Soviet champagne: taste review, is it worth buying
Soviet champagne - is first of all a sparkling wine, and then a mass-produced sparkling wine created by secondary fermentation. Although the drink is named after the French province of Champagne, it has nothing to do with France.
Taste characteristics of Soviet champagne
Soviet champagne is divided according to its sugar content:
On semi-dry and dry
Semi-sweet and sweet
Brut
This drink is produced by many Ukrainian producers and, accordingly, the difference in flavors of sparkling wine of different production affects the drink itself.
The classic version of Soviet champagne has a refreshing balanced taste. It is made from such grape varieties as Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Aligote. The color of the drink is light golden, the strength is 12%. The aroma gives a bright fruit palette.
Differences between Soviet champagne and French champagne
If we compare the production procedures of real French champagne and Soviet champagne, it immediately becomes clear that they differ radically. At the second stage of production, the latter is not bottled, as is customary for French wineries, but is put into an akratophore, a device for champagnizing wine materials in a tank.
Secondary fermentation takes less than a month, i.e. it is carried out using accelerated technology. And the added carbon dioxide gives the wine its sparkle.
Thus, all the traditional stages: blending, fermentation, aging, filtration, etc., take place in a tank under constant pressure.
To get a real champagne, wine should be kept in bottles for a period of 1 to 3 years, sometimes even more (depending on the variety). Then it is uncorked, the sediment is removed and, if necessary, liquor is added. Then the drink is closed with a permanent cork and left to mature for about two weeks. And only then can a bottle of champagne be decorated and put on sale.
Is it worth buying Soviet champagne?
Due to the peculiarities of production, the drink appears more foamy, but this does not play a special role for buyers. According to statistics, consumers from Ukraine prefer Soviet champagne to French champagne, primarily because of its price.
Still, there are a few things to consider before buying this sparkling wine:
High level of counterfeit products, which no one checked at all, as they say, bottled in the "garage".
If you consume the drink on an empty stomach, you may experience gastrointestinal irritation and acidity. In addition, this drink can contribute to the decay of food particles in the intestines, which negatively affects the entire body.
Soviet champagne has a high calorie content, so it can be harmful for people on a diet.
Drinking champagne in large quantities can cause impaired vision and memory.
Sparkling wine should not be consumed by pregnant and lactating women.
Soviet champagne is not allowed to be drunk by children under the age of 18, as they are sensitive to ethanol, which destroys red blood cells.
Among the positive qualities of the drink are the ability to lower blood pressure, dilate blood vessels, stimulate the respiratory system, etc. п.
Update: 13.05.2018
Category: Wine and Vermouth