No festive event is complete without champagne. And on New Year's holidays in every house they open a bottle of sparkling drink, pour it into beautiful wine glasses and make wishes as soon as the chimes start to strike. Obligatory attributes of the Russian New Year's Eve are the Olivier salad, tangerines, the Soviet film The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath! and, of course, champagne. But how to choose a good champagne for the new year from the wide variety on store shelves?
Where did the tradition of drinking champagne for the new year come from?
Everyone knows that real champagne is produced in France, in the region of the same name called Champagne. All other carbonated low-alcohol drinks do not have the right to be called champagne.
On a note! French winemakers believe that Russian producers of sparkling wines spoiled the noble drink when they began to add sugar to it. However, it is the semi-sweet and sweet sparkling wines that are popular.
The celebration of the new year began during the reign of Peter the Great. True, in those days they did not arrange feasts for the new year, but organized magnificent balls and receptions. Champagne began to be actively consumed on New Year's Eve in the 60s of the last century, when the board decided that this drink should be in every house for the New Year. In our country, the mass production of sparkling wines began, so that every Soviet family could raise glasses of champagne in the new year. Since then, every year on New Year's Eve, residents of the post-Soviet space consume approximately 45% of the annual volume of sparkling wine.
Why is it customary to drink champagne for the new year? The love of fizzy alcohol among the Russian people began long ago. Back in the 19th century, at all ceremonial events and social events, the bohemian public preferred exactly champagne, calling it the drink of the aristocrats. The drink was served very cold, and due to the fact that it was produced exclusively in France, the price per bottle was too high. Later they learned to make champagne in other countries, but the habit of celebrating important events and big holidays with a glass of sparkling wine remained.
Choosing a drink for the new year
Now on the shelves of shops there is such an abundance of sparkling wines that everyone can choose a drink to their liking. If you can't decide which champagne to choose for the new 2019, buy several types at once. Choose a drink based on the atmosphere in which you will celebrate the holidays, and in what composition.
Tasters advise to open a bottle of good dry champagne at a solemn moment. You can choose brut as an aperitif before a hearty meal. Uncork semi-dry champagne when the holiday starts to gain momentum: it goes well with hot fish and meat dishes, salads, vegetable cuts. By the end of the celebration, when desserts and fruits are served on the table, semi-sweet and sweet champagne can be poured.
When buying a sparkling drink for the new year, opt for products from trusted manufacturers. It is not necessary to purchase expensive vintage champagne, Russian winemaking companies offer many options in the middle price category. In any case, it is better to overpay a little than to ruin the New Year's Eve with a low-quality product.
Label
Do not rush to buy your favorite bottle of champagne, first carefully study the information on the label.If the manufacturer indicates that the wine is carbonated, sparkling or effervescent, it is better to refuse such a purchase. These terms indicate that the wine was carbonated with artificial carbon dioxide, and has nothing to do with aristocratic alcohol.
The label should indicate which method was used to make the drink. Usually the classic method is used, when several varieties of white wine are mixed with sugar liqueur and yeast. The drink first ferments in bottles, after which it is infused for several years. If you see “classic” or “aged” champagne on the label of a Russian manufacturer, and the inscription “Metodo Classico” on an imported product, this indicates the high quality of champagne.
Classic sparkling wine has an exquisite taste and unique aroma. There is another popular method - reservoir. Fermentation takes place in large containers for several weeks. The taste of reservoir sparkling drinks is simpler, but high quality champagne is also obtained using this method.
The label should indicate the color of the sparkling wine. White champagne is especially popular, but pink and red varieties of the drink are also produced. Pay attention to the amount of sugar - the higher the number, the sweeter the champagne will be.
You can learn a lot about the drink from the label on the bottle.
Varieties of sparkling wines
According to the sugar content, the following types of champagne are distinguished:
- Ultrabrut;
- Brut;
- Semi-dry;
- Dry;
- Semi-sweet;
- Sweet.
If you rarely drink champagne, opt for the semi-sweet option. Fans of sparkling drinks, as a rule, use ultra-brut or brut. Such champagne is capable of revealing all the taste qualities that are not masked by sweetness.
On a note! A good sparkling brut cannot be too cheap, keep this in mind when purchasing a drink for the new year.
Varieties of the drink by vintage (aging year):
- Light champagne (aged up to two years). As a rule, light sparkling wines are artificially enriched with carbon dioxide.
- Vintage (aged). The aging period is more than five years, fermentation occurs naturally.
Special attention should be paid to the brilliant champagne, which will harmoniously fit into the festive atmosphere of the New Year's holiday. In the homeland of champagne, in France, such drinks are made with gold particles. The "precious" drink is opened on the most solemn occasions, because the price for a bottle of "golden" champagne starts at 400 euros.
In our country, you can buy a cheaper analogue of pearl sparkling wine, which is produced by the Spanish wine company Torre Oria. Sparkling alcohol, shimmering with sparkles, will be a spectacular addition to the festive table and will help create real New Year's magic.
Abrau Durso
The birthplace of sparkling wine Abrau Dyurso is the village of the same name, which is located in the Krasnodar Territory. Today, almost every store and alcohol boutique offers a wide range of products from the manufacturer: red, white, pink, golden. Popular types of champagne:
- Abrau Light. The drink is characterized by a sweetish taste with notes of nutmeg and exotic fruits.
- Blanc de Blanc. Sparkling wine with an original green tint and sour aftertaste. The aftertaste contains a green apple, citrus notes, and the aroma of meadow grasses.
- Light pink. It goes well with desserts and fruits, the taste has the sweetness of raspberries and spicy notes of spices.
- Sparkling semi-dry. In the new year, it will surprise guests with persistent bubbles in glasses and a delicate honey taste with hints of ripe fruits.
CJSC "Sparkling Wines"
The production of CJSC "Sparkling Wines" is located in St. Petersburg. The products are of high quality, thanks to the use of the best domestic and foreign wine materials. Raw materials are brought from Europe, Australia, South America and other countries.
"Russian Champagne" from CJSC "Sparkling Wines" is the use of a classic recipe of Soviet production in accordance with GOST. The usual traditional taste is presented in a new image, but the products are still of high quality.
Another well-known trade mark from the manufacturer is “Master's Heritage. Lev Golitsyn ". The technology of making the drink uses the secrets of the famous winemaker Lev Golitsyn, thanks to which you can enjoy aged luxurious champagne on New Year's Eve.
Artyomovskoe
The sparkling wine production plant is located in Donetsk region (Ukraine). Today it is one of the largest European producers of sparkling wine, which is produced in the traditional "bottle" way.
Try the following products on New Year's Eve:
- Sparkling white (brut). It has a straw tint and a pleasant taste with a signature sourness.
- Semi-sweet white "Artyomovskoe". It is made from such famous grape varieties as Riesling, Aligote, Chardonnay.
- Semi-dry sparkling nutmeg. Surprisingly delicate taste is complemented by spicy notes of nutmeg.
Delasy and Bosca Anniversary
Two fairly new brands that have not yet gained wide popularity, like other Russian sparkling wines. Nevertheless, it is worth trying the light festive drinks Delasy and Bosca Anniversary for the new year in order to appreciate the light fresh taste and a large number of bubbles in the glass.
Bosca Anniversary is produced using the technology of the Bosca wine company (Italy). A wide assortment will delight consumers: white semi-sweet, white sweet, pink semi-sweet champagne will appeal to lovers of refined carbonated drinks.
Delasy champagne is produced by the Stavropol Wine and Cognac Factory. A stunning bouquet of flavors and aromas will impress even the most discerning consumers. The unusual design of the bottle will attract attention and create a festive atmosphere at the New Year's table.
On a note! The price of Delasy and Bosca Anniversary will pleasantly surprise in comparison with a foreign product of the same quality.
Vilash
Sparkling wine "Vilash" is chosen by those who want to enjoy good champagne on New Year's Eve, but do not have the opportunity to purchase an expensive product. The assortment line "Vilash" includes not only semi-sweet sparkling champagne, beloved by many countries, but also semi-dry and sweet varieties of the drink.
Hope
Russian champagne is produced by OJSC Kornet (Moscow). The bottle has a simple uncomplicated design, but the drink pleases with a delicate, pleasant taste. White semisweet champagne "Nadezhda" was developed especially for the fair sex, and now you know how to surprise the girls at the New Year's table.
French champagne
On New Year's Eve, indulge yourself in the luxury of a bottle of real French champagne. It is better to opt for drinks that are made by winemakers in France using the classic method of bottle fermentation. Popular brands of French champagne are Veuve and Moet & Chandon. The cost of French champagne is high, but once a year you can pamper yourself and your guests with an amazing drink.
Sparkling wines of other countries
Italian champagne has gained particular popularity. Choose Asti or Spumante for the New Year's table. Italian drinks contain a touch of sunny Italy, sea breeze and warm summer evenings. Why not throw an Italian party in the New Year with pizza, pasta, Italian music and, of course, exquisite Italian champagne?
On a note! As a gif.webpt for the New Year, you can choose the elite Italian champagne Asti "Mondoro". Connoisseurs of high-quality alcoholic beverages will surely be delighted with such a New Year's surprise.
Where can one buy?
Before the New Year holidays, there are more cases of sale of fake sparkling wine. Be careful when choosing which champagne to buy for the new year 2019.
Don't buy champagne from stalls or small shops. Firstly, the assortment in small retail outlets is small, and secondly, there is a risk of purchasing low-quality alcohol. For champagne for New Year's table, go to specialized wine shops or large supermarkets. You will be sure of the quality of the purchased products, and the New Year's Eve will not be spoiled by fake champagne, which can make everyone sick.
Champagne bottle decoration and gif.webpt sets
On New Year's holidays, everything should be beautifully decorated: a Christmas tree, an apartment, a festive table. Of course, you should take care of how to present one of the main New Year's attributes in an unusual way - a bottle of champagne. You can design a bottle in an original way in different ways:
- Knit, sew or buy a ready-made champagne case. In the new year 2019, “clothes” for a bottle of sparkling wine in the shape of a cute pig will be relevant.
- Paint the bottle with acrylics, choosing a New Year theme for the drawing.
- You can use New Year stickers with the words "Happy New 2019!" for champagne.
- Candy can be glued to the bottle, turning it into a sweet pineapple.
A wonderful gif.webpt option for the New Year for family, friends, colleagues and business partners is a fruit basket with champagne.
Usage rules
So, you have acquired a noble drink for the holiday. Now let's figure out how to use it correctly. There are a number of rules to follow:
- Champagne is poured into glass or crystal glasses with long legs. Usually they have a narrowed upward shape so that you can slowly enjoy the delicate taste of an aristocratic drink.
- You should not open sparkling wine so that guests at the table are splashed with copious foam. Uncork the bottle carefully.
- Pour the drink down the side of the glass in a thin trickle.
- Champagne is served chilled. It is better to use an ice bucket - this is both effective serving and the necessary cooling of the bottle.
- When is the best time to open champagne on New Year's Eve? The sparkling wine is uncorked just before drinking. Just in case, open the bottle a few minutes before the chimes start striking. You will calmly have time to pour the drink to all the guests, without haste and excitement.
There is a New Year's belief when, with the chimes, you need to write a wish on paper, burn the paper, dissolve the ashes in a glass of champagne and have time to drink it until the clock strikes 12 times. Those who have tried New Year's magic say that even the most incredible wishes come true. If you don't believe in miracles, just enjoy a good drink and have a lot of fun in the new year.
