What distinguishes champagne from sparkling wine. Compare sparkling wines and champagne

Reasons to enjoy a glass of champagne, mass. However, opening a bottle, few people think that this drink does not meet all the requirements that it should meet. What distinguishes champagne from sparkling wine? How to distinguish them from each other? For these and many other questions the answers can be found in our article.

What is the difference?

Champagne is essentially the same wine, only sparkling. The beverage is saturated with carbon dioxide, which gives it effervescence. Today around the world produced a fairly large number of varieties of sparkling wines, but not every drink can be called champagne. So what distinguishes champagne from sparkling wine?

First and foremost French manufacturers insist that a proud name have the right to wear only the sparkling wines that are produced in the French province of champagne. In addition, the Interprofessional Committee of champagne wines have developed a special set of rules the production of this drink. It is these provisions, and certain characteristics which have to be sparkling wine.

What kind of wine called champagne?

One of the most important conditions – this grape variety. Today for the production of champagne are allowed to use 6 varieties, but most manufacturers take only three – "Pinot Noir", "Chardonnay" and "Pinot Meunier".

The Fruits of grapes are harvested exclusively by hand method and gently crush them, while not removing the stem. A set of regulations and rules sets guidelines for cutting vines, norms of extraction and time of harvesting, as well as clearly prescribes the organoleptic characteristics of the grapes.

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What else is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine? Champagne must be aged for at least 18 months. In addition, we have to be a secondary fermentation, which is produced in the bottle. If the drink meets all the requirements specified in the rulebook, it may not be called just sparkling wine and real champagne.

Origin of the champagne

Until the beginning of the XV century, this drink was simply a very good wine that is produced in the territory of the French province of champagne. At the time it is produced in three variations: red, gray and white. French monks were distinguished by curiosity and a desire for constant experimentation. One of them – Pierre pérignon is often blended different grape varieties to produce a unique drink with exceptional taste. And thus improved the quality of champagne.

Appearance sparkling wines

Sparkling wine appeared randomly. Once in the distilleries it was noticed that some wines, for example, from the same province of champagne, the fermentation process stops when the temperature drops and resumes again with increasing temperature. The resulting carbon dioxide has nowhere to go, so he stays in a sealed bottle. When you open the gas breaks out, forming the foam and known to all the bubbles.

Logically, that soon everyone started to wonder about what distinguishes champagne from sparkling wine. So, sparkling wine, regardless of region of origin, began to be called champagne, which is very touched by the French distillers in the province of champagne. That is why in the late nineteenth century, a law was passed that clearly defined the concept of ‘champagne’. So, on the basis of its provisions, sparkling wines produced in other regions of France, had no right to use the name.

What is champagne different from sparkling wine?

To answer this question, it is necessary to clarify what constitutes the so-called classical method of champagnization of sparkling wine? The process begins with selection of raw materials. For production use the best grapes, which is subsequently fermented in a natural way. So “calm” wine. Then the beverage is poured into bottles, add to it the sugar and yeast, which create excellent conditions for the secondary fermentation, but inside the bottle. Some time later you want to remove the precipitate formed, gathering at the neck. For this you need to open quickly flipped down the neck of the bottle. If respected technology, the tube together with yeast sediment fly itself under the pressure of carbon dioxide. Then the container is added a certain amount of sweet wine and cork bottle stopper constant. Among professionals this process is called disgorging. This technology allows you to determine what champagne is different from sparkling wines.

Only in this laborious and painstaking method is real champagne. But for those manufacturers who seek to reduce their costs, there is another way of preparing the drink. To some extent, in this andthe difference between champagne and sparkling wine.

Sparkling wines

Secondary fermentation under pressure in large tanks, but not in bottles allows you to save money in the production of alcoholic beverages. Method sparkling wines (carbonated wine) very simple. The drink is artificially injected with carbon dioxide. As a result, the alcohol content is 10-12%, and sugar – not more than 5%. As a rule, the label must indicate that it is sparkling wine.

It is Worth noting that the comparison of sparkling wines and champagne allows you to identify not only the distinctive features. For example, both beverages can be white and pink, but the sugar content can vary. Sparkling wine made from several varieties of grapes: "Pinot Blanc", "Riesling", "Aligote", "Chardonnay", etc., This drink can be made several ways:

• According to the classical technology of champagne making;
• By the method of Sharma;
• By artificial carbonation (the cheapest and easiest method).

Sharma Method is reduced to a secondary fermentation in sealed tanks. The average duration of aging of sparkling wines – 15 months.

Key differences

To Determine what distinguishes champagne from sparkling wine, not so difficult. For the most part the differences are as follows:

• Real champagne is produced according to classic technology of sparkling wine can get by Sharma and with the use of artificial carbonation.
• What distinguishes wine from champagne? Periods of exposure. Sparkling wine is aged at least 15 months, and champagne – not less than 18 months.
• For the production of champagne using certain grape varieties (often only three), and for the manufacture of sparkling wine is much more of them.
• There is one caveat, which allows you to determine what distinguishes wine. Champagne sparkling beverage was taken in the first place, gas bubbles. Otherwise, only the products of distilleries in the champagne region can carry that proud name.

How to choose champagne and how it differs from sparkling wine?

Choosing the champagne for the New year and any other holiday, you should pay attention to many aspects, if you want to treat yourself to authentic and tasty drink. The first thing to pay attention to cost: as a rule, sparkling wine is cheaper. Special attention deserves the label. The inscription on the methods of production (champagne, traditional or classical) talking about what's in the bottle is real champagne, which is made with observance of all technological norms.

Plastic tube characteristic only for sparkling wines – in all other cases it must be made of balsa wood. Of course, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the bottle. So, it should be a classic shape, without flaws, the label should also be pasted exactly and do not contain questionable traces.

The Best decoration of the table – sparkling wine and champagne. What is the difference between them, we found out today. It remains only to choose the most suitable option for celebration.