Champagne with a female name. All about champagne. What does it happen? The division of French champagne according to the varieties of grapes used

Gone are the days when only wealthy people could afford French champagne. Now quality product can be bought at any major supermarket. And here the main problem lies in wait for ignorant people: how to choose the right brand? In this article, we will look at the main French brands of champagne, as well as reviews about them.

From the history of French champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that takes its name from the Champagne region in France. Still wine has been produced here since the early Middle Ages. The French kings traditionally drank it during their coronation in Reims, and also sent it as a gift to the rulers of other countries. The UK has taken a special liking to French wines. Some believe that it was the British who invented the recipe for the famous champagne. The first sparkling wine created for commercial distribution appeared only in the 16th century in Toulouse. According to legend, the monk Perignon invented the first French champagne, but there is no evidence to support this fact. On the contrary, many believe that he only improved the process of its manufacture.

The world popularity of champagne was brought by the mistresses of the French king Louis XIV. It was for them that it appeared on all holiday tables. Until that time, sparkling wine was consumed only by narrow circles of aristocrats, most of whom lived in the UK. In 1891, many European countries pledged to call champagne only wine produced in the region of the same name. This rule is still in effect, but it has not gained distribution in the United States and Russia. In the post-Soviet space, it is customary to call sparkling wine champagne, regardless of its origin.

French champagne: stamps

There are a huge variety of brands of champagne - both budget and prestigious. The price and quality of sparkling wine largely depend on the method of its preparation, as well as on the grape variety, soil and climate. In France, more than 300 communes are engaged in the production of champagne, but only 17 of them produce Grand Cru - the most expensive and elite drinks. More than 5,000 companies bottle wine, but only 250 of them create a high-quality product.

What French champagne wines are considered the most popular, expensive and delicious? We list the main brands:

• "Mumm."
• "A circle".
• "The Widow Clicquot".
• Moet and Chandon.
• "Louis Roederer".
• Dom Perignon.

And this is not the whole list of world famous companies. Let us consider in more detail the history of each brand, its features and types of produced champagne.

Champagne "Mumm"

This company was founded in 1827 by German winemakers from the Mumm family, who lived in France. The popularity of this sparkling wine was brought not only by its unusual taste, but also by the famous red ribbon around the bottle. This design element resembled the ribbon of the French Legion of Honor. Subsequently, the company was nationalized by the country's authorities. Now the company "Mumm" produces a third of all produced wine. French champagne is exported all over the world. Residents of Russia can also purchase it in their stores. This wine can hardly be called budget, because average price a bottle starts at $90.

Champagne, produced by Mumm, is considered a drink of active people who love travel and sports. It has a pronounced fruity aroma. The taste of the drink is not sour and not bitter. It tastes like a combination of citrus fruits, grapes and honey. This sparkling wine is usually consumed only chilled. The company "Mumm", which produces French champagne, is a sponsor of the Formula 1 competition, and also supplies drinks to the royal court of Great Britain.

Champagne "Krug"

This company was founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug. In production, he used only grapes best quality. The company is now run by the fifth generation of the Krug family. The famous sparkling rosé wine was invented by the brothers Henri and Reni in 1983. When creating a drink, it must be aged for several years. In total, the company produces about 100 thousand bottles per year, which is several hundred times less than the largest manufacturers. The price for this drink is appropriate. For example, a 1928 collectible bottle recently sold at auction for $21,000. The minimum price is about $400-800 per bottle.

This French rose champagne will delight you with the aroma wild berries, which are combined with exotic spices and flowers. Has a long lasting taste. The longer it stays in the glass, the more rich notes you can feel. It is served to fine dining eg lobster, delicacies Japanese cuisine, truffles and salmon.

Champagne "Veuve Clicquot"

The famous French company "Veuve Clicquot" was founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot. Subsequently, it was inherited by his son François, who married Barbara Ponsaradin. In 1805, a woman was widowed, taking over the reins of the company. It was she who made her famous all over the world. In addition, she invented a wire bridle that fits over the cork. According to her own recipe, French champagne, whose names are listed in our article, turned out to be absolutely transparent. Subsequently, this technology began to be used by all the largest producers of sparkling wine. She bequeathed her company to a friend who was also passionate about winemaking. It is his descendants who continue to produce wine to this day.

You can recognize the champagne "Veuve Clicquot" by its characteristic design. A dark bottle is surrounded by a yellow label. The drink has a sweetish taste, combining fruity notes, raisins and vanilla flavor. Rosé and golden sparkling wines are produced. You can buy a bottle of inexpensive champagne in Russia for $80, but most of the sparkling wines from this company are much more expensive.

Champagne "Moet and Chandon"

Company "Moet and Chandon" - the world's largest producer of champagne. The winery was founded in 1743 by Claude Moet. You can recognize the drink of this company by a black bow with a gilded border, which is fastened under the neck of a dark bottle. The company annually produces about 30 million bottles, which is twice the production of "Veuve Clicquot", which is its main competitor. This best French champagne was especially loved by Emperor Napoleon and the British Queen Elizabeth II. For many years, the company has been a partner of the famous Golden Globe film awards, and the actress Scarlett Johansson has recently become the face of Moët & Chandon.

Thanks to the huge production, the company sells sparkling wine at a reasonable price. A bottle of champagne will cost $70, although there are more expensive types. The aroma of the drink combines notes of green apple, pear, citrus and nuts. It is served to fish dishes and fruit desserts.

Champagne "Louis Rederer"

If you are looking for expensive French champagne, then you should pay attention to the Louis Rederer company. It produces premium drinks, among which Crystal sparkling wine is especially popular. In the 19th century, it was supplied to the imperial court of Russia in crystal bottles, which depicted a double-headed eagle. Until 1945, this sparkling wine was not sold. It was supplied on special orders only to privileged persons. Now a bottle of Crystal can be bought for 400-1200 dollars, depending on the quality of the crop. Cheaper types of Louis Roederer champagne cost about $150.

The aroma of Crystal includes notes of roasted almonds, citrus fruits, melon and apricot, which are combined with a bitter aftertaste. Before selling, it is aged for at least 6.5 years in cellars.

Champagne "Dom Perignon"

Another company that produces premium champagne is Dom Perignon. It was founded in 1921 and named after the monk Pierre Perignon, who, according to legend, invented sparkling wine. Champagne of this brand is produced every few years - in the years of a special harvest. For example, the last vintage for rosé wine was 1998. An exclusive set, released in 2007, was created by the famous designer Karl Lagerfeld. It included 6 bottles of rose wine and crystal glasses. Its cost was approximately $100,000. At the official presentation, the set was presented to customers by top models Eva Herzigova and Claudia Schiffer. The taste of champagne "Dom Perignon" combines notes of spices, figs and strawberries. It is served with poultry or fish dishes.

On the eve of the holidays, a reasonable question arises - what kind of good champagne to buy? And is it true that only white wine can rightly be called champagne, while other frothy semi-sweet drinks of pink and red color are just sparkling wine?

Let's figure out which champagne is better, dry, semi-sweet, elite or Soviet.

Which champagne is real and which is fake

The bulk of sparkling wine, which we call champagne, is made using a simplified method. Without reading the label and being tempted by an affordable price, the buyer runs the risk of buying, at best, wine artificially saturated with carbon dioxide instead of real champagne. And at worst, a fizzy, flavored drink that was made from sugar, alcohol, and water.

So, what is the difference between real champagne and beautifully frothy, bottled in elegant "figured" wine bottles?

Real champagne is made from three grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot and white Chardonnay in the Champagne region of France. Only such sparkling wine can be called champagne. Rest alcoholic drinks labeled "champagne", produced in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of the world - nothing more than a good analogue of the famous French product.

Estimated cost of real champagne wines in Russia from the world famous brands Louis Roederer, Pierre Gimonnet & Fils, Chanoine from 3,000 rubles to 500,000 per bottle. At the same time, numerous reviews indicate that our compatriots for the most part prefer Russian semi-sweet champagne to foreign ones. It is also produced according to old French technology, but domestic products are several times cheaper.

The prices of champagne wines depend on the manufacturing technology, grape varieties, aging and range from 200 rubles for semi-sweet white wine to 2300 rubles for extra brut white sparkling wine.

Champagne is usually classified not only by sugar content (brut, ultrabrut, semi-dry and dry), but also by the year of production - vintage. So, more democratic in price and light drinks do not withstand several years and are ready for use within a couple of months after manufacture. (“Sparkling” producers of such wines achieve through the mechanical addition of carbon dioxide). And vintage champagne wines, produced from one grape harvest and passed the strictest control, can withstand 5 years or more. In this case, the whole process of "champagne" occurs naturally.

Which champagne is better, brut or semi-sweet?

The purest taste in dry champagne with a minimum content of added sugar. Those who once chose brut nature for themselves will hardly ever be able to drink anything else. Dry sparkling wine is the perfect companion for seafood and white meat. Brut goes well with peach and pear.

But in our country there are many who contemptuously call brut “sourness” and are happy to use semi-sweet brands of champagne wines for the holidays. This unfair treatment of dry champagne is partly due to the wrong choice of product. Authentic Brut with the richest palette of flavors and amazing aftertaste cannot be cheap a priori.

Cuvee Royale AOC Joseph Perrier, Brut Rose Deutz, Ayala Blanc de Blancs and many other bruts should be drunk properly, without eating herring, chocolate and chops at the same time. For, knocking down its amazing taste with coarse food, it is easy to spoil all the gastronomic pleasure.

But in the countries of the post-Soviet space, consumers give their main preference to brands of champagne from the economy segment. Bottles worth 200 rubles are sold much faster than expensive and elite wines, and occupy about 80% of the entire market.

Champagne for the New Year

AT New Year a bottle of semi-sweet on the table is a tradition. And most often, glasses are filled not with elite Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon and Piper-Heidsieck, but at best affordable Lambrusco dell'Emilia and Martini Asti, at worst - "Soviet" white semi-sweet for 170 rubles. Although, if original, then not everyone will pay attention to its contents.

Rating of the most popular inexpensive champagne in Russia:

1. ABRAU-DYURSO Russian-made champagne.
2. Champagne bosco, white and sweet. The range of the Italian producer Bosca includes both inexpensive sparkling wines and innovative drinks.
3. Champagne wines "New World" are rightly called one of the best samples of Crimean champagne. We especially love Novosvetsky Pinot Noir.
4. Asti champagne. Asti Martini is a light sparkling wine with natural fruity sweetness and a whole range of flavors.
5. Soviet champagne. When buying it for the next holiday, you need to keep in mind that Soviet champagne produced the classic way, tastes much better than a quick bottled sparkling drink. Focus on price.

What good quality champagne does not give you a headache in the morning?

Why does my head hurt after champagne? Poor sparkling wine with insufficient flavor is often masked by manufacturers with excessive sweetening. One bottle of sugar can contain three times as much sugar as lemonade! And sugar is known to increase fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract and inhibit the processing of alcohol. That is why the toxic effect of semi-sweet and sweet champagne is higher (and hence the head hurts more) than dry brut. In addition, the surrogate production of sweet pop in 2015 in Russia broke all records. Draw your own conclusions.

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 prefix "Soviet" proudly flies. And that's not counting sparkling wines.

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:

Manufacturers of the "ladies" drink have long divided it into categories. Varieties of champagne (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.

1. Champagne / sparkling wine / is distinguished by grape variety:

• Vintage species (mono-varietal) are prepared from one grape variety, "extracted" in one harvest season (i.e. 1 time in 3-5 years).
• Non-vintage species (assembly) are prepared by mixing 3 varieties wine berries(pinot meunier and noir, chardonnay). Often in such alcohol there is from 10 to 40% of sparkling wines made earlier - 2-3 years before. Moreover, these wines are not of high quality, at best - average.

1. For sweetness:

• Doux / Dulce - sweet, dessert, containing sugars over 50 grams per liter
• Demi-sec / Rich / Semi-Seco - semi-sweet / semi-dry, containing sugars 33-50 grams per liter
• Sec / Dry / Seco - dry types containing sugars 17-35 grams per liter
• Extra sec / Extra-dry / Extra Seco - extra - dry champagne containing sugars 12-20 grams per liter
• Brut is the "dryest" drink, containing up to 15 grams of sugar per liter
• Non-dosage - an expensive, natural, sugar-free variety that can detect residual 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.

1. According to the “color” of champagne (sparkling wine), we can distinguish:

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

• Blanc de blancs is a variety - "white of white", it is made only from "chardonnay" (white grapes). The color of the drink is golden.
• Blank de noirs is a variety - “white from black”, it is made using “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 soaking the skins of red grapes in white wine must or by blending white and red wine. The color of the drink is pink.
• Cuvees de prestige / delux / special - 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.

1. Bottle capacity:

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

• 30 liters - Melchizedek (produced only 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

1. By manufacturer:

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

1. By region of production:

• Italian - Asti, prepared from the Moscato vineyards. This is a dessert and light drink. Another variety of sparkling wines from a sunny country is Spumante. They are represented by dessert and semi-sweet varieties. Dry sparkling wines here are called Prosecco. In addition, the lines of sparkling wines Bracchetto, Lambrusco, Franciacorta, Fragolino are considered excellent brands of Italy. The taste of Italian varieties emphasizes their "youth" (you should not keep them for more than a year).
• South African - Cap Classique, it is prepared 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 - an image of a four-pointed star. Only 3 wine houses produce it - Segura Viudas, Freixenet and Codorníu.
• French, but not from the province of 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.

Of course, there are other types of champagne - Crimean, Moldovan (Cricova), Portuguese (Bairrada), Russian (Soviet champagne, Abrau-Dyurso, Tsimlyanskoye), 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, the lightness of the aroma and their magical overflows in the edges of a crystal glass under artificial lighting - here, anyway, the main criterion is the taste of each person.

And here are the most famous champagne brands 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), Moë [email protected](Moet and Chandon) from $70-200 per bottle, Louis Roederer (Louis Roederer) from $150 to $1000 per bottle, Piper Heidsieck (Piper Heidsek) from $50 per bottle, G.H. 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 (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 for drinking this wonderful drink, different types glasses?

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

By shape, there are several types of champagne glasses:

• Champagne flute- special glasses for serving drinks. They have the shape of a flute: a thin elongated leg and a narrow high bowl. This is a classic glass with a volume of 120-200 ml. 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 the classic glass. Its volume is 150 ml. It is inconvenient because the bubbles and aroma quickly disappear. But at buffet tables, towers are often built from glasses of this type. This is a spectacular show: a drink is poured into the top glass, which, flowing like a waterfall, fills the rest of the glasses in the lower tiers.
• Glasses for red wine- 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), but it is not recommended from martini glasses due to the rapid loss of aroma, although martinki are quite suitable for some cocktails on champagne base.

from the New Year's Eve series is dedicated to the choice of inexpensive sparkling wine. The word "champagne" in this case is not quite correct, although I indicated it in the title of the article. The fact is that only sparkling wine made according to a strictly defined technology in the French province of Champagne can be called champagne (according to international standards). Of course, many Russians continue to call sparkling wines champagne. There is nothing wrong with this, but in this article I will use the word "champagne" only in quotation marks.

The most budget options for "champagne"

In supermarkets you can find "champagne" - "Russian" or "Soviet" - even for 150 rubles per bottle. This is, to put it mildly, a terrible drink. In most cases, such wine (usually of the lowest quality) is artificially carbonated, while in real sparkling wine, carbon dioxide (and, accordingly, bubbles) is formed naturally as a result of the fermentation process. Cheap "champagne" can also be supplied with flavorings and various additives, and its taste and aroma are coarse, inexpressive. Sometimes there is even a distinct chemical aftertaste. Well, it's completely disgusting, although many Russians are quite satisfied with this option.

For about 325-400 rubles you can buy a bottle of relatively good "champagne" "Lev Golitsyn", Bosca, Tsimlyanskoye. Of course, they are not rich and exquisite taste but still relatively decent and drinkable. Although, again, the same Bosca is actually not sparkling wine, but “carbonated wine drink”. That is, it is clear that this is only a semblance of a good sparkling wine (specifically, Bosca seems to be made as a semblance of Italian Asti wines).

True, it is worth adding that for a large noisy company, "champagne" for 350 rubles is perhaps the most suitable option, since it is unlikely that anyone from this company will carefully study the taste and aroma of wine. But for a more intimate (let's say) atmosphere, it is better, of course, to buy better sparkling wines.

Russia: sparkling wines Abrau-Dyurso

In my opinion, Russian sparkling wines Abrau-Durso have a good price-quality ratio. But no more. The cost of one bottle is from 300 to 800 rubles (depending on the specific variety). Expensive sparkling wines Abrau-Durso (600-800 rubles) have a full and rich taste, a bright fruity aroma, and a long and pleasant aftertaste. Beautiful numerous bubbles. This is a very solid "champagne" But, again, this applies to expensive options - Imperial and Victor Dravigny; cheap ones have a simpler taste and aroma.

Abrau-Durso produces semi-sweet sparkling wines (for those with a sweet tooth), semi-dry and brut wines (for those who prefer dry wine). Expensive sparkling wines of Abrau-Durso (for example, "Victor Dravigny") differ from cheap options (for example, "Abrau") in a more versatile and rich taste, more refined aroma. In addition, it is worth noting that only expensive options are made according to classical technology"champagne", and cheap ones - by the reservoir method. Accordingly, if possible, it is better to buy Victor Dravigny or Imperial.

Ukraine: Krym sparkling wines

Artyomovsk winery, located in Ukraine, produces relatively good sparkling wines Krym (Krym), however, they cannot be called brilliant. The cost of one bottle is from 420-450 rubles. Under the brand name "Crimea" rosé, white and red sparkling wines are produced; semi-sweet, semi-dry and brut (=dry). If compared with the expensive sparkling wines of Abrau-Dyurso, then "Crimea" is clearly worse, despite the use of classical technology. And the lower line of the same manufacturer (the Artyomovskoye brand) definitely leaves much to be desired.

Moldova: Cricova sparkling wines

I myself, to be honest, have not tried Cricova “champagne”, but, judging by the reviews, its price-quality ratio is normal. It seems even better than the "Crimea". And the price is low, about 500 rubles per bottle. Well-known Russian wine blogger Denis Rudenko speaks well of Cricova wines in particular.

Italy: Lambrusco sparkling wines

In Italy, good sparkling wine is produced from Lambrusco grapes (more precisely, from several variations of this variety). It is noticeably different from Abrau-Dyurso and Krim: it has a lighter, refreshing and subtle taste; it drinks well. The cost of a bottle of Lambrusco is from 400 to 1000 rubles. Of course, the more expensive, the richer the taste and aroma. There are many manufacturers of Lambrusco, Lambrusco Dell’Emilia differs from Chiarli in a good price-quality ratio. Prices - about 450-550 rubles per bottle.

You can buy Lambrusco sparkling wines sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry and brut; red, pink and white.

Italy: Asti sparkling wines

Many of the fair sex are very fond of the Italian sweet sparkling wine Asti, made from Muscat White grapes (Muscat Bianco). It costs not so little, but it has a very pleasant taste, sweet, slightly honey, very harmonious and refreshing. A lot of beautiful bubbles, rich fruity-floral aroma. Drinks easily and intoxicates imperceptibly.

Perhaps the most famous is Martini Asti, but it costs a lot - from 1100 rubles per bottle. Another option is the Cinzano Asti, which is basically identical to the Martini Asti, but some like it even better. It costs about 900 rubles per bottle (the cheapest is in Auchan). Other budget options: Santero Asti, Tosti Asti, Toso Asti - from about 700 rubles per bottle. During promotions and sales, their prices can drop to 650 rubles.

Italy: Prosecco Sparkling Wines

It is also necessary to mention the very popular Italian sparkling wines Prosecco. The cost of one bottle of Prosecco (many manufacturers) - from 700 rubles. Prosecco - dry white wines (sometimes semi-dry ones are found). The taste is quite "light", harmonious and refreshing, with fruity (sometimes floral) notes. A great option for those who like dry and semi-dry sparkling, but not sweet and semi-sweet. Prosecco is very popular in its homeland - in Italy (it seemed to me that it was more popular than the aforementioned Lambrusco and Asti). Of the well-known manufacturers of relatively budget Prosecco, Gancia, Cinzano, Zonin, Martini can be noted.

Be careful: recently, the production of Prosecco has been mastered by ZAO Sparkling Wines from St. Petersburg. Apparently, this company is engaged in bottling very cheap sparkling wine imported from Italy in large quantities.

France: Cremant sparkling wines

It so happened that French wines are more expensive than not only Russian and Ukrainian, but also Spanish and Italian wines. Yes, you can buy French "champagne" for 400-500 rubles per bottle, but it will be a very mediocre drink; in my opinion, it is better to buy Abrau-Durso for this money.

Good French sparkling wines cost from about 1200 rubles per bottle and are labeled with the word Cremant. There are variants of Cremant de Bourgogne (Burgundy), Cremant d'Alsace (Alsace), Cremant de Bordeaux (Bordeaux) and others. The production of all Cremant wines is controlled and complies with strict rules set for each region. The result is consistent quality.

French sparkling wines Cremant de Bourgogne(from Burgundy) are distinguished by a pleasant rich fruity taste and a light harmonious fruity aroma. Color - pink or white.

• Brut Nature (Natural), Brut Zero - there is no sugar in sparkling wine at all
• Extra Brut - sugar from 0 to 6 grams per liter
• Brut - sugar from 0 to 12 grams per liter
• Extra Sec - sugar from 12 to 17 grams per liter
• Sec - sugar from 17 to 32 grams per liter
• Demi-Sec - sugars from 33 to 50 grams per liter
• Doux - more than 50 grams of sugar per liter.

The French drink mostly sparkling wines Brut, this is the most common option, a real classic. For many Russians who are accustomed to the “Soviet semi-sweet”, brut seems too sour / tart, dry, tasteless. Therefore, sweet tooth can be advised the Demi-Sec option (in fact, an analogue of semi-sweet in terms of sugar content). Demi-Sec sparkling wines are produced in France (albeit in much smaller quantities than brut), and it’s real to find them on sale.

Most of us take champagne for granted. alcoholic drink, which helps to have fun to celebrate the holiday and or just have fun with friends in a great company. For many, this drink is reserved for a specific occasion New Year, graduation, birthday, promotion, engagement. But in terms of taste, it clearly cannot be compared with the most expensive bottles of champagne in the world, because all other drinks will simply fade against its background. This exclusive sparkling drink will obviously not be affordable for everyone.

But for some people, it's not exactly a drink, but more of a collectible. After all, rich collectors are ready to pay about $ 10,000 at auctions for some rare varieties. Indeed, the prices for champagne are sometimes simply shocking. Very soon you will find out how much the most expensive champagne in the world costs. And it's only for one bottle that people are willing to spend such fabulous money. Let's look at the rating of the most expensive champagne. And so we have prepared for you the top ten most expensive bottles of champagne.

Bolanger Champagne manufacturer has always produced an exclusive sparkling drink. Approximately the company produces 5,000 bottles per year.

In ninth place is Champagne Krug Clos Du Mesnil. It costs 750 dollars

Produced champagne Krug Clos - one of the oldest wineries. Back in the 90s, they started their activities and won the attention of people. An amazing bottle of champagne that costs from $750.

Eighth place is occupied by Dom Perignon champagne, the cost of which is 1950 dollars.

Almost everyone has heard of this drink. The producer of this vintage champagne is Moet and Chandon.

Richard Jofre stated that winemaking is a seasonal work, it must correspond directly to its own rhythm, the rhythm of winemaking to the rhythm of nature. In addition to the process of winemaking, the ability to manage technical nuances and production is also important.

Seventh place rightfully goes to Champagne Clos d'Ambonnay from Krug, worth 3500 dollars

Krug is one of the most famous champagne producers who produced the amazing Clos d'Ambonnay Champagne. This wine is made from red grapes. In addition to this, a note of raspberry, blueberry, red currant and licorice is felt. Anyone who wants to taste this best champagne should be prepared to pay $ 3,500.

In sixth place Champagne Perrier-Juet, which costs 6485 dollars.

Champagne Perrier-Juet is produced by the Perrier company, founded in 1811, on its account there are only 12 bottles of this champagne. The wine was produced on the basis of an old liquor. The founder of the company, Perrier, added the name of his wife Jouet to the name of this amazing drink.

Fifth place belongs to Crystal brut champagne 1990 , worth $17,625

It is known for this extraordinarily delicious champagne called “Methuselah” (Methuselah). Such a high cost is explained by the fact that the release is limited. The sparkling drink is decorated with a gold label, giving it a royal look. Such a 6-liter bottle with a gold label was sold at Sotheby's for $17,625 to an anonymous buyer in New York.

In fourth place Champagne Dom Perignon White Gold Jeroboam , worth $40,000

This extraordinarily expensive champagne in a stylish setting was sold at auction in 2005 for $40,000. It is bottled in 3 liter bottles. One of these bottles was sold on New Year's Eve, and no wonder appearance This drink is perfect for the holidays.

Third place rightfully goes to Pernod Ricard champagne from Perrier-Juet , the price of which is 50,000 dollars

In total, twelve bottles of Pernod Ricard were released in various flavors. One such bottle costs not much, not less than 50,000 dollars.

The honorary silver medalist is the champagne that sank 1907 Heidsieck , worth $275,000.

This champagne is 100 years old. An interesting fact is that it sank in 1916 during a shipwreck, and was found in 1997. The number of bottles that were then saved is about 200 pieces.

And the gold medalist in our ranking of the most expensive wines is Diamonds Champagne, a bottle of which costs $1.8 million

Alexander Amosu used Swarovka crystals and 18 carat white gold to design the bottle. The wine is made from such varieties as Grand Cru Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and this provided the champagne with a refreshing floral taste. The Superman-inspired logo itself was crafted from 18x gold, along with a 19-carat diamond encrusted in it. The author of this creation himself noted that thanks to the recognizable natural design, champagne has moved to the next level of luxury.

But in Russia the most expensive champagne is Heidsieck ($270,000) after all, it was originally intended for Nicholas II of the Russian emperor. But by the will of fate, as a result of the shipwreck of the Swedish ship carrying it, this champagne until 1997 at the bottom of the sea. About 200 bottles were lifted, and as a result they were sold in Russia to wealthy shareholders at an auction.

Also a symbol of wealth and luxury, one of the most expensive in the world, elite, special is champagne Crystal Wine House Louis Roederer . The "Drink of Kings" was born in 1876 in the sunny vineyards of France and instantly became a leader among top-class champagnes.

An interesting fact is that this legendary best champagne owes its appearance to Russia. After all, Louis Roederer, the world famous winemaker supplied champagne exclusively to royalty. Having tasted this magnificent drink for the first time, Alexander II was so delighted that he immediately gave the order to supply this amazing champagne in exclusive crystal decanters, because in them the sparkling drink most fully retained its taste. Some time later, Emperor Nicholas II made Louis Rederer's company for the Imperial Court his official supplier.

This is the story of the appearance of Louis Roederer's Crystal sparkling drink, which won the hearts of the elite in Russia.

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