Sparkling wine or champagne?
Light sparkling champagne is an important attribute of any holiday. It is also served at various events. And sometimes you just want to drink a glass of this delicious wine. Our readers often ask the question, what is better to choose for the holiday – champagne or some kind of sparkling wine? We decided to talk about this with the sommelier of the online store Vintage.
Champagne is also sparkling wine!
First, let's look at the main names. In fact, carbonated wines saturated with carbon dioxide are called sparkling wines all over the world. But only if this gas was obtained by natural fermentation. Thus, champagne is a kind of sparkling wine.
According to international laws, sparkling wines produced exclusively in France, and only in the province of Champagne, have the right to be called Champagne (the exact spelling of the brand is Champagne). Grape varieties are defined at the legislative level. This is Pinot Noir, as well as Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The method of obtaining Champenois, as well as the aging period – from 15 months.
If at least one of the conditions is violated, the wine can no longer be called champagne.
A few words about the technology
We have already said above that champagne in France is made according to the Champenois method. At the same time, the "green" wine is bottled in bottles with thick walls, sealed with a cork and left to be aged in dark, cool rooms.
The second option for obtaining sparkling wine is the Charm method, invented in Italy. In this case, the drink is kept in tanks, inside which the tightness is maintained. And ready-made wine is bottled. The method is simpler and cheaper than the traditional one, therefore it has become widespread.
Sparkling wines: the main types
Let's see what varieties of sparkling wine can be found on sale.
- Creman. It is made in the southern provinces of France. The name is literally translated as "creamy". After the first tasting, you will understand exactly why.
- Kava. Spanish sparkling wine, 90% of which is produced in Catalonia. The production technology is indistinguishable from champagne, but the grape varieties are different. The amount of sugar can be different, from almost complete absence to the dessert version of Dulce (more than 50 g/l). The taste is light, rich in fruit and floral shades with a slight citrus accent.
- Franciacorta. Italian sparkling wine with this name is produced in Lombardy. The production method is classic, as well as varieties, only Pinot Blanc is used instead of Pinot Mene. The taste is very close to natural champagne.
- Asti. It is produced in Italy, in Piedmont by the Charm method. The composition of the drink includes aromatic nutmeg. The wine is very delicate, the alcohol content is minimal.
- Lambrusco. The world-famous sparkling wine. The production method is based on Charm. It can have different shades – white, red, pink. Fragrant, bright and at the same time tender, it can be dry, semi-sweet and dessert.
- Zect. Original German wine. They are made only from one type of grape, most often from riesling. Carbon dioxide appears in the bottle as a result of secondary fermentation. A very interesting taste, in many ways similar to the "quiet" riesling.
Let's summarize the results
French champagne is distinguished not only by its original taste, but also by its high price. At the same time, many Italian or Spanish sparkling wines are no worse, but the cost of the bottle is several times cheaper. Moreover, soft aromatic drinks from Italy are often liked by our compatriots much more. Therefore, when choosing, it is worth studying the taste features, determining the appropriate cost of the bottle, after which it remains to make sure that the drink is original and you can make a purchase.
Recently, we told recipes for cherry sauce.
