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Merlot dry or semi-sweet. The difference between wines

When laying a festive table for guests, you want to decorate it with fine wine with a delicate, refined aroma. The host of the feast invariably faces the question: how to choose a wine worthy of dear guests? To answer, you must have at least a minimum of knowledge about the classification of wines, their properties, characteristics, compatibility with certain dishes.

The main thing is to follow the rule when setting the table: less is better, but of higher quality.

The entire range of wines is divided into two large parts:

still wines "table and fortified";
saturated with carbon dioxide "and sparkling".

Calm wine according to the degree of exposure is:

young;
vintage;
collectible.

Young wine is sold in the distribution network immediately after maturation. It has a weak strength and aroma of a bouquet belonging to the grape variety. Young wine has many fans among people of different age categories.

For vintage wine grown special varieties of grapes. The brand of wine depends on the time of maturation of the wine. According to the existing standards of winemaking for wine of this category, aging is required in the range from one to six years. Vintage wines stored for more than 6 years are considered collectible.

Table wines are made from natural juice obtained after pressing grapes.

The production of table wine completely eliminates the addition of alcohol. The amount of sugar in the wine of this variety is different: from complete absence to a certain percentage. The sugar in table wine is the product of an incomplete fermentation stopped at a certain stage.

The quantitative residue of sugar in table wine serves as the basis for dividing this variety into the following types:

Dry;
Semi-dry;
Semi-sweet.

The color of the wine is determined by the variety of grape raw materials used for its production. Distinguish between white wine and red wine.

Dry white wine is characterized by a small strength of about 11% vol. Light sourness, pleasant, mild taste goes well with fish dishes, cold appetizers, fruits and cheese.

Dry red wine has shades from pink to rich cherry color, tart taste with a bouquet of grapes ripened in the area where the drink is produced. Compared to white, red wine has less acidity and more strength. Dry red wine is served with hot fried or baked meat.

Semi-sweet and semi-dry wines are obtained by incomplete fermentation of dry wines, leaving a certain amount of grape sugar. These drinks are friendly with meat, fish, vegetable dishes. They have a short shelf life in uncorked containers.

Fortified wines - obtained by fermentation grape must. The fermentation process is stopped and stabilized by the addition of alcohol. Wine contains residual sugar, the percentage of which depends on the stage of stoppage of fermentation. Alcohol additives increase the shelf life of fortified wine. The name of the wine is associated with an increased strength from 17 to 20% vol.

Fortified wine is usually consumed before dinner in small portions, sweet wines can be served as a dessert.

Famous representatives of strong wines: Madeira, port wine, sherry. Pairs well with hot first courses.

A large group consists of dessert wines: Muscat, Cahors, Tokay. Used in the dessert part of the meal. The sweetest of this group are liqueurs.

Champagne wine is obtained by secondary fermentation with saturation with carbon dioxide and storage in bottles under pressure. Champagne is the wine of holidays and celebrations. It is served in tall transparent wine glasses to highlight the beauty of color and the play of gas bubbles. The wine seems to be playing. Has a light pleasant taste, when poured, forms a lush, beautiful foam. The taste of any wine varies significantly with the serving temperature. For red table and strong wines, the best temperature will be 16-18 degrees, The delicate taste of dry white wines will be emphasized by cooling to 12 degrees, champagne will sparkle at 10 degrees.

The gaze of many scientists and researchers is riveted to wine. From a scientific point of view, it is studied beneficial features and impact on human life and health. There is a heated debate about which wine is healthier: white or red? Wine, in fact, is a complex organic substance resulting from the fermentation of grape juice. This ancient drink In addition to water, there are a huge number of chemicals and elements: ethanol, grape and fruit sugar, vegetable glycosides "anthocyanins", useful acids, tannins, vitamins and microelements.

The only thing that all researchers agree on is that wine has a healing effect on the body only with moderate consumption. If you consume no more than 100 grams of red wine daily, a positive trend is observed in a person’s condition: blood pressure decreases, toxins are removed from the body, blood vessels are cleansed, and the risk of developing diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis is reduced. Recently, opinions have been expressed that red and white wine are practically equivalent in terms of usefulness.

Red wine owes its color to grape varieties with dark skins and hearts. The composition of wine includes such useful coloring substances as anthocyanins. They give the wine a noble color, rich taste and delicate aroma. Red wine has a relaxing effect.

Many health institutions practice the use of moderate doses of red wine in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system and cardiac pathology, relieving depression.

There is an opinion that red wine protects against the effects of radiation and solar radiation.

Which red wine to choose

Which red wine to choose: dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, fortified?

The listed varieties differ primarily in the content of sugar and alcohol. Dry red wine of a full fermentation cycle contains almost no sugar "0.3%", and alcohol is a product of natural grape fermentation. In semi-dry and semi-sweet wines, residual sugar is present due to the interruption of the fermentation process. Preservatives are added to these wines to extend the shelf life, which does not make them 100% healthy.

Fortified wine contains rectified alcohol, has a high strength, it is recommended to use it in limited quantities.

Dessert varieties of red wine or liqueurs are preferable to semi-dry and semi-sweet, so special chemical methods are not used for their preservation. Conventional wisdom dictates that dry red wine is the healthiest and most natural.

Now about the age of red wine and its usefulness in this regard. It has been established that the age of the wine does not affect its healing properties, but only changes its taste. The content of vitamins and useful substances young, unaged wines, healthier than aged vintages.

Dry wines that do not contain sugar are much healthier than semi-sweet and dessert varieties.

Foreign producers of red wine

Dry red wine, which one to choose from imported varieties?

Guilt different countries made from many local grape varieties. On shelves shopping centers Russia has a lot of wine from France with a wide range of prices from cheap to expensive.

The Russian buyer is mainly in demand for inexpensive varieties of dry red wine.

France is a leader in the production of wine, but low-quality drinks come across among its products. Therefore, when choosing a French wine, you should carefully study the information on the bottle: there should be information about the manufacturer, harvest date, and year of release of the wine. The most famous French red wine varieties are Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone.

Italy ranks first in the export of wine. Sunny, warm weather makes it possible to grow grapes all year round. Red wines from the Tuscany wine region, made from the Italian Sangiovese grape variety, have earned worldwide fame. The most popular dry red wines are Chianti Classico, Super Tuscan, Brunello di Montalcino. Chianti is a wine aged no more than 2 years, if the exposure exceeds this value, the wine is called Riserva, it is several times more expensive.

The label will again help in choosing a quality Spanish wine. Wine of different aging has identifying inscriptions:

cheap canteen;
local, improved quality;
vintage;
elite.

A suitable Spanish wine for a juicy meat steak is the classic Rioja with fruity bouquet and bright taste.

When choosing imported dry red wine, one should be guided by the principle that the hotter the climate in the country of origin, the tastier wine. Therefore, wines from Argentina, Chile and other countries of the New World are so popular with us. Drinks from these countries have exotic flavors due to the use of original local grape varieties: shiraz, grenache, zinfandel, malbec. Famous grape varieties grow here: Cabernet and Merlot. The use of cheap labor, sunny climate, rich soils, high yields make the prices of wine from these countries affordable for the entire population.

A collection of traditional Georgian red wines will be a wonderful decoration for any feast. The first toast is said with glasses filled with the precious moisture of the Georgian semi-sweet wine Khvanchkara. vegetable snacks accompany Georgian red dry wines Saperavi or Mukuzani, smoothly moving on to the main meat dish - shish kebab. For dishes cooked in open fire, semi-sweet red wines based on the Kindzmarauli or Akhasheni saperavi variety are also perfect.

AT last years nice addition Russian market quality Abkhazian wines.

Several large wineries operate on the territory of Abkhazia, producing relatively inexpensive red wine, which has a wonderful taste and bouquet.

Many private wineries are opening, where wine is made according to their own original or old recipes. Wines from private wineries with a richer taste, but also a higher price. The most popular brands are Lykhna, Bouquet of Abkhazia, Chegem, Amra, Apsny.

After choosing a brand, variety and winemaker, it's time to check the originality of the wine and protect yourself from fake. All world wine producers strive to adhere to the rule of three colors in the design of labels. Therefore, stay away from multi-colored pieces of paper.

Honest winemakers always indicate the name of the manufacturer and its location.

An important sign of quality wine is the indication of the year of harvest. Quality wine should not have sediment. An important compass is the cork of the bottle, its top should be at the level of the top of the neck and it should sit very firmly, keeping the wine fresh. Nowadays, some winemakers are replacing corks with metal screw caps, simplifying the way bottles are opened.

For the production of dry red wine, grape varieties Merlot, Cabernet, Negrette, Aglianico, Sauvignon and others are used. There are thousands of varieties of red wine in the world. The best of them are Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir.

Intense, bright color of wine can only be obtained from good grapes. Scarlet, burgundy, ruby, purple, or dark cherry hues indicate the youth of a dry wine. High-quality red wine is packed in massive individually shaped bottles in dark shades of green or brown. When serving wine, it is better to be guided by the principle: the richer, fatter, heavier the dish, the lighter the wine served.

Gastronomic pairings of red wine

There are countless gourmets in the world who experience boundless love for good dry red wine. In Italy, France, Georgia, wine is a traditional national drink, an essential attribute of lunches and dinners for all segments of the population.

Examples of combinations of dry red wine with food:

Tuscan dry wine is perfect for cheese, lasagna, spaghetti.
Semi-sweet Georgian "Kindzmarauli", Latin American "Kaiken Terroir Series" will make friends with barbecue, fried meat: lamb, beef.
The sweet taste of baked vegetables will emphasize the French "Le Cornu"
The taste of the dessert will be enhanced by Burgundy Beaujolais Nouveau

The best red dry wines

Château Fonceche is a French wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape varieties with a bright aroma of ripe fruits and meadow flowers. Alcohol is 10 vol.

Supply temperature to meat dishes about 18 degrees. Glasses with a ruby-colored drink will become the main decoration of the table.

Chianti is an old Italian dry wine. Strictly red grape varieties are used in its production. Great with Italian food.

Bararesco is another popular dry red wine from Italy. Grapes grown in the highlands give this drink a delicate tart taste and a complex aroma of spices, fruits and flowers.

Saperavi is a Georgian variety of dry red wine made from grapes of the same name.

The strength of the drink is not more than 11 vol. The wine is distinguished by maroon color and velvety taste Mukuzani - Georgian wine made from Saperavi grapes, languishing for three years in oak containers. Recognized by its beautiful red color, taste with the aroma of berries and oak bark.

It goes well with hot meat and vegetable delicacies.

The best Russian red wines of 2016 are:

"Phantom" "Cabernet Sauvignon" winery Vedernikov, JSC Millerovsky winery;
Lefkadia "Reserve" LLC "Lefkadia", Krasnodar Territory;
Saperevi. Chateau Taman. Reserve JSC Kuban-Vino, Krasnodar Territory and others

Semi-sweet red wines are classified as table wines, with a strength of 9-14%, with a sufficient sugar content in the finished product.

Red semi-sweet wine, which one to choose?

The best red semi-sweet wines are produced by Georgia. Recipes tested for centuries, ideal weather conditions for the ripening of sweet grape varieties contribute to the creation of divine drinks: Khvanchkara, Alazani Valley, Kindzmarauli, Akhasheni.

Khvanchkara is the most famous semi-sweet wine. The raw material is the berries of the Mujuretuli and Aleksandrouli varieties, grown in the vineyards of the Racha area.

A feature of the dark red drink is great taste with floral and fruity notes.

Alazani Valley is a semi-sweet wine of red grapes grown in Western and Eastern Georgia.

Great addition to Georgian varieties cheese and sweets. Cooling wine enhances its flavor nuances. It has a pleasant taste and delicate bouquet.

Akhasheni is a semi-sweet drink made from the famous saperavi grape variety grown in the mountainous Kakheti region. The velvety black cherry color is combined with a moderately tart taste.

Kindzmarauli is a famous semi-sweet red made from Saperavi grapes. Bordeaux color, dark pomegranate, pleasant taste and wonderful bouquet.

Summing up, we can say that when choosing wine, preference should be given to dry red wine made on the basis of dark red grape varieties. This type of drink occupies a significant niche in the assortment of vintage and single wines. Moderate regular consumption of dry red wine will help improve health, maintain vitality at the proper level, and cheer up. The main thing in achieving a healing and therapeutic effect is regular consumption in small doses. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol addiction. As the French say, wine cures everything except alcoholism.

Today it is very difficult to imagine any festive event without wine. Every corner of the planet has its own national traditions of drinking this wonderful drink and unusual varieties. In most countries, it is customary to arrange entire rituals with a certain culture and conventions for drinking table wine.

A little about the drink

Table wines have a number of different advantages: they are famous for their bactericidal qualities - various pathogenic microorganisms that cause intestinal pathologies, when they get into the drink, simply die. By its acidity, this alcohol is similar to gastric juice, which makes it possible for it to participate in digestion. In addition, table wines allow you to stabilize the acid balance in the body due to the presence of all kinds of acids and minerals in its composition.

The division of drinks into certain categories is considered a real necessity today, because only thanks to the classification, each consumer can understand the quality of a drink just by looking at the label. For example, when choosing a product, it is very important to know how table wine differs from geographical wine, what strength it has, and whether there are differences in the tastes of different drinks.

Table wine - what is it? This is a fairly light drink with a slight strength and a small amount of sugar in its composition. This wine harmonizes perfectly with most main courses, so it is often served with meals. As a rule, in almost all countries it looks about the same and implies the division of drinks into the following types:

Those who want to understand how table wine differs from geographical wine should know that any grape can be used to produce such a drink. It is noteworthy that the label of such alcohol, as a rule, does not indicate exactly where the berries used for making were grown. In addition, you will not see the designation of the year of production on a bottle of table wine.

However, this does not mean that it has a completely low quality. In fact, manufacturers have their own control taste properties own products. That is why some table wines are highly valued.

Great choice for every day

Table wine is not customary to age, because its purpose is to daily use. In addition to the fact that the drink differs in sugar content, there is a European classification of wines depending on their composition. So, the wines are divided into blended and sepazhny. The main difference between these varieties is that segregated drinks are made from several combined grape varieties, and blended drinks are produced on the basis of various wine materials made on the basis of different types berries.

When serving, table wine must have a certain temperature at which the real taste and aroma of the drink will be revealed. By quality, this alcohol is ordinary, collectible and vintage. True, the main role in shaping the taste of the drink is played by the technology of its production. Dry wines are characterized by low alcohol content, freshness and average amount of extracts. But semi-sweet table wines are characterized by unobtrusive sweetness in taste.

Wine varieties

This drink is made from numerous varieties of grapes. Among table wines, you can meet red, rosé, and white products. It is worth saying that such a drink contains a minimum amount of sugar, moreover, it is not fortified. The shade of table wine can vary from light yellow to dark currant. A special group of this drink is made up of Kakheti and Imereti Georgian wines, which successfully compete even with French branded alcohol. Often, it is drinks from Georgia that surpass European products in their taste. Georgian wines are made from Mtsvane and Rkatsiteli, they have a unique finest bouquet.

As a rule, table wines do not receive their original names, but according to the names of grape varieties or the area in which it grows. For the most part, this drink is varietal. In other words, during the production of such a product, no wine material is added to it. All over the world, those made from Tavkveri and Mattress varieties are highly valued. Highly delicious drinks also produced in the North Caucasus from Riesling grapes.

In a country famous for its wines, this wonderful drink is prepared only from those grape varieties that grow on the territory of the country. Often, for the manufacture of French wine, several varieties of grapes grown in different provinces are taken.

The label on the bottle tells how many degrees table wine contains. This indicator directly depends on the amount of sugar in the drink and its type. For example, the strength of dry wines can vary between 16-18 degrees. But a semi-sweet drink can contain 9-12% alcohol.

Today, store shelves are literally full of a huge range of these products. Although in reality, not everyone knows what it is - table wine. Why is this happening? Unfortunately, many refuse to drink this luxurious drink just because they do not know how to check the wine. In order to make sure the quality and compliance of the drink with your preferences, you should first read the label on the bottle. It is she who will tell you the strength and grade of wine. Think about what exactly you are choosing a drink for and what dishes it should be combined with. Otherwise, it all depends on your taste.

How to drink table wine

Now you know what it is - table wine. True, this is still not enough, because it is also important to figure out how to use this type of alcohol correctly. Table wine got its name precisely due to the fact that the use of this drink is optimally combined with a meal. However, since different dishes it is best to serve certain types of alcohol. So, it is desirable to offer white semi-dry or dry wine for fish and poultry. Hearty meat dishes go well with a rich red drink. True, here much depends on the type of meat. For example, it is best served with beef. But dry drinks harmonize perfectly with rather fatty pork and lamb.

If you plan to serve diet salads for dinner, then rose table wine can serve as a good aperitif. This type of drink is perfect for a variety of desserts.

"Which country's wine do you prefer at this time of day?" - Woland asked the confused and discouraged barman Sokov and was very disappointed with his answer “I don’t drink ...” Despite the irony towards his unlucky character, M. Bulgakov was absolutely right: knowing when and what kind of wine to serve to the table is a real art. To be able to determine the variety and quality of wine is the first step to its heights.
According to the method of production, the content of sugar and alcohol, wines are divided into table wines: dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet; fortified, which include dessert sweet, liqueur and flavored; special, which include ports, sherries, madeiras and some other varieties of wines.
The technology for the production of dry natural wines is based on the complete fermentation of sugar contained in the must - a wine material consisting of grape juice and pulp. The maturation of dry wine lasts 3-4 months, during which the drink acquires a delicate bouquet and self-lightens. Dry white wines delicate taste and golden straw color; reds are dominated by ruby or pomegranate shades, they are tart and have a pronounced fruity aroma.

Dry wine

The strength of dry wines does not exceed 11% with a sugar content of 1%. The best varieties are dry white wines Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Aligote, Sauvignon and red Saperavi, Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Franc.
Dry white wine goes well with white meat, fish, mushroom dishes and vegetables. Red is served with fried meat.

Semi-dry wine

Semi-dry wines are obtained by partial fermentation of sugars without the addition of alcohol. When the percentage of sugar reaches 1-2.5, the fermentation process is stopped by lowering the temperature of the wine material to 4-5 degrees. The wine is allowed to mature: in order for the aromatic, tannin and nutrients from the pulp to completely pass into the finished drink, it is left for 30 days in large closed containers. During this time, the strength of the wine does not increase; it contains only 9-14% of revolutions, which allows it to be used as a pleasant and useful addition to the table at which the whole family gathers every day.
For the production of semi-dry wines, grapes of white, red and pink varieties with a sugar content of 20-22% are used. These primarily include Cabernet Sauvignon, White Feteasca, Malbec, White Muscat, Isabella and Lydia.

Semi-sweet wine

Particularly popular among connoisseurs of good wines are semi-sweet, with a mild pleasant taste, harmony of a delicate bouquet and rich vibrant color. They contain 3-8% sugar, and in terms of strength they do not exceed 10-12%.
For semi-sweet wines, as well as for semi-dry ones, the optimal sugar content of grapes should be at least 20%. This indicator is given by varieties that ripen by mid-October. Leadership among them is occupied by Muscat and Merlot.
Semi-sweet wines are capricious, and the process of their preparation is quite laborious. It is very important to stop fermentation in time in order to obtain indicators of sugar and alcohol content corresponding to the type of wine. It is equally important to stabilize the composition of the wine material to fermentation during technological processing and storage.
To stop fermentation, its temperature is reduced to 0 degrees or, conversely, it is increased to 65-70 degrees. By introducing sulfur dioxide into the semi-finished wine product, the yeast component is separated from the fermenting must, then the drink is filtered and left for natural clarification.
Store semi-sweet dry wines in glass bottles, pre-pasteurizing the finished product.
A wine bottle is not just a container. Its shape, color, volume are not chosen by chance. In France, the elitism of the drink is determined by the length of the neck and the size of the bottle. The richer its history, the higher the neck. But even more important is the length of the cork made from cork tree bark. The longer it is, the more expensive the wine. The cork must indicate the name of the abbey, castle or famous area where this type of wine is produced, as well as the year of its release.
Among the wines that can compete with French ones are the best brands produced by winemakers in Georgia, Moldova and the Crimea. Crimean dessert wines are especially famous. For their production, grapes with a high sugar content are used. These are the famous varieties Muscat white, Muscat pink, Muscat red, grown in the Red Stone Valley with its unique microclimate, as well as Aleatico and Muskatel, Italian and French varieties that have perfectly adapted to the Crimean conditions. Their sugar content is 25-40%.

Dessert wine

In order to obtain a high quality dessert wine, producers use special techniques, due to which the normal course of fermentation slows down at a certain stage. This allows you to keep the desired percentage of sugar in the wine. In dessert wines, it should correspond to indicators from 10 to 20%. The main way to stop fermentation is to introduce alcohol into the fermented wort. The drink acquires sufficient strength, while maintaining sweetness, aroma, excellent taste and expressive color.
In the manufacture of dessert wines, the method of infusing the must on the pulp is also used. At a certain stage of fermentation, the pulp is heated and alcoholized. Wines obtained in this way have a rich bouquet and delicate velvety taste. They are kept in oak barrels within 2-3 years - and the wine becomes a truly divine drink.
The strength of dessert wines is 17-18%. Among the best varieties are "Black Doctor", "White Muscat of the Red Stone", "White Muscat Livadia", "Cahors". These wines do not age: with their age taste qualities are only getting better.
The Kuban blending brands “Old Nectar”, “The Sun in a Glass”, “Solnechnaya Dolina” are not inferior to them. They are called blended because for their manufacture they use different grape varieties, taken in a certain proportion.

TheDifference.ru determined that the difference between dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and dessert wines is as follows:

Dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet wines are produced without the introduction of alcohol. Dessert wines are fortified, that is, containing alcohol.
The strength of dry wines does not exceed 11% with a sugar content of 1%. Semi-dry and semi-sweet wines contain from 3 to 8% sugar, but their strength is only 12-14%. Dessert wines are sweet. The percentage of sugar in them is from 10 to 20% with a strength of 17-18%.
Table wines, which include dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet, are served with the main courses. Dessert - for dessert.
Dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet wines do not have a long shelf life. Dessert wines only improve their taste over time.

Our life consists of a constant cycle of holidays: birthdays, anniversaries, corporate holidays, New Year celebrations, etc. At the same time, when organizing a feast at home or a banquet in a restaurant, we pay great attention to holiday menu where we carefully select each salad. But the holiday is not only fine dining on your table. By and large, the bulk of the dishes will not even be tried by the guests, but the guests will immediately notice the absence or insufficient amount of alcohol. How is the choice of alcohol for most of the inhabitants? Many of us choose traditional alcoholic drinks for the festive table: vodka, cognac and wine. We go to the supermarket and, entering the liquor hall, we load advertised brands and brands into the cart. At the same time, you think about what you actually take? But when choosing a wine, it is necessary to take into account many factors. Surely, each of you at least once in your life heard about wine etiquette, when one or another type of wine is served with certain dishes. By following this etiquette, you can not only buy a bottle of good wine, but also buy a drink that will add a piquant taste to the dish and cheer up your guests.

We define goals

Where do you start when choosing wine? First of all, you need to decide on the purpose of the purchase. If wine is bought for drinking in a pleasant company, then you need to be guided by your personal taste and the taste preferences of the people with whom you are going to drink it.

And if wine is necessary as a drink that accompanies a certain dish, then it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules for the compatibility of this grape drink with certain products. So, red wine goes well with all meat dishes, but white wine will improve the taste of fish and vegetable dishes. If on your holiday table seafood dishes predominate, then the choice should definitely fall on white wine.

If you have not yet decided which wine you like best, then you should get acquainted with the main classification of wines:

According to the content of carbon dioxide, wines can be conditionally divided into still and sparkling. At the same time, as you can guess, champagne belongs to sparkling wines;
according to color, wines are divided into white, pink and red;
by sugar and alcohol content.

The group of wines, which differs in sugar and alcohol content, has the most extensive division, which we will now get acquainted with.

Variety of wines

As they say: “There are no comrades for taste and color. Someone loves watermelon, and someone likes pork cartilage ... ”The same can be said about wine, because some people prefer dry table wines, while others like sweet dessert ones. However, sometimes there is a very thin line between certain types of wine, and in order to determine which wine you are holding in your hands, you need to know all its subtleties and nuances. For example, there is a slight difference in percentage of sugar content between table dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet wines, so without the appropriate label on a bottle of dry or semi-dry type, it will be difficult for you to determine which one is dry and which is semi-dry.

Table wines share by sugar content on the dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet. Dry table wine can be immediately recognized if the sugar content of no more than 1% is indicated on the label. The strength of this wine does not exceed 11.5%, and it is soft and pleasant on the palate. It is dry table wines that are very popular in Western Europe, as they are usually consumed during meals instead of water. For example, the French drink daily up to 1 liter of dry wine. Semi-dry wines are wines in which the sugar content ranges from 1-2.5%, and the strength does not exceed 14%. They have a fresh, pleasant taste and are perfect for those who do not like sweets. But semi-sweet table wines can be distinguished from other table wines if the sugar content in them ranges from 2.5-7%, while the strength of such wines is slightly lower than the strength of semi-dry wines and does not exceed 12%.

The next category of wines, distinguished by their sweetness and strength, are dessert wines, which can contain from 8 to 20% sugar. Dessert wines also include liqueur wines with a sugar content of more than 25% sugar. At the same time, the strength of such drinks does not exceed 14-16%. A classic example of a dessert wine is Muscat, which contains no more than 20% sugar and 14% ABV.

And finally, the last category of wines that lovers of stronger drinks should focus on are fortified wines. These include both some dessert wines and wines table type. A characteristic difference of fortified wines is their strength, which reaches 18-19%. In terms of sugar content, such wines most often do not exceed 11%. The brightest representatives of the family of fortified wines are madeiras, ports, sherries and flavored wines, known to us as vermouths.

For an amateur...

Despite the fact that grapes are a classic raw material for making wine, in many countries of the world the production of fruit wine is on a grand scale. Indeed, by and large, like grapes, any fruit is subject to the fermentation process, so why not use the different taste qualities of fruits to create a new unique taste of wine? This is probably what the ancient Greeks thought, who produced wine not only from grapes, but also from apples, figs and dates. The main reason that our ancestors began to produce fruit wines is that not all climatic and soil zones are favorable for growing grapes.

To date, the territory of Europe can be divided into several zones: the grape zone, the fruit zone and the mixed zone. Most of the countries of Western Europe belong to the grape zone, which ends with a conditional border passing through France, Spain and Austria. Behind the grape zone begins the mixed zone, where you can find the production of both classic grape wines and fruit wines. This zone produces wines from apricots, apples, blackberries, elderberry, quince, pears, cherries, gooseberries, black and red currants, hawthorn, lemons, oranges, peaches, pomegranates and raspberries. However, this list can be continued, because there are still wines made on the basis of wild berries. Most fruit wines are dry whites, but there are some exceptions. For example, gooseberries make sweet champagne, and oranges make a wonderful light sherry. Elderberry and blackcurrant are excellent raw materials for the production of port wines. Moving east towards Asia, we see a fruit zone.

Of all the countries in the fruit zone, China has the richest traditions in the production of fruit wines. We learned quite recently that China is a wine producer. It all started with the fact that in many cities of Russia, Chinese and Japanese restaurants began to grow like mushrooms after the rain, which began to offer their visitors an “outlandish” drink - plum wine. Of course, a European cannot understand the whole philosophy that the Chinese put into the production of plum wine, but in fact, plum for the Chinese is a symbol of longevity. The plum wine that ends up in our stores is produced primarily in Shanghai from a green plum called Mume, which grows in the vicinity of this city. Of the main advantages of this wine, one can single out its relative lightness - its strength does not exceed 10.5 turns of alcohol - sweetness and a golden hue. In addition, it has a pronounced plum aroma with a hint of almonds. If you buy plum wine in a store, then you should pay special attention to its label and cost. Real Chinese plum wine is made in China, as evidenced by the label, which says: Produced & Bottled by China Distillery. And the cost of such wine exceeds 300 rubles. If the Chinese plum wine of your choice does not contain these two parameters, then you are most likely holding a fake in your hands.

Another important point- Serving wine on the table!

So, having become better acquainted with each group of wines, now you can safely choose a drink both for a heart-to-heart conversation in the company of friends, and for a gala dinner. At the same time, one should not forget that the serving of wine itself also requires attention.

Dry table wines are served first on the table; they are excellent as an aperitif that awakens the appetite. White wines are served before red wines and the following order must also be observed: table wines - strong wines - sweet wines. In addition, do not forget that young wines are always served before old ones, and light wines before rich ones. Given the priority of serving, you kill two birds with one stone: there are only appropriate drinks on your table, and none of your guests will wake up in the morning with a headache if they follow the correct order of drinking different varieties wines

Real wine or fake?

Each of us wants to enjoy real good wine, but not everyone is ready or able to pay a tidy sum for an elite wine from wine boutique, so most of the consumers of this drink are customers of wine supermarkets. Naturally, getting there, we are tormented by the question: “Fake or real wine?” In order not to guess, but to be sure, you must first carefully read the label.

If you are purchasing wines from Western wine houses, then you should be aware that each producer country has its own distinctive characteristics that you need to look for on the label before buying wine. For example, on bottles of real Italian wine you can see such abbreviations as DOC, DOCG and IGT, which denotes the authenticity of the wine and indicates its geographical origin.

French wine is a different story altogether. Few lovers of French wine know that the elitism of a drink largely depends on the size of the bottle and the cork in it. So, the longer the cork in a bottle of French wine, the higher the quality of the wine. Moreover, each cork must be made from the bark of a cork oak and marked with the name of the castle in which the wine was produced, and the year of harvest.

Despite the great popularity of Western European wines, many still prefer Georgian, Moldovan and Crimean wines. At the same time, Georgian wines still have the most rich taste. At the same time, Georgian wines are the category of wines that are most often subject to falsification. Speaking of fakes, you still have to upset lovers of sweet wine. To date, semi-sweet and sweet wines are most often faked, that is, they are more popular and an equally important factor is that dry wines have a tart taste that cannot be faked, unlike sweet ones.

A few words about champagne

And finally, no holiday is complete without a bottle of champagne, but few people know how "real" champagne is made. Indeed, today most champagne wineries create an artificial sparkling drink, filling it with carbon dioxide, and real sparkling wine must be aged for several years in order for carbon dioxide to “play” in it naturally. Therefore, most manufacturers sell consumers not champagne at all. In addition, real champagne is easy to distinguish from a fake just by looking at the cork. If the cork is plastic, congratulations - you bought not champagne, but its likeness. Real champagne is corked only with a cork stopper, and it is poured into dark bottles. A dark bottle prevents champagne from reacting with light, as light ages champagne and acquires a bitter aftertaste. And the cork creates optimal pressure and prevents air from entering the bottle.

Given all these simple rules, you will turn your celebration into a real celebration of taste!

# 7304 · 26-09-2017 at 22:01 Moscow time · ip address recorded · ·
If we talk about champagne, then its difference lies in the fact that it is prepared only in the Champagne region in France and only from a certain grape variety. But there are also sparkling wines, which are called all other wines made by the method of secondary fermentation directly in the bottle (they must be aged, which is indicated on the label) or alambicas (large tanks), followed by bottling. The cork is not an indicator of quality and will not affect the quality of the content in the bottle you have purchased. It is worth noting that at the moment cork is used in almost all wine drinks carbonated (which have nothing to do with secondary fermentation), which uses the method of forced gassing, as in soft drinks. But you can meet a fairly good quality and taste of sparkling wine with a plastic stopper, and a new method, which is now included in mass production, corking with metal lids (as in vodka, for example), is used by fairly well-known Italian sparkling wines, etc. The most important thing is to understand that good wine cannot be cheap. Although some well-known brands of carbonated wine drinks are too overpriced. If you do not know, it is better to consult with a consultant in the store.

# 6810 · 25-11-2016 at 10:55 Moscow time · ip address recorded ·

Wine, consumed in small doses, can improve a person's well-being and even positively affect health. For example, white wine can be used to prevent cancer, while red wine can be used to regulate blood pressure. In order for a drink of high quality and suitable for the occasion, it is necessary to remember that dry white wine is optimally combined with vegetable, fish dishes, white meat and mushrooms. Red dry - with fried meat. And wine, although it can be served with main courses, also successfully sets off the taste of desserts and fruits.

Dry wine - how it is obtained

Dry wines are obtained from grape juice by fermentation. Sugar is not added to the composition, so the taste of the drink is light and delicate. For the manufacture of dry wine, the juice of the first is chosen. The taste impression of such an alcoholic drink will be a little tart, it is a pleasant sourness. It is she who is able to express the aroma from the grape variety used for the production of dry wine.

In dry wines, the sugar content should not exceed 1%. There are also drinks with zero sugar content, the strength of the wine will not be higher than 11%. The maturation of dry wine takes about 3-4 months, during which time the wine self-lightens and acquires a delicate bouquet.

The color of dry red wines has garnet, ruby hues, and white wines are similar in color to golden champagne. A tart dry wine with a fruity aroma.

Semi-dry wine - what's the difference

Semi-dry wine is distinguished by taste neutrality, this drink seems to stand between sweet and sour, so such wines will be appropriate in combination with almost any dish. Unlike dry wines, semi-dry varieties leave a slightly sweet aftertaste.

The production of semi-dry wines is based on the partial fermentation of sugars, alcohol is not added to the mass. The process of fermentation of the material is stopped when the percentage of sugar content does not exceed 2.5%. Then the fragrant drink matures for a month in a closed container, the strength of the wine does not increase during this period. It averages from 9 to 14%. That's why semi-dry wine perfect for family reunions.

Like semi-sweet wine, dry and semi-dry wine is not suitable for long-term storage- they do not improve the flavor bouquet over time, unlike dessert drinks. These table wines with refined aromas and smells can bring real pleasure to connoisseurs of quality alcoholic beverages.

Wine- the most ancient alcoholic drink, ancestors have enjoyed it since time immemorial. Today, many people want to try themselves as a winemaker, which is quite possible if you have the desire and some free time.

You will need

10 kg of grapes, 10 liter glass bottles, grape sourdough.

Instruction

To make dry wine, you will need varieties, the berries, the stronger the wine will be in the end. If you use sour grapes, then be sure to add sugar, otherwise it will get moldy and. The best varieties grapes for making wine - Muscat, Lydia, Aligote. Prepare the grapes. Wash it thoroughly, pick the berries from the bunches, selecting and discarding the rotten and spoiled ones.

Mash the cooked grapes by squeezing the juice out of them (you can use a colander, just pass the berries through it, pressing). Place the resulting juice and pulp (cake) into a cylinder, cover with gauze or other light "breathable" cloth on top. Leave the balloon in a warm place for 2-3 days. Fermentation will begin without outside help, but for best result it is desirable to add wine. On the third day of fermentation, the pulp will float to the surface.

After waiting another week after raising the cake from the bottom, drain the juice from the bottle into another (clean), squeezing the pulp with your hands.

Install a water seal and leave the bottle for further fermentation for 2-3 weeks. The liquid should be cloudy (this is the action of yeast). The end of the fermentation process can be determined by the following factor: gas evolution stops, the yeast goes down, and the wine becomes clearer).

Pour the wine back into a clean bottle and reinstall the water seal. Send the wine to a cool place for at least 2 months (the temperature should be between 8-12 degrees). At this time, tartaric acid will begin to crystallize and settle on the walls of the cylinder. The acidity of the drink will decrease, and it will become transparent.

Re-fermentation

At this stage of making the drink, the wine from the vat is mixed with the wine from the wine press and placed in a wine barrel. The fermentation process in this will be much slower, but it is he who gives the wine its final properties. If you want a real dry red wine, be prepared to age the wine for a year or more. This process gradually reduces the level of sugar in the wine, which gives it the necessary qualities.

Spill

If you decide that the taste of the acquired wine suits you, you can bottle it or other packaging and proceed with the sale or consume it yourself. You can also leave it indefinitely, dry red wine is one of the varieties of this drink, which only improves its taste over time. Remember also that the wine already poured into the wine, with proper storage, also continues to be saturated with taste.

Medicinal uses of red wine

Due to the high content of nutrients, red wine is actively used in medicinal purposes. It supports cardiac activity, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, lowers cholesterol levels. If you drink red wine regularly, it will gradually remove harmful substances from the blood vessels.

Red dry wine, containing a lot of tannins, helps in case of gastrointestinal disorders and helps to eliminate toxic substances from the body.