Of course, we always say that semi-sweet wines are much worse than dry ones, but such is the culture of wine consumption in Russia - not everyone here prefers dry wines. But with semi-sweet ones, you know, there can be such a problem: they often turn out to be of insufficient quality. After all, in fact, the process of producing semi-sweet wines is very complex and not every winery can handle it - it’s much easier to just add sugar. And this is wrong. And harmful.
We suggest you figure out how to choose a semi-sweet wine and not be upset by your choice.
First of all, semi-sweet wines are not wines that get better with age. Therefore, when buying such wine, give preference to younger ones. And don’t keep such a bottle in your home for a long time.
Any bottle of wine (not just semi-sweet) contains information on the label such as: vintage year, alcohol and sugar level, origin of the wine, grape variety, drink class, address and name of the manufacturer. If the wine does not contain such information, then it is not worth buying. Especially regarding grapes: if it is not clear what variety was used to produce this wine, then it is more likely that low-grade wine materials, dyes, preservatives and other slag were used to create it.
By the way, quite good semi-sweet wines are produced in Russia. So if you like semi-sweet, then it’s better to give preference to our producers. And know that in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, and so on, they do not drink sweet wines, but produce “whatever” for the markets of other countries, such as the former USSR countries. Crimean semi-sweet wines are especially good. Large wineries value their reputation and are unlikely to send slag to store shelves. You should definitely trust such factories as Phanagoria, Yubileynaya, Massandra, Inkerman and so on.
And yes. Still, there are good semi-sweet wines that are produced in other countries, but there are very few of them, and they are very expensive.
Here are a few semi-sweet wines worthy of your tasting, according to popular Wine Spectator magazine
- “Gewurztraminer “Cuvee des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre” AOC” (4500 RUR) France
- “Chateau Lamothe Guignard, Sauternes AOC 2-me Grand Cru Classe” (4,300 rubles). France
- “Trabucchi Recioto della Valpolicella DOC Terre del Cereolo” (5500 RUR) Italy
- “Chateau Cantegril, Sauternes AOC” (3400 RUR) France
- “Albert Boxler, Gewurztraminer, Alsace AOC” (3000 RUR) France
- "Chateau Pajzos, Aszu 6 Puttonyos." (6500 rub.) Hungary
- “Domaine Marcel Deiss Burg AOC Alsace” (5400 RUR)
- “Warre’s Warrior Porto DOC” (RUB 1,700)
- "Dr. Loosen, „Dr. L“Riesling Sweet” (1200 RUR)
And let’s add to the collection of dry wines that finding cheaper, but high-quality dry wine from France or Italy is much easier than semi-sweet wine.
It's nice to get together with friends or family and chat over a glass of wine. This is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks, which in moderation is beneficial for the human body.
For example, wine improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, and prevents the development of cancer. And this is not an exhaustive list of the beneficial properties of this noble drink. By the way, preference should be given to dry or semi-dry wine. It is considered the most useful.
Wine comes in different varieties. It is very easy to get lost in the variety of assortments that are presented in any wine store, restaurant or cafe.
We have collected extremely useful information about 9 varieties of the most popular wines - this will help you learn how to choose wine, almost like a real sommelier.
1. Pinot noir
Peculiarities
Pinot noir is a piercing, complex, bright taste and aroma. At first glance, there is nothing remarkable about this wine. Outwardly it is pale, and in some variations it is completely transparent. But the highlight of this wine is not its color. Aroma is what firmly ties fans to pinot noir. The wine reveals itself gradually and according to a complex pattern: from berry notes, for example, cherry or blueberry, to a whole group of smells of the autumn forest. These wines perfectly complement delicious food.
What food goes with it?
Pinot noir is exactly the type of wine that goes well with food and helps lunch or dinner acquire a touch of sophistication and completeness. The ideal company for this type of wine would be meat with a rich taste and aroma, dense poultry (this type includes game birds) and dense fish (for example, tuna). Pinot noir goes well with Italian cuisine, especially with pasta.
2. Sauvignon blanc
Peculiarities
Sauvignon Blanc has clear and bright fruit flavors. There are 2 main bouquets of tastes and aromas. The first one smells more of peaches, apricots, and exotic fruits, while the second one smells more of citrus fruits (lemon, lime, grapefruit) and their zest. Both bouquets also include herbaceous aromas: lemongrass, freshly cut grass, meadow scents.
Sauvignon Blanc is great for summer and drinks easily and a lot, especially when chilled. The French Loire is rightfully considered the world center for the production of sauvignon blanc. By the way, as for wine from the Loire, its aroma is characterized by the tone of cat urine. In the conservative wine world, they make a lot of jokes on this topic, which, however, does not in the least prevent Sauvignon Blanc from remaining one of the most popular varieties of wine.
What food goes with it?
This wine has amazing gastronomic compatibility. It is ideal for any seafood and fish. Try also sauvignon blanc with French cheeses - you will definitely be impressed. This white wine also perfectly complements vegetable and fruit salads, especially those with the addition of exotic fruits.
3. Shiraz
Peculiarities
Thus, European versions may seem heavier than American ones, but their fruit and berry component is more balanced and less intrusive due to notes of smoke, flowers and more pronounced minerality. The main berries whose aroma can be easily detected in Shiraz are blackberries and blueberries. Rarely is it complete without allspice black pepper.
What food goes with it?
If you decide to drink a couple of glasses of Shiraz on the weekend, then you should be responsible when choosing dishes to go with it. This is a rather finicky wine. It opens well with meat. It's even better if it's grilled. Wines with predominant berry aromas will perfectly complement berry pies.
In general, the main rule that should be followed when choosing food to go with shiraz is: food should have a rich and powerful taste. Add more spices and spices. Experiment with chocolate that contains more than 70% cocoa.
4. Riesling
Peculiarities
This wine has a rather complex taste and aroma, but at the same time it appears to fans as a paradoxical and multifaceted drink. This variety is by no means thermophilic, so it is not produced in hot countries. Germany and Austria share the championship in the production of this wine.
Rieslings vary markedly in the amount of sugar they contain. The key highlight is the acidity of this wine. Thus, Riesling will definitely not be sugary. The composition of the wine is considered balanced and fluctuates on the verge of sweetness and freshness.
What food goes with it?
Dry versions of Riesling, in which the sugar content tends to zero, go well with vegetables, mushrooms, chicken, turkey, tender veal and seafood, and also complement all kinds of spices and herbs.
Sweet versions are more likely to be self-sufficient and do not require any additional food. If you really want to chew something, then preference should be given to the lightest and most unobtrusive snacks.
5. Cabernet
Peculiarities
Cabernet is the most popular wine variety in the world. It is not surprising that there are many variations of it, and everyone has their own point of view on the taste, aroma and main characteristics of cabernet. The French region of Bordeaux is considered the leader in the production of cabernet. It was local winemakers who managed to create a sensual, powerful and exciting drink. In general, cabernet is an unpretentious wine variety that is grown in many countries. Californian cabernet stands apart - Americans position their wines as pure and varietal.
The taste and aroma are significantly affected by the age of the wine. It is difficult to discern the notes in a young cabernet. Most likely, it will simply give off a berry-fruit bouquet and hit the receptors with tannins, creating a tart and astringent sensation in the mouth. Older wines open up much more effectively. In it you can already distinguish the aromas of black currant, blackberry, raspberry, plum and even catch the smells of leather, earth and spices.
What food goes with it?
Cabernet goes well with almost any red meat. You don't have to skimp on spices and herbs. The most delicious combination of cabernet with lamb, venison, goose or duck meat will be the most delicious. It also perfectly complements all Italian dishes: pasta, lasagna, pizza and salads.
6. Chardonnay
Peculiarities
Chardonnay is the most multifaceted, multifaceted and versatile wine in the world. Sometimes it doesn't even look like itself. A simple fruit bouquet with vanilla flavor, a rich standard of tart white wine - this is all Chardonnay. This wine is very whimsical. Luck is especially important here and mistakes are catastrophic. Burgundy vineyards and California are the most popular places where Chardonnay is made.
By the way, in the case of Chardonnay, a lot depends on aging. If the wine was aged in a barrel, then it should have a rich, refined and rich taste and aroma. There is another way. It is more economical in terms of time and resources. Some winemakers pass the drink through vats of oak chips. This gives the drink a pronounced vanilla taste. This method has already lost its popularity and relevance, but if you come across just such an instance, then just cool it better. Chardonnay is also used to make delicious champagne blanc de blancs with a rich fruity taste.
What food goes with it?
Due to the fact that the tastes of Chardonnay often vary significantly within the same variety, there is no universal list of dishes that it successfully complements. It all depends on the taste and aroma. Thus, the Burgundy version, which is famous for its minerality and creaminess, is perfect with cream sauce, tender veal and even smoked fish. And lighter, fruitier versions can be enjoyed with fruit pies and dishes with the addition of Asian spices. Listen to what your taste buds are telling you.
7. Grüner Veltliner
Peculiarities
Grüner comes in all sorts of variations. It can either have a viscous, powerful, rich taste, or be a light dessert wine. Among the main and most memorable tones in grüner are white stone fruits (peach, nectarine, apricot), citrus fruits and spices (white and pink pepper, ginger).
As for the place of its production, this variety is firmly associated with only one region on the planet - Austria. Grüner Veltliner does not have impressive ratings or an amazing background, but it is the hallmark of Austrian winemaking, and therefore deserves attention.
What food goes with it?
The spicy, fruity taste and aroma make Grüner Veltliner an excellent addition to meat. In general, this wine goes well with all national Austrian meat dishes. But its gastronomic compatibility is not limited to this. This wine can be served with turkey, chicken, omelettes, grilled fish and almost any vegetable. Spices don’t bother him at all, so you shouldn’t feel sorry for them.
Surely many of you, having wandered into the wine department, have repeatedly wondered how to choose a delicious, inexpensive wine. Anticipating a romantic evening with a bottle of wine with your loved one or alone with yourself under or, you really don’t want to make a mistake. That is why we have prepared for you a list with detailed descriptions, which includes wines that are really tasty and inexpensive, less than 1000 rubles. And if you bought more than one bottle of wine, then read our article about
Delicious inexpensive wine:
1. Lykhny- red semi-sweet Abkhazian wine, named after the ancient capital of the Abkhazian rulers. Perhaps the best of all Abkhazian wines that I was able to try. You can feel the sweet taste of Isabella grapes, a very soft and warm wine, with a strength of about 10 degrees.
Price: about 400 rub.
2. Krstac— Montenegrin white dry wine. The grape variety from which this wine is made grows only in one place in the world, in a vineyard near Podgorica. The strength of this wine is 12.5 degrees.
Price: about 600 rub.
3.Vranac- another Montenegrin wine, dry red, has a unique taste of fruit, another one of my favorite wines, which I discovered in Chereogoria, is one of the hundred best wines in Europe. Strength 12 degrees.
Price: about 600 rub.
4. Syrah George Deboeuf is a magnificent dry rose wine from France. Made from a grape variety called Syrah. The wine is very light with a soft fruity taste and delicate aroma of strawberries and pears.
Price: about 650 rub.
5. San Valero- dry red Spanish wine. Made from two grape varieties: Tempranillo and Garnacha. The wine has a noble dark burgundy color.
Price: about 250 rub.
6. Beringer Zinfandel Rose- pink semi-sweet wine, bright salmon color, with a pleasant berry taste. It is created from Zinfandel grapes grown in the Napa Valley at the oldest winery, Beringer Winery, which has received the status of a historical monument in the US National Register.
Price: about 1000 rub.
7. Wine Zonin Chianti— red dry Italian wine of ruby red color with garnet reflections. The aroma is subtle, with notes of cherries, wild berries, violets and spices.
Price: about 800 rub.
The best wines. How do you know which wines fall into this category? Wine ratings compiled by famous sommeliers around the world will help us with this. A wine rating is a score that a wine can receive after tasting and evaluating other factors (for example, production volume, price, subjective impression). To choose the best wine, you don’t have to be a wine specialist with many years of experience - just look at the wine rating and draw a conclusion. The best wines of the world typically score between 90 and 100 on American 100-point scales.
Wine evaluation is most often done using the “blind tasting” method. It consists in the fact that experts are offered a wine about which they only know the place of origin and nothing more. Each expert is a specialist in a specific region, so you can count on the objectivity and reliability of the wine assessment.
The American magazine Wine Spectator tastes tens of thousands of wines a year. The best wines receive 95-100 points. This category is classic great wines. Very good wines (well made, as the rating says) receive scores between 80 and 89 points. Well, the 90+ category includes truly prestigious and famous wines, elite wines, which we are pleased to present to your attention.
The most popular wines are undoubtedly French wines (Bordeaux and Burgundy wines), Italian and Spanish wines.
Wine lovers are often concerned with the following questions: where to buy good wine And where is the best place to buy wine? We recommend that you buy wine in specialized stores and not in supermarkets. Such outlets can really offer you good wine. Shop, which sells elite wines, must comply with a certain temperature and light storage conditions. Contrary to the skeptics, good wine in Moscow You can still buy it, you just need to know where..
Wine consumers also often ask whether it exists in nature good inexpensive wine. We can please you: there are a lot of such wines, because best wines constitute only a small part of the exports of the famous wine countries. The rest are good table wines for everyday use at an affordable price. Expensive wines are usually not just high-quality wines, but historically valuable wines. Best wine harvest years can also play a role - wine of a significant vintage will cost more. The most expensive wine can cost tens of thousands of dollars - like Chateau d'Yquem (Chateau d'Yquem) of 1787, which was sold for $90,000.
Good inexpensive wines A huge assortment is presented in our catalogue. You can choose classic French, Italian, Spanish, and New World wines. Disputes about which wine is the best, will never fade away. It may be a wine highly rated by reputable experts, or the most expensive wine, but most likely, the best is a quality wine that you like and that you will want to try again and again.
The debate about the benefits and harms of alcoholic beverages continues. But even the most ardent opponents of alcohol will not refuse a glass of good wine. Wine means truth, revelation, and is also called the moisture of life. To know the depth of the drink and enjoy drinking it, you need to know how to choose a good wine.
Which wine is better to choose
The diverse classification of the drink can be divided into: taste, aroma, presence of alcohol. Based on alcohol content, they are classified into:
- Fortified (sherry, port, Cahors) - have a high rate of 16% to 21%.
- Sparkling wine (champagne) – they contain up to 14% alcohol and contain carbon dioxide.
- Table, still, non-sparkling wines (Bordeaux, Cabernet, Chardonnay) – alcohol content is also up to 14%.
- Flavored (vermouth) – up to 20%.
Based on color, wines are divided into:
- Red, their palette is extensive, from rich garnet to terracotta brown (aged varieties), from ruby to purple (young varieties).
- Pinks, softer colors from pastels, light rubies to the whole pink spectrum.
- White varieties have straw, greenish tones (young dry varieties), amber (fortified, dessert).
Almost all brands change their shade over time; fortified and dessert wines acquire amber colors, while dry wines darken. When eating food, they determine which wines are better suited for what based on its color and content. Dinner dishes are best used as a flavorful addition to the table, and dessert dishes are best used as final dishes. Restaurateurs recommend taking into account that the more refined the drink, the simpler the dish, and vice versa.
Read also: good Abkhazian wine
Examples of successful menu combinations:
- Sparkling, effervescent wines can be drunk with almost any food, as long as it is not borscht or herring with onions. Serve chilled (up to 8°C) in narrow glasses.
- Red varieties are served with meat dishes, fried and spicy, with any type of cheese, various fruits, and go well with pasta, pizza, etc. Recently, restaurants have been offering popular flavor variations for fish products: salmon, trout, sushi. The optimal temperature for them is room temperature (18°C) and served in wide glasses.
- Dry white brands “love” the first dishes (soups, stews, purees), all kinds of salads with mayonnaise, but without vinegar. Low-fat sausages and veal, poultry, and, of course, fish – classics of the genre. Drink chilled (up to 12°C).
- Pink - considered universal, served with hot dishes, seafood, desserts (temperature up to 18 °C). For them and dry dishes, utensils with a high stem and narrow walls are used.
- Sweet (dessert) varieties - they are heavier, stronger, drink them with pastries or jelly (up to 16 °C) from small charms on a low stem.
Read also:
How to choose good wine in a store based on the label - 10 rules
You don’t have to be a sommelier to learn how to buy a decent drink, and not a drink that leaves a terrible aftertaste and, at a minimum, dizziness the next morning, and at a maximum, body disorder.
Ten rules for choosing good wine in a store will help you avoid this:
- Clearly separate sweet and dry varieties. To produce popular semi-sweet drinks, wine materials of the lowest quality are used. They add a lot of preservatives and chemical components. Abroad, this type does not exist at all.
- Manufacturer information. The main thing is to have the name and information about the manufacturer; if this is not available, it is better to immediately return the bottle to the shelf. On the front side of the right drinks you can always read the brand name in large print.
- The region of production also serves as a calling card. The absence of this indicates the low quality of the product.
- Grape sort. Only very expensive wines, which you cannot buy at a regular retail outlet, are made from one grape variety. First-class drinks of inexpensive and medium cost are produced by blending, i.e. mixing several varieties of berries. If the label shows 100% of one name, there is no doubt that it is a fake.
- Harvest time. The labeling of high-quality alcohol must indicate the year of the grape harvest. You will not find such information on a diluted concentrate, a chemical analogue.
- Duration and place of aging. The barrel is considered an ideal storage place; only high-quality brands are stored in them. Divided by age:
- vintage, made from high-quality berries, languishes for 3-7 years, from 6 years is considered a collectible species;
- ordinary ones go on sale with aging from 4 months to 1 year.
- Description of the advantages and originality that add a positive image to the brand.
- Product cost. The rule that cannot be attributed to wine is that you can pay not for quality, but for the brand. An inexpensive drink cannot be natural and tasty; too much work is put into it.
- Package. Cardboard packaging is the “friend” of cheap chemical concentrate. If you pour a noble drink into it, it will certainly lose its virtues. After all, only a glass bottle or a wood barrel can preserve the richness of taste.
- Original containers, for example, ceramic or decorative, have a negative effect on wine storage or hide the fake.
Manufacturer country
Russia
Grapevines in Russia are grown in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories, regions of the Caucasus, Crimea, Volgograd, and Saratov regions. But most of the products in stores are made from imported materials; they are in demand. Of course, competition on the world market is high, but now reasonable prospects are predicted for Russian winemaking. The drinks are made from classic varieties of berries and are distinguished by their natural, floral taste.
Read also:
The following brands hold the palm:
- "Isabella", "Aligote";
- "Pino black";
- "Cabernet Sauvignon."
Known manufacturers:
- "Caucasus";
- "Russian Vine";
- "Phanagoria";
- Rostov plant, Tsimlyansky plant (among sparkling wines), etc.
Ukraine
The climate of Ukraine allows the development of this industry in almost most of the territory, but still the vine bears fruit where there are mild winters and long hot summers. These are Southern Bessarabia, Transcarpathia, Southern regions. The best brands, taste and aroma qualities, which are quite at a decent level:
- "Shabo";
- Agrofirm "Belozersky";
- "French Boulevard" (specializes in sparkling varieties).
Soil and climatic factors make it possible to obtain berries with balanced levels of acidity and sweetness. But still, imports dominate the Ukrainian market.
Georgia
There are about 4 thousand grape varieties in the world, over 500 grow in Georgia. During Soviet times, it supplied 80% of all fine wines of the republics. Now the demand for them is not decreasing, the drink is impeccable. Perhaps this is due to the special Kakheti wine production technology.
Huge cone-shaped jugs, qvevri, are buried in the ground, then the berries are kept at a temperature of 14°C, and the juice is squeezed out with feet. There is also mechanical processing and mass production, but as a result of this method, full, extractive characteristics with a soft astringency are obtained. The distinctive features of Georgian brands include a long and pleasant aftertaste and harmony of aromas. The best varieties:
- "Khvanchkara";
- "Rkatsiteli" etc.
Moldova
Moldovan alcohol is credited with sophistication and lightness of taste. Drinks from the Kodrovoy and Central regions of the republic are saturated with shades of wildflowers, and the aromas of violet can be traced in them. In this country, they prefer to make wine not only by fermenting grape berries, but also apple juice.
Collectible bottles may contain a kind of acid; to reduce its level, you need to open the container in advance and let the wine “breathe.” Not inferior in characteristics to foreign products, it has a lower cost. Among the popular ones:
- "Moldavian";
- Aligote "Onesti";
- "Dneprovskoe white";
- "Romanesti"
- Cabernet “Chumai”;
- “Bouquet of Moldova” (flavored vermouth, similar to Italian).
France
The French, like the Moldovans, have been growing vines since ancient times and drinking alcohol from an early age. In this country, the quality of manufactured products is controlled on a regional basis; accordingly, grape varieties are not indicated on the labels of French drinks. On its territory there is the largest vineyard in the world of a high-quality variety called Bordeaux. 80% are red wines.
The insanely expensive, limited-release Bordeau "Petrus" is considered one of the noble red drinks. It comes from the Polerole region. The south-eastern side is famous for its white dry “Entre de Mer”, with a rich aroma of a fruity bouquet, in perfect harmony with seafood. The regions of Médoc, Saunères, and Prav produce the legendary premium cru brands:
- "Chateau Latour";
- "Chateau Lafite-Rothschild";
- "Mouton-Rothschild";
- "O-Brion";
- "Chateau Margaux"
Italy
Gourmets will agree that the definition of “good” does not apply to French and Italian wines. They are ideal, even those that have an average or affordable price. A distinctive feature is the balance of taste, color, aroma, and aftertaste.
The climatic conditions of the Apennine Peninsula contribute to the development of culture. Under the Italian sun and warm rain, the berries are filled with full-fledged juice, as a result of fermentation of which a divine drink is obtained. Although it is not so easy for Italians to break into the world market due to competition with their neighbors. Production has a stepwise classification:
- elite;
- DOC category (by region, sugar and alcohol capacity);
- IGT (inferior taste);
- dining rooms, from prefabricated varieties.
The division of alcohol into red Rosso and white Bianco came to us from there. And all these names have long been associated with something especially pleasant and solemn:
- "Lambrusco";
- "Dolcetto";
- "Malvasia Nera";
- "Amarone";
- "Lagrein" and many others.
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