.

Winemakers of the house "Gosset" abandoned malolactic fermentation, and, using new technologies, revealed the full completeness of the exceptional qualities of the Chardonnay variety. Thanks to this, the wine came out tasty and soft.

Characteristics of champagne are given by vanilla-biscuit shades and a rich variety of citrus aromas in combination with hyacinth and honey.

Avize Grand Cru Dégorgement Tardif 1995. France

The Jacquesson trading house produces only 300 thousand bottles of this elite and magnificent champagne per year. This is one hundred percent "Chardonnay", in which winemakers have revealed all its unique qualities and exceptional properties.

The wine is aged for 14 years, together with the yeast sediment, which made it possible to create a unique flavor combination of incredible freshness and, at the same time, maturity.

It is noteworthy that grapes for its production are harvested only in one place, near the small French village of Aviz, which is reflected in the name of the drink.

Krug Grande Cuvée Brut. France

The French house "Krug" specializes exclusively in the production and sale of the prestigious cuvée. The presented wine has been the hallmark of the champagne house, recognized all over the world, for many years.

The subtle freshness of Grande Cuvée harmoniously dissolves into subtle and highly intense floral aromas. The drink highlights a harmonious combination of different grape varieties, which are harvested in various regions of the South of France.

One of the traditions of the house is to provide discounts on an elite drink during the New Year and Christmas holidays.

Lambrusco dell 'Emilia Rosso. Italy

For the sake of fairness, we note that not only French winemakers have learned how to make quality wine, the Italians have also succeeded. The leading positions here are ruby-red wine with a pleasant taste and heady fruity aroma.

In the aftertaste of sparkling wine, notes of almonds are clearly traced, and the bubbles give a unique sensation of freshness and lightness. Besides, having excellent and unique taste, it is not as expensive as the presented Champagne wines.

Soy history of wine began in 1860, and today it is created from the magnificent grape variety Lambrusco del Emilia.

Bosca Anniversary. Lithuania

Among budget wines, this sparkling drink, created according to the latest technologies at the Lithuanian enterprise "Bosca", is quite popular among connoisseurs of wine drinks.

Experts note the uniqueness of the drink, which manifests itself in incredible tenderness and low carbon dioxide content.

By tradition, it is produced in large bottles, and will pleasantly brighten up the New Year's evening, and, undoubtedly, will be suitable to meet the first seconds of the coming New Year.

Piper-Heidsieck. France

Perfect for a New Year's aperitif, as well as for any kind of dessert. You can also meet the first minutes of the New Year with a pleasant wine.

A sparkling drink is created from 60 varieties of grapes, and is famous for the fact that only it is used at the presentation of the Oscar. It is noteworthy that 50 grape varieties were bred and grown specifically to create an exquisite drink.

Its taste and aroma are truly "Oscar-winning" and will conquer even the most sophisticated connoisseur.

"Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin".France

One of the oldest and most prestigious companies today, producing elite sparkling wines, among which "Veuve Clicquot" is the best among the wines of the Champagne province.

Over a glass of the legendary drink, it is pleasant to remember the past and talk only about the beautiful. Truly, the drink deserves only superlatives in its assessment.

It has long been a tradition to store bottles with the neck down for incredible transparency. It perfectly and harmoniously balances the delicate aroma of fruits with unique freshness and vanilla tints.

Moet & Chandon. France

This champagne was supplied to feasts and birthdays of the kings of France and Great Britain, and according to tradition and today it officially supplies an elite drink to the table of the British queen.

Today it is advertised by one of the most beautiful women in the world, Scarlett Johansson, and some connoisseurs do not spare a lot of money for a bottle of collection "Washes and Shandon".

Possessing a great taste, it also mesmerizes with its incredible straw-golden color with greenish tints, and the aroma intoxicates, captivates and does not let go of the unique aftertaste of fresh baked goods and nuts.

"Victor Dravigny" Rouge. Russia

Finally, we will mention a Russian producer among the best sparkling wines in the world. The wine, produced by "Abrau-Dyurso", has a surprisingly attractive ruby ​​color with a bright shine and delicate delicate taste.

Exoticness to the drink is given by a persistent and refined cherry-currant aroma, and it itself is made from the best variety of Cabernet Sauvignon with the use of advanced technologies.

"Victor Dravigny" will become an indispensable attribute of any New Year's table, as well as suitable for any menu, from meat to fruits and sweet desserts.

The range includes both expensive champagne and budget options. But there are no comrades in taste and color, as the ancient Slavic proverb says, and everyone will choose their best champagne, based on personal experience and income.

Naturally, each family has its own New Year traditions, and it doesn't matter at all with a glass of champagne Russians will meet the coming year. The main thing is that it should be in a close family circle, and all the wishes in the new year come true, and everyone becomes a little happier.

Article author: Valery Skiba

Not every sparkling wine can be called champagne. This name deserves only a wine that is produced in a certain region of France under strict control and only from certain types of grapes, usually pinot noir or chardonnay. At the same time, despite the fact that the drink is made from the same raw materials, there may be a difference in technology, grapes can be combined in different proportions. Therefore, champagne can be very different. Sometimes it is very sophisticated and expensive. Check out fifteen of the most chic options.

Fifteenth place - 2000 Krug Clos du Mesnil

You will have to pay a lot for a bottle - more than eight hundred dollars! With this champagne you can get a taste of the late nineties: it was made in the first year of the new millennium. Notes of biscuits, nuts, white flowers and spices are waiting for you, these are the hallmarks of the vineyards of this producer, which has been considered one of the best in the region since 1698!

Fourteenth place - Lieux-dits Les Chantereines Grand Cru Avize, extra brut from Jacques Seluze

The approximate cost of a bottle is eight hundred and forty-three dollars! Extra-brut means that the drink is not sweetened. The sweetness comes exclusively from the fermentation process. The producer of this wine became famous among wine critics for its amazing terroir. This term refers to the combination of geographic, geological and climatic conditions of a piece of land where grapes grow. In short, this wine is really worth the money spent.

Thirteenth Place - 1943 Moët & Chandon Brut

You will need to pay for the bottle nine hundred and ninety-seven dollars. This champagne was created for the 200th anniversary of the brand - in 1943! This is a long life in the market!

Twelfth place - 1996 Bollinger Vieilles Vigne Francaise Blanc de Noirs

The cost of this drink is one thousand one hundred sixty-seven dollars. This vineyard is famous for the reluctance of the owners to modernize anything. The grapes are processed here in a special way, which guarantees an incredible combination of aroma and flavor intensity. However, perhaps these are just rumors to increase the brand's popularity. Either way, there is very little wine in the world that is processed this way, so for your money, you get a unique product.

Eleventh place - Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon by Karl Lagerfeld

The average price per bottle is twelve hundred and twenty-eight dollars. It is a product that emerged from the collaboration of designer Karl Lagerfeld with a champagne producer. The first presentation took place with wine serving in a porcelain bowl in the shape of Claudia Schiffer's breast. A pleasure not only for gourmets, but also for aesthetes!

Tenth place - Krug Grande Cuvée

The average price of one thousand seven hundred and forty-three dollars guarantees this drink the tenth place. It was once called the number one champagne, but then the name was changed. It is a non-vintage drink, which means that it is made from grapes of different grapes. The last bottles are priced at about two hundred dollars, and the more aged ones are sold at auction for almost two thousand.

Ninth place - Krug Brut David Sugar in an engraved bottle

In ninth place is champagne for one thousand eight hundred and one dollars. If you love to showcase your wine collection as trophies, this is the choice for you. This is a drink in a unique engraved bottle that will stand out from the crowd.

Eighth place - Boërl & Kroff Brut Rose

The price of such champagne is two thousand dollars, but it fluctuates, since it is a rose wine, and the fashion for it is not constant. Now pink is very popular, so the price is higher. By the way, a pink tint appears due to the fact that a little red is added to white wine.

Seventh place - Krug Clos d'Ambonnay

This drink for two thousand two hundred seventy three dollars has an intense aroma and bright color. This is the house's finest champagne and also the most popular in the region!

Sixth place - Moët & Chandon Dom Perignon White Gold

Without a doubt, this is a product from a reputable manufacturer, so the price reaches two thousand three hundred and fifty-three dollars. However, in this case, you pay for the bottle. It is engraved and adorned with white gold so you can keep it in your wine collection even after you drink the contents.

Fifth place - Boërl & Kroff Brut

The price for a bottle is two thousand five hundred and eighty dollars. The producer is known for the magnificent vineyards that once belonged to Charles de Gaulle! You can taste an exquisite drink and touch French history at the same time.

Fourth Place - 1961 Moet & Chandon Charles & Diana Dom Perignon

In fourth place is a drink for three thousand three hundred and sixty-three dollars, which was chosen for the wedding of Prince Charles to Diana. After the celebration, several commemorative bottles were produced especially for fans, now collectors are buying them.

Third place - Krug 1928

The average price is twenty one thousand dollars. In 2009, this vintage drink broke the world record for the value at auction. The weather conditions in 1928 were special, ideal for making champagne, which is why this particular wine is sold at an incredibly high price.

Second place - 1907 Heidsieck

The price for a bottle is two hundred seventy-five thousand dollars. Two thousand bottles were found at the bottom of the ocean. They were on a ship sunk by a German submarine. The bottles were taken to Emperor Nicholas II. Now they are sold at auction to collectors: who does not want to feel like a real king?

First place - Goût de Diamants

The price is a million and eight hundred thousand. This is a unique champagne with a designer bottle from Alexander Amos. The bottle is adorned with nineteen carat diamonds. When you buy wine, your name is also engraved on the bottle.The drink amazes with its rich taste! For the price, it really has to be something special!

According to the strict rules established by the European Union for the control of the name of the product at its place of origin, only drinks produced in a specific French province are entitled to be called "champagne". It is they who carry on their label the sign of their noble ancestry - the letters DOC. All other drinks, even if they accurately copy the blend and production technology, are called "sparkling wines". In some countries, they also have their own names. In Catalonia it is "cava", in Italy - "proseco", in Languedoc - "blanket". And these drinks also carry the elite abbreviation DOC. But often the law is not written to the producers. And in the old fashioned way, sparkling wines are called champagne, made, more or less according to the technology invented by the Abbot Perignon. Some drinks are a blatant heap of waste materials, artificially carbonated. But there are some domestic sparkling wines that are worthy of being served at the festive table. In this article, we will consider the TOP-10 drinks in the Elite Champagne category.

Veuve Clicquot

As the English say, ladies first. But it is not the courtesy of the gentlemen that makes us let the lady go ahead. This drink really deserves to be ranked first in the Elite Champagne rating. Monsieur Clicquot, an unremarkable winemaker, rendered two great services to humanity: he married the young lady Barb Nicole Ponsardin and died in time to give the widow to show her abilities.

The lady raised her husband's modest household to unprecedented heights. She invented a method for perfect cleaning of champagne and a bridle on the cork, because the pressure in the bottle is three times higher than in the tire of the car. In addition, the lady skillfully used natural phenomena for self-promotion. So, in 1811, the inhabitants of the Earth observed a comet. The widow Clicquot immediately sent a ship to Russia (whose troops had recently defeated Napoleon) with a huge batch of champagne, on the label of which a tailed star was depicted. A huge sales market was secured. All the aristocracy tasted the "comet wine", and even Pushkin mentioned champagne in his poems. Now the cheapest products from the House of Veuve Clicquot cost from two and a half thousand rubles. And the price for some elite bottles is estimated at several tens of thousands of dollars.

Moët & Chandon ("Moet and Chandon")

This company is as old as Veuve Clicquot. Who doesn't know this elite champagne? A photo of a black bow with a gold border, fastened with a round red seal under the neck of the bottle, serves as the standard of the French art of living. Moet and Chandon supplied their champagne to the court of the French king. Louis XV liked it, and Napoleon Bonaparte did not hesitate to pick him up at the wine house when he was passing through Champagne. Since the reign of Edward VII, Moët & Chandon have taken over the British market. And now the company is the official supplier of champagne to the court of Elizabeth II. Moet & Chandon is not limited to royalty. It is their champagne that is poured into glasses at the presentation of the prestigious Golden Globe Award in the cinema. Due to the large circulation, the company's products are sold at more affordable prices. In Russia, a bottle of Moet and Shandon can be bought for two thousand rubles.

Dom Pérignon

It's time to talk about the inventor of champagne as such. "Home" is not a name, much less a building. Perignon's name was Pierre. Since he was a Benedictine monk, he was treated with respect as the cleric of Dom. Perignon lived in the seventeenth century, and in his free time from prayer, he experimented in his Abbey of Auvillier with young frothy wine. He was the first to think of a second fermentation of quiet drinks. He kept them in bottles made of very thick glass, plugged with an oak cork. The elite champagne of the Abbey of Auvillier brand was very quickly appreciated by the French aristocracy. Soon it began to be delivered to the sun king Louis XIV at Versailles.The firm Moet and Chandon bought the vineyards of the abbey. The manufacturer continues to create drinks using old technology. This brand is called Dom Perignon. Since the area of ​​vineyards is small, this drink also automatically increases in price. A bottle of the usual Dom Pérignon costs from eight thousand rubles. Dom Perignon Oenotheque - an elite brand of the wine house is estimated on the market at twenty-two thousand.

Louis Roederer

In Russia, this is the most expensive elite champagne. Its name has become known in our country since the reign of Alexander II. And no wonder: "Louis Roederer Crystal" was made in 1876 especially for the royal court. The word "Cristal" meant not only the maximum purification of the drink. By order of Emperor Alexander II, champagne was supplied in crystal bottles. About sixty percent of all production of the wine house of Louis Roederer went to Russia. Even now, our compatriots have remained faithful to tradition. Champagne "Louis Röderer Brut Premier" is the most demanded of the French brands. Its average price is four thousand three hundred rubles per bottle. The exclusive Louis Röderer Crystal drink is much more appreciated. Its cost varies from ten to thirty-five thousand rubles (depending on the harvest year).

Piper-Heidsieck

The owners of this winery promote their products through Hollywood stars. Piper Heidsick champagne was Marilyn Monroe's favorite alcoholic drink. And at all the Oscars, the products of this house are invariably present. PR managers of the company seem to have discovered a "gold mine" for themselves. Now the names "Piper Heidsick" and Hollywood are inseparable. In 1965, the company released a bottle, 1.82 meters high, the height of Oscar-winning actor Rex Harrison (for his role in the film "My Fair Lady", played in tandem with Audrey Hepburn). And last year Christian Lobuten became the designer of the house "Piper Heidsick". This is how elite brut champagne appeared, released in a gift set with a shoe with a crystal heel. This PR move refers us to the tale of Cinderella. But at the same time, he makes you remember the old wedding tradition, when the groom drinks champagne from the bride's shoe. It is not possible to find a gift set in wine boutiques in Russia. But the usual champagne "Piper Highsick Brut" can be found for one and a half thousand rubles.

G.H. Mumm ("Mumm")

The first owner of the company in the eighteenth century adorned the label of his products with the red ribbon of the Legion of Honor. The company now advertises itself through sports. The slogan of the wine house is “Striving for achievement and courage”. The firm is a sponsor of many sports and scientific achievements. In 1904, this elite champagne was uncorked by the crew of the Le-France ship in Antarctica. The winners of the Formula-1 competition are poured with it. Mumm is the third largest manufacturer in the world in terms of sales. A bottle of champagne from this company costs an average of two and a half thousand rubles.

Krug ("Circle")

Can sparkling wines be aged? Yes, if they are produced in the Krug cellars. This house initially focused on the quality of the drink, not the volume of sales. The company has its own vineyards only twenty hectares! The wort of the best blend is fermented in small wooden barrels and then kept in bottles for at least six years. Thanks to this method, champagne has not only a complex, recognizable taste, but also the ability to “age nobly”. Such elite champagne can be kept in the cellar for at least forty years, so that later it can be profitably sold. Isn't it an investment? For example, at a wine auction in Hong Kong in April 2015, a 1928 vintage Circle bottle sold for twenty-one thousand two hundred dollars. But ordinary champagne from this company costs about twenty thousand rubles.

Champagne sweet elite

It is generally believed that drinks in the Prestige Cuvée category should be dry: ultra, extra, nature and savage brut. But lately dessert wines are becoming more and more fashionable. This trend was reflected in champagne as well.They began to produce dessert "Prosecco" and "Kavu", German sparkling wine "Sect". Then came the sweet Cremant. This is also French champagne, but it is produced outside the elite province. Very famous "Creman" from Jura and Alsace. Perhaps the most delicious sweet "champagne" can be called "spumati" (sparkling wine) from the Italian province of Asti. It is made from a single variety of berries - Moscato.

Domestic brands of champagne

The production of sparkling wines in the Russian Empire began in 1799, when Academician Pallas in his estate near Sudak released the first bottles of a drink made using the champagne method. In 1804, a school was even opened in the Crimea. There they began to conduct experiments on the creation of champagne wines. Prince Lev Golitsyn made a great contribution to winemaking. In 1900, his New World champagne won the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris. Golitsyn worked not only in Crimea. In 1870, in the royal estate on the banks of the Dyurso River and Lake Abrau in the Kuban, he, together with French specialists, grew vineyards and equipped a champagne factory. The first batch was released in 1897. But Abrau-Durso and Novy Svet were not the only brands of sparkling wines in Russia. Among the domestic names in the years of the USSR, “Moscow Elite Champagne” arose and now firmly holds its position.

Can such a wine be produced in northern latitudes?

There would be production facilities corresponding to the technological process. In the Moscow region there are mushrooms, berries, flowers, but not grapes. But berries of the varieties "Pinot", "Riesling", "Aligote" and "Chardonnay" are delivered to the capital of Russia from the southern regions. At the MKShV plant, grapes are transformed into a drink called Moscow Elite Champagne: brut, semi-dry and semi-sweet. The amount of sugar in wine is regulated not by adding crystals, but exclusively by assemblage. The wort is aged for about six months. As a result, a drink is born with a rich light straw color, with a harmonious taste and an interesting bouquet.

The abundance of alcohol in stores in recent decades has baffled its lovers and admirers. So, for example, the well-known champagne is represented in them by dozens of bottles, and not just the one where the Soviet prefix flies proudly. And that's not counting sparkling wines.

By color and manufacturer

In fact, champagne is sparkling wine, but brought to us from Champagne - the French province, where it is made. All other types of such a drink should be called wines.

Champagne classification:

The producers of the "ladies'" drink have long divided it into categories. Champagne varieties (and types of sparkling wines) are classified according to the level of sweetness, the variety of grapes and the year they were harvested, and the characteristics of alcohol production.

According to the grape variety, champagne / sparkling wine / is distinguished:

• Vintage species (mono-varietal) are prepared from one grape variety, "harvested" in one harvest season (ie, once every 3-5 years).
• Non-vintage types (assemblage) are prepared by mixing 3 varieties of wine berries (pinot meunier and noir, chardonnay). Such alcohol often contains from 10 to 40% of sparkling wines made earlier - 2-3 years before. Moreover, these wines are not of high quality, at best, average.

• Doux / Dulce - sweet, dessert containing over 50 grams of sugars per liter
• Demi-sec / Rich / Semi-Seco - semi-sweet / semi-dry, containing 33-50 grams of sugars per liter
• Sec / Dry / Seco - dry types containing 17-35 grams of sugars per liter
• Extra sec / Extra-dry / Extra Seco - extra dry champagne containing 12-20 grams of sugars per liter
• Brut is the "driest" drink, containing up to 15 grams of sugars per liter
• Non-dosage - an expensive, natural, sugar-free type that can show a residual amount of sugars, but not more than 6 grams per liter

In addition, sugar is not added to such varieties of sparkling alcohol as Brut - Nature Extra, Ultra, Sauvage, Zero.

According to the "color" of champagne (sparkling wine), one can distinguish:

The classic shade of champagne is golden, and many do not accept others, "calling" them not real.But this drink can have other shades and at the same time be the most real.

• Blanc de blancs is a “white from white” variety, made only from “chardonnay” (white grapes). The color of the drink is golden.
• Blank de noirs is a “white from black” variety, and is made from “pinot noir or meunier” (red grapes). The color of the drink is shades of red.
• Rose Champagne is a “pink” variety in which the pink color is achieved by steeping the skins from red grapes in a must of white wine or by mixing white and red wine. The color of the drink is pink.
• Cuvees de prestige / delux / special is an elite vintage champagne from the village of Champagne, made from Grand Cru berries. These are Dom Pérignon, Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle, Pol Roger’s Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Moët & Chandon’s and Louis Roederer’s Cristal. The color of the drink is golden.

By bottle capacity:

Standard champagne bottles hold 0.75 liters, magnum bottles 1.5 liters. The latter are considered ideal for sparkling wines, but bottles of other sizes can also be found on sale:

• 30 liters - Melchizedek (only produced by Drappier)
• 27 liters - Primat
• 24 liters - Solomon
• 18 liters - Melchior
• 15 liters - Nabuchodonosor
• 12 liters - Balthazar
• 9 liters - Salmanazar
• 6 liters - Mathusalem
• 4.5 liters - Rehoboam
• 3 liters - Jeroboam
• 1.5 liters - Magnum
• 0.75 liters - Bouteille
• 0, 375 liters - Demie
• 0.18 or 0.2 liters - piccolo bottle / split / quart

• RM - this variety is produced under the full control of the wine house from the grapes it owns
• NM - a drink made by large producers from purchased grapes (wine materials).
• ND - the brand of champagne belongs to one company, production - another
• MA - this variety belongs to restaurants or hypermarkets, which themselves do not own either vineyards or production.
• SR - alcohol is produced by an association that controls a number of brands at once.
• RC - the brand of champagne belongs to the seller (trader)

• Italian - Asti, prepared from the Moscato vineyards. It is a dessert and light drink. Another variety of sparkling wines from the sunny country is Spumante. They are represented by dessert and semi-sweet types. Dry sparkling wines are called Prosecco here. In addition, the lines of sparkling wines Bracchetto, Lambrusco, Franciacorta, Fragolino are considered excellent brands in Italy. The taste of Italian varieties emphasizes their "youth" (it is not necessary to stand them for more than a year).
• South African - Cap Classique, made from African grapes. The range of varieties allows you to choose a drink of any color and any sweetness.
• Spanish - Cava, white or pink (Cava Rosado), on the original cork - the image of a four-pointed star. It is produced only by 3 wine houses - Segura Viudas, Freixenet and Codorníu.
• French, but not from Champagne - Crémant. These are Crémant de Bordeaux, Crémant d'Alsace and Crémant du Jura. Other French sparkling wines are also famous - Champagne, Limoux.
• German - Sekt, prepared only from raw materials from German vineyards, for example, Riesling. The range of varieties allows you to choose a drink of any color and any sweetness.

There are, of course, other types of champagne - Crimean, Moldovan (Cricova), Portuguese (Bairrada), Russian (Soviet champagne, Abrau-Durso, Tsimlyanskoe), etc. etc. They are distinguished by taste, aroma, quality, fame.

We will not describe the ornate play of bubbles in drinks, the tenderness of their taste, lightness of aroma and their magical overflows in the edges of a crystal glass under artificial lighting - here, the main criterion is still the taste of each person.

But we list the most famous brands of champagne in the world: Dom Pérignon (Dom Pérignon) with a price of $ 600 per bottle, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin (Veuve Clicquot) with a price of $ 80 - 250 per bottle (depending on the type), Moët @ Chandon (Moet and Shandon) from $ 70-200 per bottle, Louis Roederer from $ 150 to $ 1000 per bottle, Piper Heidsieck from $ 50 per bottle, GH Mumm (Mumm) with a price of $ 80 per bottle, Krug (Circle) with a price of $ 400 - $ 800 per bottle, Pol Roger (Paul Roger) with a price of $ 80 per bottle, Bollinger (Bollinger) with a price of $ 100 to 6,000 $ per bottle, Salon with a price of $ 400 per bottle.

As you can see, fans of "sparkling" have plenty to choose from. But did you know that different types of glasses have been invented for drinking this wonderful drink?

According to the material, they can be made of glass or crystal (depending on the price of alcohol and the scale of the celebration).

According to the shape, several types of champagne glasses can be distinguished:

• Champagne flute - special glasses for serving a drink. They have the shape of a flute: a thin elongated stem and a narrow high bowl. This is a classic 120-200 ml glass. It has a variation where the top of the bowl tapers slightly.
• Coupe champagne - a glass for tasting sweet types of sparkling wines. It has a wider and flatter bowl than a classic wine glass. Its volume is 150 ml. It is inconvenient because the bubbles and aroma disappear quickly. But at buffets, towers are often built from glasses of this type. This is a spectacular show: a drink is poured into the upper glass, which, flowing down like a waterfall, fills the rest of the glasses in the lower tiers.
• Red wine glasses - can be used for tasting champagne - they better reveal the bouquet of its taste.

You can also drink champagne from other glasses - narrow or tulip-shaped (as well as embossed, creative, "broken", designer glasses), but it is not recommended from martini glasses because of the rapid loss of aroma, although "martinoks" are quite suitable for some cocktails on based on champagne.

Have you ever wondered what types of champagne are there? Varieties not according to the manufacturing technology of various manufacturers, but what varieties are they? Champagne is a unique and mysterious drink.

Unlike other alcoholic beverages, it can be served with any dish. Our article will help you understand the types of champagne and find out what are the most popular brands among Russian consumers today.

What drink is champagne?

You might be surprised, but only sparkling wine grown in the French province of Champagne can be considered champagne. The rest can be called "sparkling wines".

In the rest of the French grape regions, this drink is called "Cremant". In Spain, champagne is replaced by the word "Cava", in Italy - "Spumante", and in the south in the province of Piedmont - "Asti". In Europe, there is a law that protects the rights to wear the name "champagne" only from Champagne.

In Russia or the United States, there is no commitment to following this law, maintaining the traditions of French winemakers.

Therefore, on Russian counters you can find "Russian Champagne" (semi-sweet champagne) "or" Soviet Champagne ", the rest prefer to refer to these drinks as" sparkling wines ".

Gourmet champagne

If you are claiming to be a gourmet, then just knowing about real champagne in the Champagne province is not enough for you. Many factors influence the taste of future champagne.

The decisive value depends on the grape material (variety, weather conditions during ripening, production technology, amount of sugar).

By the number of varieties that are used to make a drink, you can divide the types of champagne into two groups:

• Vintage - made from only one type of grape, but on condition that the weather conditions during its ripening were favorable. That is, not every year winemakers have the opportunity to make wine. As a rule, special harvests are noted no more than three times in ten years. Each vineyard has its own successful grape harvest years, and lists are formed from them. And anyone can find out about it.
• Non-vintage - it takes 3 types of grapes to produce (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier). From 15 to 30% are grapes harvested in the last 2-3 years (medium and low grade).

Types of champagne (varieties):

• Cuvier de prestige (special or delux) - this variety belongs to luxury drinks, which are made from high quality grapes of the Grand Cru category. Almost all representatives of this drink are aged longer than others and are classified as vintage champagnes.

• Blanc de blanc - translated from French means "white from white". This type of champagne is made from an exclusive variety of white Chardonnay grapes.
• Blanc de noir - means "white from black". Only the red varieties of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir are used to make this drink.
• Rose - This is rosé champagne, it is obtained by combining red and white wines. By soaking the skins of red grapes in the original must, the drink takes on a pale pink hue.

A variety of sparkling wines by sugar content

In addition to the grape variety from which sparkling wines are produced, there is their classification according to the level of sugar content per liter:

• 6 grams (Non-desage or brut natures) - no sugar is added during the production of the drink. It is generally accepted that a sweetener changes the taste of champagne and prevents all facets of its taste from being recognized. Due to the fermentation of wine, the amount of sugar is reached up to 6 g. Only the most expensive varieties use this technology.
• 15 grams (Brut) is the most demanded drink among the rest.
• 12 - 20 grams (Extra sec or Extra dry) - it is also called "intermediate". But it is almost not produced due to the lack of consumer interest in it.
• 17 - 35 grams (Sec or Dry) - dry (semi-sweet) champagne.
• 33 - 50 grams (Demi sec or Rich) - refers to sweet champagne.
• 50 grams or more (Duo) - dessert varieties.

One can talk about the type of champagne for a long time. They also include classification by the type of producer and even by the volume of the container into which sparkling wines are poured.

Factory of sparkling wines "Abrau-Dyurso"

There is only one champagne factory in Russia, and it is called "Abrau-Dyurso". He was successful not only at Russian, but also at international exhibitions, having won more than 180 medals: 6 Grand Prix, 83 gold, 89 silver, 12 bronze.

Thanks to its adherence to the old winemaking traditions of France and modern technologies, Abrau-Dyurso has produced more than one hundred amazing sparkling wines. The grape varieties from which champagne is born are classic: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling. Each bottle is aged for at least 3 years.

The plant has not only facade structures that are visible on the surface of the earth, but also has a huge underground area. At a depth of 60 meters, there are numerous tunnels, 5 kilometers long, where wines mature at the proper temperature. It can store up to 8 million bottles at a time. This is how grandiose the underground structure of the plant is.

Among other things, there is an opportunity to taste sparkling wines, and enjoy the atmosphere of tradition and antiquity of winemaking. The plant was founded in 1870.

Sparkling wine "Abrau-Durso"

Champagne "Abrau-Durso" is represented by the following types: brut, semi-sweet, semi-dry, semi-sweet red and semi-dry red. Available in 375 and 750 ml bottles. For a small bottle you will have to pay about 300 rubles, and for a large one - 400 rubles. Which is the average cost among other brands of sparkling wines.

Let us dwell on the most popular sample of Abrau-Dyurso champagne, which is called “Russian semi-sweet champagne”.

This wine has a warm straw color with a golden hue. The sparkling, fresh aroma captivates with an ensemble of citrus notes intertwined with a fruity aftertaste of yellow apples and pears. The taste is harmoniously balanced, which allows using this drink as a companion to any dish.

The wine contains the following grape varieties: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Aligote, Chardonnay and Riesling.

Sparkling wine "Bosca"

Among the Russian consumers' favorites among the purchases of alcoholic beverages for the festive table are different types of Bosca champagne. The price and quality of the drink harmoniously balance with each other. And this is not the only reason for the success of Bosc.

The fact is that the manufacturer neglected the standard rule of winemaking and contributed to the development of a new type of champagne. Apart from the standard wine material, malt was added, which is not typical of champagne, but rather of brewing.

But this original recipe was enjoyed by both women and men.

The first Bosca bottles appeared in 1931. And since then, the brand's popularity has only been gaining momentum. The assortment is simply huge - over 15 different sparkling wines for every taste.

It can be sweet, semi-sweet and dry, but with a variety of fruit flavors. What sets Bosca champagne apart from other competing wine producers.

Types of champagne "Bosca" and prices at an affordable level allow not to give up their positions in the alcoholic beverages market from year to year.

Another feature of the drink is that when the drink is poured into glasses, less foam is formed than in classic champagne, and there is no “heavy head” syndrome after drinking the volume, more than required.

Thanks to its original taste, this champagne goes well with desserts and various sweet pastries, as well as with fruits and light snacks.

Sparkling wine "Crystal"

Champagne "Crystal" belongs to the elite sparkling wines of France. An original recipe in tandem with sun-filled grapes creates a unique champagne.

Apart from uniqueness, exclusivity is also inherent in Kristall. The fact is that the company produces no more than three million bottles annually. While the French house "Chardonnay Moet" - 26 million a year.

The price for one bottle of "sunny" champagne starts from 18,000 rubles and more.

The manufacturer's motto is “quality, quality and only quality”. Therefore, in the race for market success, the emphasis is on a calm and high-quality performance of the drink. An interesting fact is connected with the Kristall champagne and the Russian Emperor Nicholas II.

It was for him that the world famous Cristal Louis Roederer champagne was made. The emperor liked it so much that he ordered it to be made for his royal court. This is how the history of French champagne began from the banks of the Russian Neva.

According to the law adopted in 1891 in Madrid, "Champagne" can be called varieties of white sparkling wines, which are made from several grape varieties grown in the Champagne province according to strictly regulated rules governing the composition of the soil in vineyards, the inadmissibility of the introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers and other features.

For the production of champagne, only Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir varieties are allowed. But even taking into account the above, the climatic features of each season can be more or less favorable for growing grapes, the final taste of the drink also strongly depends on this.

Wine, for the production of which one variety of berries was used, grown in a particularly favorable year, is called vintage or vintages, is highly prized, and the year of production must be indicated on the label. In less favorable years, champagne is produced by blending: wine materials made from grapes of the last two or three seasons are combined for re-fermentation.

Then, according to the production technology, the resulting wine materials ferment either in oak barrels or in metal vats, where alcohol is formed from natural sugar, as in the production of any wine, and carbon dioxide evaporates. The resulting product is poured into special thick-walled bottles.

After that, yeast and a certain amount of sugar are added and placed in cellars, where secondary fermentation takes place at a certain constant temperature.

Carbon dioxide from this fermentation dissolves in the wine, and the finished product becomes an effervescent drink, which is the hallmark of champagne, like other sparkling wines.

So that the wine is not cloudy and to get rid of the yeast sediment, an operation called remuage is performed with it. After a certain period of aging on yeast lees, from 12 months to several years, the bottles with wine in the cellars for some time are turned every day by a certain small degree and tilted down from a horizontal position.

This causes sediment to accumulate on the plug. Then the spout of the bottle is frozen, the cork is removed, and a frozen piece of wine with sediment is removed with it, this is called disgorging. In its place, wine with sugar dissolved in it is poured into the bottle. Depending on how much sugar is added, champagne is divided into varieties.

1. Extra brut - produced without added sugar after degorging.Sugar in wine appears only due to fermentation and ranges from 3 to 6 g per liter.
2. Brut - sugar content is 15 g per liter. This species is in greatest demand in European countries and is considered the most perfect in taste.
3. Extra dry (extra sec) - contains from 12 to 20 g of sugar per liter.
4. Dry (sec) - with a sugar content of 17-35 g per liter, it is dry.
5. Demi-sex (rich) - semi-dry, contains 33-50 g of sugar per liter.
6. Doux is sweet. Contains over 50 g of sugar per liter.

In addition, the following designations can be seen on the champagne label:

• NM - means that champagne is produced by a large company that buys grapes or wine materials for this;
• CM - wine produced by a cooperative of winegrowers from their grapes;
• RM - wine produced by a company that carries out the entire process, from growing grapes to packaging bottles in containers;
• ND - the company does not produce wine itself, but sells it under its own brand;
• MA - a brand is owned by a restaurant or supermarket that sells the brand, but does not manufacture it;
• SR - wine produced by an association of vineyard owners;
• RC - wine produced by a member of the wine growers' association under its own brand.

In addition, the label may indicate the following: "blanc de blance" in literal translation "white from white", indicating that the wine was made from Chardonnay grapes; "Blanc de noirs" - "white from black", made from red grapes, such varieties are Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier; "Rose" - pink.

In any case, champagne is a white wine, even if red grape varieties were used for its production, it was just that when squeezing the juice, the operation was carried out extremely carefully and the dye from the skin of the berries did not get into the wort. But in the manufacture of pink champagne, the extract of the peel of red varieties in a small amount is added on purpose.

Why do you need to know these features? Genuine champagne is a rather expensive product, and knowing what kind of champagne is depends on whether you get satisfaction from buying exactly the type and variety you wanted to get.

And the most expensive and prestigious wine bears the mark “Delux” or “Cuvees de prestige” on the label, it is made from the highest quality grapes in a year when the harvest was extremely successful.

Wine with such a mark is vintage or vintages, which is also sometimes indicated on the label, and is aged until disgorged for about 10 years.

Sparkling wines are also produced in Ukraine and Russia. But they bear the name "Champagne" only on the domestic market in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union, the USA.

Officially, sparkling wines produced in other provinces of France, for example, in Bordeaux and Burgundy, exist under the name “Cremant”, sparkling wine produced in Spain is produced under the name “Cava”, in Italy it is produced “Spumante” or “Asti” province of Piedmont, where the product is made from nutmeg varieties.

In South Africa, sparkling wine is produced under the Cap classique brand, and the Sekt brand of sparkling wine from Germany has been known since the beginning of the last century.

There are several brands of sparkling wine in Russia called "Champagne". This is contrary to international law, and under this name Russian wines, despite their high quality, cannot enter the international market.

Champagne is a drink called sparkling wine. It is made from grape juice, which is carbonated by natural fermentation.

History and origins of champagne

The birthplace of champagne is France, or rather, the province of Champagne. The recipe for the drink was found by chance when French winemakers received "devil's wine with bubbles." Wine tore apart the barrels in which it was stored, so today it is poured into glass bottles for fermentation and fermentation.

The first bottling is made in steel dishes, the second in bottles with the addition of yeast and sugar, after which the wine is "infused" for another 6 months.

From France, champagne went all over the world, it was very fond of Russian and European aristocrats.And today, no solemn event takes place without sparkling wine.

Types of champagne

The type of this wine is determined by its color, aging, amount of sugar and grape juice, which is part of:

• Red, white, pink.
• Vintage (one year old) and Non-Vintage (unseasoned).
• Sweet, semi-sweet, dry, extra dry, brut, semi-dry.

Champagne composition

Champagne wines are produced from one or of three varieties of unripe grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Thanks to natural juice, the drink receives a sufficient amount of nutrients:

• Vitamins: B2, PP.
• Trace elements: calcium, phosphorus, chromium, magnesium, iron, sodium.

The benefits and harms of champagne

Champagne is a real hormone of joy, because its use will help calm the nerves and relieve tension. The drink contains polyphenol, which lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation and speeds up the stomach. It is also recommended to wipe the face with natural wine for skin elasticity.

Of course, champagne is an alcoholic beverage that makes you intoxicated when consumed. This is due to carbon dioxide and sugar, which accelerate the absorption of intoxicating wine into the bloodstream.

Bubbles can provoke bloating, heartburn, and activate the processes of putrefaction in the intestines. And in the first 2 trimesters of pregnancy, sparkling wine should be abandoned, its use can lead to the development of defects in the unborn baby.

How to drink champagne

We are used to drinking the drink in its purest form. And in the CIS countries, food is washed down with sparkling wine. But this is not entirely correct, for example, in France, champagne is drunk exclusively from glasses: it is drunk before meals as an aperitif, or during the serving of main courses, desserts or fruits. Adding limoncello liqueur to sparkling wine makes a wonderful cocktail.

You will be surprised, but sparkling wine often becomes an ingredient of haute cuisine, it is added to such dishes:

• Pates from poultry meat and liver.
• Seafood sauces.
• Desserts with champagne.

How to choose and store champagne wines

Most of the people put forward a minimum of requirements for the drink: it opens with cotton, froths and tastes good.

Of course, the average citizen of Ukraine or Russia cannot afford to buy the French drink "Veuve Clicquot", the cost of a bottle of the drink starts at 5 thousand rubles.

But in our stores, you can also choose a worthy drink option - Soviet champagne, spending no more than 300-700 rubles:

• The wooden cork will be the first sign of the quality of the drink.
• Smooth label and place of production. For example, if Crimea is indicated on the bottle, then the champagne is original and of high quality. After all, the peninsula is famous for its vineyards.
• You can shake the bottle and look at the foam: in a good drink, it is dense and takes up all the free space. Be careful: Shaking can cause the bottle to shoot.

But the shelf life of the drink in a closed bottle does not. You just have to put it in a dark, cool place, and remove it at the right time.

Champagne is a sparkling wine produced in the French Champagne region. And despite the fact that sparkling wines are made all over the world, in many places other terms are used for them: in Spain it is “Cava”, in Italy it is “spumante”, in South Africa it is “Cap Classique”.

Italian sparkling wine made from Muscat grapes, produced in southeastern Piedmont, is called "Asti". In Germany, the most common sparkling wine is "Sekt". Even other regions of France are prohibited from using the name "champagne". For example, winemakers in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace make a wine called "Crémant". Those. the term "sparkling wine" is used to refer to all sparkling wines not produced in the Champagne region.

However, while many countries have laws protecting the regions where champagne is produced, some countries, including the United States, allow sparkling wine producers to use the name “champagne” to refer to products that do not originate from Champagne.

So, in order to provide this opportunity, the US Congress passed a law indicating that the term "champagne" is "semi-generic".

The name "champagne" is also used in Russia and other countries of the former USSR, on the territory of which the trademarks "Soviet champagne", "Russian champagne", "Ukrainian champagne", etc. are represented.

If you want to be well versed in champagne, then you probably have little knowledge of how to choose champagne and that “champagne” is a sparkling wine produced only in the Champagne province.

You should probably be aware of the types of champagnes as well.

There is a separate classification, according to which types of champagne are distinguished depending on the grape variety, sugar content, harvest year and the characteristics of the production of the drink.

According to the number of grape varieties used in the production, all brands of champagne can be divided into vintage and non-vintage types.

Vintage (vintages) champagne - made only from grapes of one year (vintages), provided that this year was successful for winemaking (it happens 2-3 times for 10 years).

Each wine-growing region (Champagne is no exception) publishes its own list of successful years for growing grapes.

But in the past few years, many producers have abandoned this rule, which has devalued vintage champagnes.

Non-vintage champagne - made by mixing the three grapes permitted for champagne (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier). These drinks usually contain 15-40% wine of the last 2-3 years (medium and low quality reserve wine is used).

Cuvees de prestige (special or delux) - the most prestigious drinks that are made from grapes of the Grand Cru category.

Most champagnes of this variety are vintage and aged longer than others. Blanc de blancs (white from white) - made exclusively from white Chardonnay grapes.

Blank de noirs (white from black) - made only from red varieties "Pinot Meunier" and "Pinot Noir".

Rose (pink) - champagne, obtained by mixing red and white wine. The drink gets its characteristic pink color due to the soaking of the skin of red grapes in the initial must.

According to the sugar content, the following types of champagne are distinguished:

• Non-dosage (brut nature) - is produced without added sugar, as it is believed to neutralize the taste of champagne. These are the most expensive varieties and require the best wine materials to make them. Residual sugar in the drink appears due to fermentation, but its content does not exceed 6 grams / liter.
• Brut - This is the most common type of champagne with a sugar content of no more than 15 g / l (1.5%). Great for any meal. Extra sec (Extra-dry) - intermediate grade of champagne, sugar content - 12-20 g / l. Currently, it is almost not produced due to low popularity among consumers.
• Sec (Dry) - dry (semi-sweet) champagne, contains 17-35 grams of sugar per liter. Demi-sec (Rich) - sweet champagne with a sugar content of 33-50 g / l.
• Doux - dessert varieties, the amount of sugar in which exceeds 50 g / l.

Types of champagne by type of manufacturer:

• NM (Negociant manipulant) - for the production of champagne, the company buys grapes or wine materials. Almost all major manufacturers fall into this group. RM (Recoltant-manipulant) - the wine house owns the vineyards and controls the entire champagne production cycle up to bottling.
• ND (Negociant distributeur) - the company sells champagne under its own brand, but does not produce it. MA (Marque auxiliaire) - the brand does not belong to either the owner of the vineyard or the grower. Restaurants and supermarkets often have their own brands.
• SR (Societe de recoltants) - Champagne is produced by an association of winegrowers who control several brands.
• RC (Recoltant cooperateur) - a member of a cooperative selling champagne wines under his own brand.

Classification of champagne bottles according to their capacity.

In Russia, a 0.75 liter bottle is considered a classic champagne bottle. In France, the capacity of a bottle is not measured in liters, but in a special measure of volume called magnum. In the production of champagne, French winemakers, in addition to the classic (0.75 l or half magnum), use several more types of bottles of various capacities.

Standard - 750 ml bottle; Magnum - 1.5 liters (equivalent to 2 bottles); Jeroboam ((Jeroboam) - two magnums, that is, 3 liters;Rehoboam - three magnums, that is, 4.5 liters; Methuselah (Methuselah) - four magnums, that is, 6 liters; Salmanazar - contains six magnums, that is, 9 liters; Balthazar (Baltasar) - eight magnums, 12 liters;Nebuchadnezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) - ten magnums, 15 liters. Previously, these champagne bottles are not currently used.

The most common are half magnum (classic bottle), magnum, jeroboam, and rheoboam. The latter two are used as souvenir bottles and are featured at large social events or as representative gifts. The same names are used for wine and port bottles; however, before Methuselah, they correspond to other volumes.

SR: société de récoltants is a community of independent winemakers that produces and bottled champagne from the crop harvested by members of the same community.

ND: négociant distributeur is a wholesaler or commercial community purchasing bottled champagne and labeling it.

R: récoltant is a winemaker who gives the crop to a commercial enterprise, pays for the production of champagne, but carries out the sale himself.

MA: marque auxiliaire is a trademark made at the request of a reseller who attaches its own label to the bottle.

Champagne is a unique drink, and so that it does not disappoint expectations, it is necessary to handle it correctly. If the champagne is of good quality, then it suits all occasions and all dishes. Any manufacturer, mixing different cepages or wines from different regions, as well as dosing cuvées in a special way, can give their champagne a certain taste.

Champagne can be light and strong, fruity or floral, young or ripe, sweet or dry. Of course, champagne can be good and bad, refined and ordinary, harmonious and oversaturated, expensive and not so much.

Even one of the most popular champagnes - brut sans millésime (brut without specifying the year) - may have different qualities, it all depends on the manufacturer or winemaker.

Sparkling, young and dry champagne (most often brut non millésimé (brut without indicating the year) or blancs de blancs jeunes (white from young white) is the best aperitif. It goes well with seafood.

Stronger brut is more suitable for black caviar and lobster. Brut (brut) and blanc de blancs (white from white) are harmoniously combined with fish dishes.

The more intricate the taste of the dish, its composition or the sauce served with it, the more complex the champagne must be, in such cases it is recommended to choose millésimé (champagne with the indication of the year) or rosé (rosé champagne).

The rare Cuvées Prestige are served with very sophisticated dishes. Bulky (puissant) dry champagne is suitable for cheese, while dry and semi-dry champagne is better for not very sweet desserts.

Serve chilled champagne. The ideal temperature is 6-9 ° C. The drink should be cooled gradually. To do this, before and after uncorking, the bottle is immersed in a bucket of water and pieces of ice.

It is not recommended to pour champagne into cup-shaped glasses - carbon dioxide and the aroma of the drink quickly evaporate from them; Narrow crystal wine glasses with a long stem are ideal for this drink so that the contents of the glass do not heat up from the touch of the hand.

Types of champagne:

• Extra-brut: also called brut non dosé (not metered), brut nature (natural), ultra brut (ultra), brut zéro (zero), brut intégral (full); underdosed champagne with the lowest sugar content - 2 g / l.
• Brut: sugar content maximum 15 g per liter.
• Sec (dry): Despite the name, it can contain from 17 to 35 g / l of sugar, which gives it the liqueur added before corking.
• Demi-sec (semi-dry): sugar content from 33 to 50 g / l. This is dessert wine.
• Doux (sweet): rare champagne with sugar content exceeding 50 g / l.
• Brut sans millésime (brut without year indication): has become a world famous symbol because this type accounts for 80% of all champagne produced. The taste can be varied.

• Blanc de blanc (white from white grapes): made only on the basis of chardonnay blanc (white chardonnay), fresh, lively champagne, a wonderful aperitif.
• Blanc de noir (white from dark grapes): champagne based on pinot noir and pinot meunier, which give it a bright fruity taste.
• Crémant (sparkling champagne): champagne containing carbon dioxide, effervescent and strong, the most recognizable of those produced in Craman, which cannot be confused with sparkling champagnes from other regions of France.
• Rosé (pink): sometimes made from red grapes with slightly colored skins, but more often from a mixture of red and white wines, has a bright fruity taste, ideal for lunch or dinner.
• Millésimé (with year): Champagne from special harvests, matures for 3–6 years, continues to mature in bottle for several years.
• Cuvée prestige etc. (cuvée prestige): The luxuriously finished bottle underlines the uniqueness of this drink. Most often these are high quality and legendary millésime (champagne with the indication of the year), sold at a very high price.