There are many in Russia good producers champagne, which perform well at international competitions. New technologies and expanding knowledge in the field of champagne make Russian sparkling products better every year.
So, how is the drink produced in the country? Which manufacturers are the most popular? The main thing is, what is the best champagne in Russia?
The Krasnodar region is the main region for the production of wine materials for the production of champagne. Production plants are mainly concentrated closer to large cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Tsimlyansk and others.
The drink in this country comes in two types:
- Soviet champagne;
- Russian champagne.
A feature of the second type is the use of wine materials from grape varieties that are not intended for the production of champagne. Imported wine materials are also allowed. The only condition for use is the established level of quality of future products.
There are several types of champagne production used in Russia.
- Classic method. The most labor-intensive, long and expensive process. This is how Russia produces, for example, brut champagne, an aged white champagne from Fanagoria. The process is based on the fact that the drink undergoes repeated fermentation directly in the bottle in which it is then sold. In already ready drink add yeast, sugar and seal the bottle for a certain time. Precipitated yeast is removed from the bottle by ridding or thinning. The longer the yeast sediment remains in the container, the more it affects the flavor, texture and complexity of the final product. Ridling is carried out one more time before the final corking of the champagne. The bottle is turned over so that the dead yeast settles on the cork itself, then the neck of the bottle is frozen, and the cork with sediment comes out due to pressure. The last step is to add the so-called “dose” - a small portion of sugar and wine, and then everything is sealed. This makes the best champagne.
- Reservoir method. It is also called the Charmat method, in honor of its inventor. Compared to the traditional one, it is less expensive, since secondary fermentation occurs in large tanks under pressure. This is how most of the Abrau-Durso champagne is prepared in Russia. The tank method makes the taste of the drink brighter and easier to drink, also emphasizing its fruit component. The best alcohol in the mid-price category is made this way.
- The continuous method was invented in Russia. It is very similar to the reservoir method, but is a little more complicated. The process consists of adding batch liqueur to the base wort - a blend of champagne wine materials with dissolved crystalline sugar, which passes through a series of tanks under pressure. Some of these tanks contain oak chips and lees, which give the wine a yeasty flavor. In fact, this method is used to prepare champagne of not very high quality and price range.
- Carbonization method. Ordinary saturation of alcohol with carbon dioxide. Russia has the cheapest way to produce the drink. The result is a wine with quickly dissipating bubbles.
Did you know? According to the non-profit organization Roskontrol, the brand “Heritage of the Master” was named the most delicious champagne in Russia in 2017. Lev Golitsyn" from CJSC "Sparkling Wines". The secret to the excellent taste of the drink is its aging for a month. During the aging process, it acquires freshness, piquancy and a slight bitterness.
Rating of Russian sparkling wine producers
Kuban-Vino LLC
Today, Kuban-Vino produces an unprecedented amount of still and sparkling wines - 56 million bottles per year. Since 2015, the plant has been collaborating with the best Italian oenologists from Enofly.
This allows you to expand the boundaries of possibilities for creating new lines of drinks and improving them. taste qualities. Premium drinks are made from the tender part of grape juice. Usage modern technologies at the Kuban-Vino plant involves a light impact on the berries, in which the separation grape juice happens by gravity.
This preserves the fine structure of taste, which subsequently makes champagne refined and playful. The plant's products are represented by the best brands: Aristov, Chateau Taman Select, Chateau Taman, Kuban-Vino.
OJSC "Moscow Champagne Wine Factory"
The history of the plant begins in December 1980. Currently, the volume of supplied products is about 50 million bottles per year. The production successfully combines both traditional Russian production methods and the latest wine champagne technologies.
The company regularly updates its equipment and reconstructs workshops, which allows it to constantly expand its product range. Only 10% of wine materials are made from the best Russian grapes, the rest comes from abroad - Italy, France, Spain, Chile, Argentina, South Africa.
All raw materials meet high standards and undergo the most careful selection. The products are represented by the brands “Moskovskoe”, “Rossiyskoe”, “Gold Standard”.
CJSC "Abrau-Durso"
The plant produces the best champagne in Russia by tank and traditional way. The first method produces about 16.5 million bottles per year, the second method accounts for only 1 million.
Today the plant is one of the leading producers of the best sparkling wines. In the Abrau-Durso storage facilities there are samples aged for 20 and even 30 years, which are valued at several thousand dollars.
The main brands are “Victor Dravigny”, “Specific Department”, “Imperial”.
Rostov Champagne Wine Factory LLC
The plant produces about 13 million bottles of champagne per year. The workshops use acratophores for secondary fermentation, as well as continuous champagne tanks.
It was here that for the first time in Russia they began to make champagne and sparkling wine in the acratophores of Frolov-Bagreev. The continuous champagne method, introduced in 1964, is still used today. Best brand the enterprise that you can meet is “Rostovskoye”.
ZShV "New World"
The plant was founded by Prince Lev Golitsyn in 1878. Champagne is created using traditional French technology. The bottles are manually placed for aging in cellars built under the leadership of Lev Golitsyn, where they remain for at least 3 years.
New World champagne received its first Grand Prix at the World Exhibition as the best spirit in Paris in 1900. It was preferred by the royal family itself. It was served at the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II.
The products are represented by the best brands “Novy Svet”, “Crimea”, “Prince Lev Golitsyn”, “Red Sparkling”, “Novosvetsky Carnelian”, Wine&Opera.
CJSC "Sparkling Wines"
The plant was founded on November 28, 1876 under the name “Slavic Brewery and Mead Factory”. The main production was concentrated on beer, honey and porter. Since 1947, the famous “Soviet Champagne” began to be produced here, and then “Lev Golitsyn”.
In 1992, the plant was privatized by JSC Sparkling Wines. All equipment was modernized, as well as a complete reconstruction of production premises. The range of products has expanded significantly.
The plant produces such brands as “St. Petersburg”, “Rossiyskoe”, “Bourgeois”, “Lev Golitsyn”.
Thanks to this small rating, you now know which Russian champagne is the best and most purchased in Russia. So, if you prefer domestic brands to foreign ones, you will have plenty to choose from. Are you familiar with any of the brands presented and do you like the taste of Russian sparkling products? Be sure to share your opinion in the comments.
Russian champagne is a sparkling wine produced and sold in Russia. Demand for sparkling wine in the country exceeds a quarter of a million bottles per year. New Year's table without the sparkling bubbles of a light, foamy cold drink is equivalent to an Olympic stadium without a burning torch.
Producers of Russian champagne
Popular products often make money lovers want to get involved in the business. But, lacking technology, technical standards, wine raw materials and winemakers, unscrupulous producers are pushing counterfeit products onto the market.
To suppress the appearance of low-quality wine products on the consumer market, the Association of Sparkling Wine Producers was created in 2010. The association includes 13 Russian enterprises and one Belarusian enterprise.
Consumers are confident that the presence on the label of an inscription about a manufacturer from the list of members of the Association is a guarantee of the production of Russian champagne in compliance with technical standards.
Winemakers competition
In Russia, winemakers annually hold a business meeting. In the category of sparkling drinks, they choose the best Russian champagne of the classical method and the tank production method. In 2016, two winners were awarded respectively: the Russian collection dry white champagne from Crimea “Golden Riesling” and the Krasnodar brut sparkling wine “Blanc de Blancs” (Phanagoria) 2015.
Ordinary consumers are delighted with Golden Riesling. Buyers do not skimp on compliments: “good”, “delicious”, “unearthly bliss”, “the most delicious champagne” and “the best memorable gift from Crimea”.
The aroma of "Blanc de Blanc" charmed tasters with fruity notes of peach, pear and apple. Customers praise the soft and fresh taste with hints of honey and spice. It goes surprisingly well with both cold appetizers and hot seafood dishes.
Criteria for classification of sparkling drink
Selecting by manufacturer does not mean the best search result. Consider three more options for classifying sparkling wine:
- by price,
- by popularity,
- by quality.
In each class there is a product that is the best in terms of the main parameter.
Price plays a major role for the average consumer. It's nice to surprise a girl with a vintage wine. It is important to remember that there is no high-quality champagne for 150 rubles; this is a drink from a different category. The cost of Russian champagne, for example, from the winemaker Abrau-Durso, varies from 435 rubles for 0.75 liters of white or pink semi-sweet to 1875 rubles. collection variety brut.
Domestic show business figures note the quality of Abrau-Durso champagne, its refreshing taste, and the absence of headaches after drinking.
More often, champagne is purchased for a celebration - to emphasize the importance of the moment. A festive feast in friendly company begins with a glass of sparkling wine.
For an intimate dinner, for example, a decisive date or a marriage proposal, champagne is indispensable. It is important not to make a mistake in choosing a drink. As with any choice, experience is important here. Articles on the Internet provide a theoretical understanding of the drink being studied. The theory is verified by practice, so that at the decisive moment the wine does not present a “sour surprise”.
Learning the skills of a sommelier
Proper tasting helps make wise choices sparkling drink. Wine selection criteria:
- Foam.
- Aroma.
- Taste.
- Aftertaste.
First we feast our eyes. Then the delicious aroma captivates you and makes you want to taste the drink. And if, after a few minutes, no unpleasant taste collisions arise, but, on the contrary, the desire to repeat a sip of wine awakens, then the aftertaste convincingly proves the quality of the drink.
Champagne is poured over the wall of an inclined glass in a light stream, so that a mousse forms on the surface - a light, persistent foam, and the drink taster admires the play of small gas bubbles.
Feel the aroma of wine. Carry out a simple test - a pleasant or unpleasant smell. Even if the advertisement promises an exquisite aroma, but the consumer does not like the smell, then cross the drink being evaluated from the list of preferences and try a different brand of wine.
Pay attention to the champagne of the Northern Venice company. The company's winemakers use raw materials from Spain and South Africa. There the grapes ripen 100%. All types of pinot are used to create the drink, but the main grape is chardonnay. The color of the drink made on the basis of Chardonnay ranges from light yellow to dark pink. Consumers note a wide range of tastes: flowers, citrus, quince and honey.
Folk wisdom that has turned into a newspaper cliche, but remains wisdom: there is no friend according to taste. But if we leave aside the artistic description of the taste of the wine, the taster notes, firstly, whether the drink tastes like vodka or not. If it does, it's not champagne. The second observable characteristic of taste is sweetness. Each person has his own measure of sweets, but you will have to choose from at least two options: sweet - unsweetened wine.
After a few sips of the drink, evaluate the aftertaste. What grape variety comes to mind, whether the tannins in the barrels where the wine was matured tie the tongue. They classify persistent and unstable, weak and strong aftertaste. Try to evaluate and remember, it will come in handy when forming a collection of champagne wines.
It's all about the sparkling bubbles
Organizations "Russian Quality System" and the Federal Service for Regulation of the Alcohol Market before New Year holidays explored Russian champagne on the shelves of Russian stores. Compliance with GOST was checked using thirty parameters. Critics couldn't stand 17 product names out of 56 tested. The first remark is about the method of filling the drink with carbon dioxide. Yes, the country has allowed artificial carbonation of wine since 2012, which reduces the cost of producing sparkling wine by half. But this is no longer champagne. According to GOST, champagne is filled with carbon dioxide during natural fermentation.
The second non-compliance with the standard is the quality of the primary raw materials in the drink samples from the “popular segment” that does not comply with GOST. Unfair, from the point of view of manufacturers, the establishment of excise taxes directly affects the cost of production. We have to get out, as representatives of wine producers say.
The third parameter is the alcohol content. In the rejected samples, the percentage of alcohol was recorded either below the norm, as in the “Crimean Sparkling”, or above the norm, as in the white semi-sweet “Royal Traditions”. The contents did not match the label on the wine bottle.
Consumers called the taste of Ariant's Royal Traditions sparkling wine mediocre. Even the design of the label does not stand up to criticism.
The opinion of professional tasters about the unsatisfactory quality of another sparkling wine from the Rostov Champagne Winery: “Too much sugar, you can feel the essence... Too sweet... Taste of plastic... Bitter aftertaste, dubious smell.”
Degrees - remember the main thing
About. is an abbreviation for the unit of measurement of alcohol in wine drink, "volume percentage".
The degree measure of wine is determined by the place where the drink is made and its brand.
The parameters of Russian champagne are given in the table.
Manufacturer and name | White semi-sweet |
|||
Price in rubles for 0.75 l | Alcohol, vol. | Sugar, g/l |
||
"Abrau-Durso Russian" | ||||
"Ariant Royal Traditions" | ||||
"Derbentskoe" | ||||
"Moskovskoe" | ||||
We prepare sparkling wine from our own raw materials
Russian white champagne is made from white technical grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc.
These varieties are acclimatized to the conditions Krasnodar region, Crimea, Stavropol Territory. Wine grape varieties are also grown in Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine.
To brut or not to brut, that is the question
Russian sparkling wine differs in degrees and amount of sugar. The classification of wines based on sugar content is as follows:
- Brut zero - 6 g/l.
- Brut - up to 15 g/l.
- Extra dry - from 12 to 20 g/l.
- Semi-sweet - 17-35 g/l.
- Sweet - 33-50 g/g.
This is just what they say - Russian semi-sweet champagne. In fact, 35 grams of sugar is four heaped teaspoons. People who jealously watch their weight and figure know that sweet champagne is a high-calorie product.
- Large selection of affordable wines from all over the world
- Leading Russian manufacturers represented
- Proven quality confirmed by certificates
- Excellent value for money drinks
Inexpensive everyday champagne can be found in the portfolio of every wine-producing country. True, if we use correct terminology, this will not be champagne in the classical sense, but sparkling wine. The fact is that only sparkling wine from the French region of Champagne, made using the traditional Champenoise method with secondary fermentation in the bottle, has the right to be called champagne. Most other sparkling wines are produced using the Charmat method, where fermentation occurs in stainless steel containers.
Good inexpensive champagne
Good sparkling wine is produced by the leading countries in the wine industry. Technologies here are honed to perfection, and the experience of ancestors is carefully preserved and passed on.
- France. They mainly produce dry white sparkling wine, which in quality and taste competes with classic champagne from famous houses. Burgundy sparkling wines from the Crémant de Bourgogne region, as well as products from producers Patriarche, Paul Chevalier, and others, have gained a particularly good reputation.
- Italy. It is this country that can offer a huge variety of delicious and inexpensive sparkling wines for every taste. These include the famous white Prosecco made from Glera grapes and the no less famous Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna, which can be either red or white. Piedmont sparkling wines from the Asti region are the main rivals of French champagne. Invariably good feedback Buyers receive wines from producers Zonin, Casa Defra, Martini, Gancia.
- Spain. Among the Spanish sparkling wines, you can choose good examples of pink and red sparkling wine from local grape varieties. Dry sparkling drinks from the Jaume Serra line are highly rated by critics.
- Russia. Russian inexpensive champagne is currently experiencing a real period of revival. Decent quality at an affordable price can be obtained by paying attention to the brands Abrau-Durso, Lev Golitsyn, Chateau Taman, and this also includes the products of the oldest factory Fanagoria.
Russian factories use grapes grown in the Krasnodar region, Crimea, South Africa, Chile, Spain and other countries to produce sparkling wines; production is controlled by leading oenologists from France, so the quality of many sparkling wines is raised to a high level. The Abrau-Durso plant also produces a line of sparkling wines made using classic champagne technology. This is, for example, Brut Imperial, which compares favorably in price with French champagne.
Does everyone know that wines have different ratings? Various wine critics evaluate wines and give them ratings, which you can rely on when choosing a drink for the evening or for a significant date.
Recently, such a rating has appeared for Russian wines. Today we will tell you about the best sparkling wines in Russia.
First, a few words about how this rating appeared:
A respected and honorable jury has gathered, consisting of people so close to wine and winemaking that there is no point in doubting the competence of their opinion. Among them are the manufacturers of this alcoholic drink, and distributors, and sommeliers, wine journalists. In a word, those who know a lot about wine.
To evaluate the wines, a blind tasting was carried out, in which the participants did not know what kind of drink, what manufacturer, was in front of them. This means that their opinion was definitely impartial.
So, let’s say right away that the best champagne was recognized as Victor Dravigny Brut white collection 2009, produced by Abrau-Durso.
The remaining sparkling wines that scored more than 80 points are presented in the table below.
A little tip on points:
- 80-84 points. High-quality wine for every day, with pronounced taste and aroma.
- 85-89 points. Very good wines, with complex characteristics, have several dominants in taste and aroma. They have a pronounced aftertaste.
- 90-94 points. An outstanding wine with excellent consumer qualities and distinct style. Wine for a special occasion.
- 95-100 points. This type of wine is called “great” or “classic”. Drinking a bottle of this wine is an incredible romantic experience that will be remembered for a lifetime.
| Name | Manufacturer | Color | Sugar | Harvest year | Wine type | Points |
| Victor Dravigny Russian collection champagne white gold brut | Abrau-Durso | White | Brut | 2009 | Sparkling | 88 |
| Fanagoria Muscat Ottonel | Phanagoria | White | Semi-sweet | 2015 | Sparkling | 87 |
| Tsimlyanskoye sparkling, prepared in the old Cossack way | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | Red | Sweet | 2013 | Sparkling | 86 |
| Pinot noir Blanc de Noir Divnomorskoye | Divnomorskoe | White | Dry | 2012 | Sparkling | 86 |
| Saperavi sparkling semi-sweet | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | Red | Semi-sweet | 2014 | Sparkling | 86 |
| Tsimlyansk red sweet sparkling wine | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | Red | Sweet | 2014 | Sparkling | 85 |
| Brut rosé Fanagoria aged Russian champagne | Phanagoria | Pink | Brut | 2013 | Sparkling | 85 |
| Extra brut rose “Bouquet of Victory” sparkling wine aged Tsimlyanskoe | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | Pink | Extra Brut | 2013 | Sparkling | 85 |
| Krasnostop Chateau Taman Kuban-Vino | Kuban-Vino | Pink | Semi-dry | 2015 | Sparkling | 85 |
| Golden beam white brut | Zolotaya Balka | White | Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 85 |
| Brut white Tsimlyansk sparkling | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | White | Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 84 |
| Extra brut rosé reserve Chateau Taman Kuban-Vino | Kuban-Vino | Pink | Extra Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 84 |
| Oreanda Crimean wine house | Crimean Wine House LLC | White | Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 83 |
| Muscat young white semi-dry sparkling wine Chateau Taman | Kuban-Vino | White | Semi-dry | 2015 | Sparkling | 83 |
| Brut Fanagoria Russian white champagne | Phanagoria | White | Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 83 |
| Brut white Novy Svet aged Russian champagne | New World | White | Brut | 2013 | Sparkling | 83 |
| Riesling Chateau Taman young brut | Kuban-Vino | White | Brut | 2015 | Sparkling | 82 |
| Russian aged semi-sweet white champagne Tsimlyanskoe | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | White | Semi-sweet | 2013 | Sparkling | 82 |
| Brut Inkerman varieties Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, Riesling | Inkerman | White | Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 82 |
| Victor Dravigny Russian champagne aged extra brut white premium | Abrau-Durso | White Extra Brut | 2010 | Sparkling | 82 | |
| Semi-Sweet Muscat Inkerman | Inkerman | White | Semi-sweet | 2014 | Sparkling | 80 |
| Zolotaya Balka Brut Pinot | Golden beam | White | Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 80 |
| Sparkling semi-dry white wine Tsimlyansk | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | White | Semi-dry | 2014 | Sparkling | 80 |
| Tsimlyanskoe semi-sweet white | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | White | Semi-sweet | 2014 | Sparkling | 80 |
| Extra brut white Chateau Taman reserve Kuban-Vino | Kuban-Vino | White | Extra Brut | 2014 | Sparkling | 80 |
| Tsimlyansk semi-dry pink sparkling wine | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | Pink | Semi-dry | 2014 | Sparkling | 79 |
| Extra brut white Onegin Russian champagne aged Tsimlyanskoye | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | White | Extra Brut | 2013 | Sparkling | 79 |
| Muscat sparkling white semi-sweet wine Tsimlyanskoye | Tsimlyansk Wines OJSC | White | Semi-sweet | 2014 | Sparkling | 78 |
Ask for the best sparkling wines in Russia in the WineStreet store.
